ALL-In 2012
Kimberly McCarthy
Increase My WorshipMore Focused On You, Less About Me!
ALL IN WITH YOUAWE-GOD!
Psalm 62: 5-6
My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him. 6 He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved.
AWE- ALMIGHTY GOD!
Week Of January 29th
Friday, February 03, 2012
Hebrews 13:5
Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
Desiring God More Than His Blessings
How many of us can actually say, 'I am not jealous of anyone else or envious of what others have. If God gave it to them, then I want them to enjoy it"?
The Word says, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have" (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). I believe God tests us to see if we will live by this verse.
There are times when He will put somebody in front of us who has exactly what we want, just to see how we will respond. Until we can pass His "I am happy for you because you are blessed" test, we are never going to have any more than what we have right now.
If you have asked God for something and He hasn't given it to you yet, rest assured that He is not holding out on you. He simply wants to make sure that you rid yourself of jealousy and make Him your top priority.
God wants us to prosper in every way. He wants people to see His goodness and how well He takes care of us. But we must desire God more than we desire His blessings.
Prayer Starter: God, I want You to show me the areas of my life where I've given in to jealousy and covetousness, and help me rearrange my priorities. I want to desire You more than Your blessings.
My Thoughts About This = Miraculous Musings! J
This is so true, I believe we need to come into a Holy Alignment with our Salvation. We are called to God 1st. The Father God of our Salvation desires a "completely" from us! God wants us to be All-IN with Him. We need to be in pursuit of finding the position of Oneness with God in the ALL of our everything and this is being ALL-In with God, Holy Aligned with His Kingdom purposes with our life-roots dug deeply in His Kingdom soil. More of Him, less of us, more of His divine nature, less of our human condition is our Holy habit that we need to consistently establish in our lives; from every moment to every choice we need to put God 1st, we need to choose Jesus 1st over our every want. I hope in 2012 to learn the spiritual habit of making my 1st choice the right choice! AWE-GOD!
Obedience is a far reaching choice; it closes the gates of hell and opens the windows of heaven, and it has the power to affect many people. Just think of it: Because of Jesus' willingness to be obedient, countless multitudes will be brought into right standing with God. Joyce Meyer
My Thoughts About This = Miraculous Musings! J
Help me Father God, give me the strength, power, wisdom, love and courage I need to make the right choice the 1st time, be in the center Almighty God of every moment to every choice I make. Help me not to cross over the moment into my choice without being affected by Your Word, Your Spirit and Your Life. Be My In between Influence - Moment -Jesus- Choice
AWE-GOD! "Almighty God Knows No Fear And He Expects You To Fear Nothing While He Is With You" L. B. Cowman
Worthy News Brief @worthyemail.com
Kimberly, walk on water!?!
Matthew 14:26-32 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Peter exhibited GREAT faith when he stepped out on the water... but then he allowed his immediate surroundings to hinder his walk! Peter's faith began with a tremendous bold step, but it required a level of focus that he wasn't used to. Follow through.... that was the problem; those pesky waves, and the way he usually thought about and experienced water; (not something that generally supports your feet)...
We all know what Peter should have done, right? Keep his eyes on the Lord, NOT the waves!!! That's easy for us to say. But how many of us have ever stepped out of the boat? I didn't notice any of the other disciples playing follow the leader with Peter. :)
Kimberly, I see two things from this: First, put a little adventure into your life; step out on the water; you might actually enjoy the exhilaration and really glorify God on the way. And secondly, If and when you do, learn from Peter's mistake. Make sure you live life keeping your focus on the Lord (not on your own spiritual ambitions)...because you can be totally confident the waves will come, once you're out of the boat. But watching the Lord of Life walking there with you will give you the vision to follow through. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah Negev Desert, Israel
My Thoughts About This = Miraculous Musings! J
Now that is another Holy Spirit moment… Make sure you live life keeping your focus on the Lord not on your own spiritual ambitions! Wow… that is an adjustment I realize I have been making over the last 3 years, just did not know how to put it in words… that is the truth… I set so many ambitions for myself spiritually and when I don't live up to them, I sink… My focus is key and I need it to be on The Father God. Yes my immediate moment does hinder my faith walk, I need to learn to follow through with followship! My new level of focus needs to be followship!
http://wisdomhunters.com/ Boyd Bailey
Love and Honor
"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10
What does it mean to be devoted in love and to honor another above myself? It is much more than being selfless—I gladly prefer to put another's needs ahead of my own. Because I hold the relationship in such high esteem, I want them to feel the power of being preferred over my agenda or expectations. In marriage devoted love matters most.
Husbands who love by engaging their wife's emotions grow in patience and understanding. The insensitive coldly dismiss and dishonor a loved one's concerns, but a true lover looks for ways to work things out for their spouse's benefit. A wife honors her husband when she seeks to know his work world and empathize with his challenges. Only you, with love and honor, can uniquely meet certain God-given needs in your spouse.
"Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love."
Song of Songs 2:3-4
Devotion to one another flows out of our devotion to the Lord. The more we allow Jesus to love us, the more we have capacity to love others. Our heavenly Father waits patiently to hear our hearts and then opens His heart of healing grace, insightful wisdom, caring conviction and patient forgiveness. We honor Him to honor others.
Is your devotion to the almighty dollar or to Almighty God? Do you honor heaven's agenda over the ways of the world?
Your selfless devotion to family, friends and faith forever marks them with your Master's fingerprints of love and honor. Therefore, make it your goal to grow your relationships in love, honor and glad service for God. A sense of superiority has no home in relationships—love esteems others above themselves.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Philippians 2:3-4
How can I love and honor my spouse at their current point of need?
Related Readings: Proverbs 21:21; Isaiah 43:4; 1 Peter 2:17; 2 Peter 1:17
Post/Tweet this today: Only you can uniquely meet certain God-given needs in your spouse. #marriage
My Thoughts About This = Miraculous Musings! J
Honor heaven's agenda over my own… this is where I am growing. Honoring also has attached to it good attitudes, I don't think honor is honor without a Godly attitude serving it forward. My devotion to my life's work for God comes out of my AWE and honor of Him. I love what He said about selfless devotion, that it was fingerprints of love and honor that we leave with others. Value the Infinite more than valuing the human wants and this is loving others more than yourself.
A Minute With Maxwell
Anxiety! Peter: Be anxious for nothing, but cast all of your care upon God. Our anxieties, which we all have can be given to God or shared with someone else. Our anxieties are a strong burden to carry. We can release them or they bog us down.
Holy Spirit Inspired…. He speaks, I listen and obey… Thank you for teaching Me!
Galatians 1:12 (NLT) I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
Go To Page 157 In Streams In Desert Book By L.B. Cowman
Hebrews 11: 8-10
[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.9 [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.
Amplified Bible Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Abraham, "did not know where he was going" --- it simply was enough for him to know he went with God. He did not lean as much on the promises as he did on the Promiser. And he did not look at the difficulties of his circumstances but looks to His King—the eternal, limitless, invisible, wise and only God—who had reached down from His throne to direct his path and who would certainly prove Himself. L.B. Cowman Excerpt From Streams In The Desert Page 157
My Thoughts About This = Miraculous Musings! J
AWE-GOD! Thank you Holy Spirit for leading me to this book to this page to receive what I needed to hear. I need to develop my relationship with the Father God. Forgive me Lord for leaving You out of the picture. This is a Triune God for a reason and I have been ignoring my Father God in the aspect of my relationship with the Triune God. I realize that after this week of fasting. I need to grow deeper in relationship with the Father God .I am His daughter, He is my Spiritual Father, my forever Father. He is the ONE Who in His Purposeful Providence, cares for me with such excellence. Cause me Holy Spirit to know Him better, to love Him more and reverence Him always! AWE-GOD!
Oh Glorious faith! Your works and possibilities are these: contentment to set sail with the orders still sealed, due to unwavering confidence in the wisdom of the Lord High Admiral; and a willingness to get up, leave everything, and follow Christ, because of the joyful assurance that earth's best does not compare with heaven's least. F. B. Meyer
My Thoughts About This = Miraculous Musings! J
AWE Lord God! I pray for a celebrated faith that is content with sightless submission to Your Call, a followship that is set in contentment in YOU alone and endued with the action of willingness to surrender all and follow Jesus Christ because of the experienced joy that earth's greatest does not measure up to with heavens slightest!
In no way is it enough to set out cheerfully with God on any venture of faith. You must also be willing to take your ideas of what the journey will be like and tear them into tiny pieces for nothing on the itinerary will happen as you expect. Your Guide will not keep to any beaten path. He will lead you through ways you would never have dreamed your eyes would see. He knows no fear, and He expects you to fear not while He is with you. L.B. Cowman Excerpt From Streams In The Desert
The day had gone; alone and weak
I groped my way within a bleak
And sunless land.
The path that led into the light
I could not find! In that dark night
God took my hand.
He led me that I might not stray,
And brought me by a safe, new way
I had not known.
By waters still, through pastures green
I followed Him—the path was clean
Of briar and stone.
The heavy darkness lost its strength,
My waiting eyes beheld at length
The streaking dawn.
On, safely on, through sunrise glow
I walked my hand in His, and lo,
The night had gone.
Written By: Annie Porter Johnson
My Thoughts About This = Miraculous Musings! J
I just lived this out! I was so restless, the day was gone and I felt weak and I knew I needed to take a break from all things and just walk with God. I could not find my way out of the restlessness because God designed it that way, He knew I needed to stop my life before I stumbled over things in my heart that needed to be dealt with. He took my hand and led me by His Way and I followed Him all week as we delved into my soul and the dark restlessness lost it's hold on me as I submitted to God's cleansing and healing touch. He has shown me what to do to stay out of this darkness, to move forward in complete trust and followship. Thank you Jesus for an incredible week with you, I am so grateful that you love me enough to confront me, change me and encourage me!
Holy Spirit, Help Me Align My Life With This Word Of God Wisdom!
Isaiah 35: 1-6
THE WILDERNESS and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the rose and the autumn crocus. 2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellency of [Mount] Carmel and [the plain] of Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty and splendor and excellency of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble and tottering knees. 4 Say to those who are of a fearful and hasty heart, Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance; with the recompense of God He will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
My Thoughts About This = Miraculous Musings! J
God has ordained every situation in your life with the sufficiency of His purposes in play, and they will lead to His Sovereign Goodness, because your life in Christ is infinitely great and eventually all God-Goodness will surface from the unseen to the seen as His perfect timing reveals breaks through from heaven to earth.
Holy Spirit Inspired…. He speaks, I listen and obey… Thank you for teaching Me!
Galatians 1:12 (NLT) I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
Daniel 10:16-20
And behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision sorrows and pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 For how can my lord's servant [who is so feeble] talk with this my lord? For now no strength remains in me, nor is there any breath left in me. 18 Then there touched me again one whose appearance was like that of a man, and he strengthened me. 19 And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you! Be strong, yes, be strong. And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened and said, Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.
Overwhelmed? Feeble? Cry Out To God! Lead Me To The Rock That Is Higher Than I! Daniel 10:16-
Hebrews 12:10-16
For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness. 11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness--in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God]. 12 So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees, 13 And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured. 14 Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. 15 Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it-- 1 6That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
My Thoughts About This = Miraculous Musings! J
This is an appropriate scripture to end my fast and seeking God week with! It tells everything in His Voice that He has spoken to me this week. I need to make peace with my family as I follow after Him, I need to leave my past behind reconciled in peace as far as it depends on me. I need to strengthen my relationship with the Father God, because this will bolster up my feeble human condition. I need to not fear my future, because God does not fellowship with fear, He has never feared and does not want me to fear, but to trust Him completely. God has disciplined me using a strong restlessness and for that I am grateful, because during this time God exposed a dark place in my soul, an idol of nostalgia of my past and I have broken it by His Spirit and Truth and I am walking forward, leaving my past behind in followship of what God has for me today. My path is going in the right direction, I will not veer of course as I fully face my God and stop the habit of looking back with nostalgia for my past. This has caused feebleness in my soul. I have been charged by God to exercise foresight and be on the watch for others by exhorting and encouraging them with a heart of His compassion, because their story is my story and my story is their story because we share the same common denominator which is the Father God, we are His children and I commit to pray for them and mentor, hold them up and point them to Jesus, until they can stand positioned in His Grace and fully face Him, stepping out into the flow of His Kingdom Purposes. I am to continue to develop my AWE of God through a spoken gratefulness, a daily testimony of thanksgiving to AWE-GOD and develop community in the Bride of Christ founded upon this AWE of God! I am to work hard at my salvation by creating a spiritual habit where I make the right choice the 1st time. My 1st step out of bed every morning will be to bow down before my AWE-GOD in humble-respect and submissive-awe and every night before I go to bed, I will bow down in gratefulness for all He is in me and all He has done through me.
"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble." Psalm 59:16 NIV
Psalm 4:4-8
Be angry [or stand in awe] and sin not; commune with your own hearts upon your beds and be silent (sorry for the things you say in your hearts). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 Offer just and right sacrifices; trust (lean on and be confident) in the Lord. 6 Many say, Oh, that we might see some good! Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord. 7 You have put more joy and rejoicing in my heart than [they know] when their wheat and new wine have yielded abundantly. 8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Proverbs 3:23-24
Then you will walk in your way securely and in confident trust, and you shall not dash your foot or stumble. 24 When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.
Holy Spirit Inspired…. He speaks, I listen and obey… Thank you for teaching Me!
Galatians 1:12 (NLT) I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
Do Not Despise A Small Beginning! Wisdom I Leave With You After This Great Week. Love Jesus!
Zechariah 4:9-11 New Living Translation (NLT)
"Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Heaven's Armies has sent me. 10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand."
Haggia 2: 3-4 Job 8:7 Job 36:11 Isaiah 1:19
2 Corinthians 13
THIS IS the third time that I am coming to you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses must any charge and every accusing statement be sustained and confirmed. 2 I have already warned those who sinned formerly and all the rest also, and I warn them now again while I am absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come back, I will not spare [them], 3 Since you desire and seek [perceptible] proof of the Christ Who speaks in and through me. [For He] is not weak and feeble in dealing with you, but is a mighty power within you; 4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He goes on living by the power of God. And though we too are weak in Him [as He was humanly weak], yet in dealing with you [we shall show ourselves] alive and strong in [fellowship with] Him by the power of God. 5 Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [[a]not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected? 6 But I hope you will recognize and know that we are not disapproved on trial and rejected.
YOU VERSION READING PLAN- THOUGHTS AS I READ:
Isaiah 5-6
- I am God's Representative… Wow… that needs to sink into my life, come out of my heart and through my actions. God is my greatly beloved and I am His representative of a love such as this one!
- I am His vineyard, His chosen people.
- God did so much for and in His vineyard and looked for it to produce grapes because of how well He had tended it.
- God was upset about His Vineyard because He had worked so hard and nothing happened so He said He would take away the hedge, the hedge of protection and God Favor. This so much looks like America to me.
- God laid his vineyard to waste, did not prune it or cultivate it and briers and thorns arose. He took away the rain. Why because when He looked for justice He saw oppression and bloodshed, when He looked for righteousness, for uprightness and right standing with God he heard a cry of distress and oppression. People violently expelled the poor in order to feed their greed for power and money and land ownership.
- God said because of this that even the beautiful houses would not be inhabited. The provider of seed and harvest would be corrupted because they have not regarded the Lord. This is where we are headed in this country, Oh my heart hurts for us, we will be brought low and we will be humbled by God, we will know captivity to our enemies because we have stricken the knowledge of God. Honorable men will be glory famished and common people will parch with thirst. The common man is bowed down, the great man brought low and the eyes of the haughty are humbled.
- We bring punishment upon ourselves by our wickedness. We call evil good and good evil and put darkness in place of light and light transposed to darkness. We are wise in our own eyes and shrewed in our own sight. We justify and acquit the guilty for a bribe and take away the rights of the innocent and righteous… our root will be like rottenness and our blossom will go up like fine dust because we have rejected God and His truth.
- God's judgement will be like the roaring of the sea and darkness and distress will haze the light
Isaiah 6
Isaiah saw a vision of God sitting on a throne high and lifted up… Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is filled with His Glory
He heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us? then I said I, Here am I; send me.
God shared His frustration with the people who hear and hear continually but don't apprehend it in their mind, they see and hear and understand not with their hearts. Until they understand with their hearts and turn again and be healed. The Lord will remove the people and a tenth of them will remain in the land, the holy seed, the elect remnant is the stump and substance of Isreal
Mark 2
- Jesus was discussing the Word in Peter's house and it was full.. people wanted to bring a paralytic to Him to be healed, they believed in Jesus so much that they went to great lengths to get this man to Jesus, they dug through the roof above Jesus. Jesus saw the faith and confidence they had in God and because of that He healed the man. How awesome is that. Jesus responded to their confident faith in God.
- The Scribes in their spiritual pride were angry with Jesus because He healed someone on the Sabbath. He showed them the power and authority that He had was greater much more so than their religiosity.
- Jesus continued to teach, meeting the people where they were at, going to them. I love that. He did not sit around, He went to where the people were at.
- The Pharisees were put off that Jesus went to where the sinners where and He actually sat and ate with them. Jesus shared His mission at that point to minister life to the weak and sick and call the sinner to repentance.
- Jesus was confronted and asked why His disciples did not fast and He told them they did not need to fast when the Bridegroom was with them, but in the days ahead when the Bridegroom was taken away that they would need to fast.
- Jesus described Himself as a New Wine that would not be put into an old wineskin, but a New Wine that would be put into new fresh wineskins.
- The disciples picked off grain on the Sabbath and the disciples confronted Jesus… He told them the story of David when he was in need of food how He went into the house of God and ate the sacred loaves. He then explained how the Sabbath was made on account of and for the sake of man, not man for the Sabbath. I am Lord of the Sabbath said Jesus!
Worship Wisdom! Changing Me! Speaking God's Truth-Hope!
The Power Of Your Love By Darlene Zschech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YVW6SVM2J4&feature=uploademail
Jesus let my love be renewed by the Grace flowing in You. May the power of Your love sweep away my every weakness! Jesus! Hold Me!
Surround Me Love Of God! Draw Me To You! Holy Spirit Lead Me On In The Power Of Your Love
Unveil My Eyes Jesus As I Fully Face You! I Acknowledge The Power Of Your Love In Me! Renew My Mind!
Lord Renew My Mind – Let Your Wisdom Unfold In My Life By The Power Of Your Love! Surround Me Love Of God!
The Power Of God's Love Holds Us Closely To His Sovereign Will! We Fully Face Our God And He Clings To Us With Infinite Love, Renewing Us, Strengthening Us And Unfolding His Will In Our Lives! AWE-GOD! Thank you for this song and inspiring video. Lord bless those who create these videos to encourage us by Your Spirit-Truth-Love!
Man's offense "smells to heaven": massacres, broken treaties, beatings-up, theft, kidnappings, enslavement, deportation, floggings, lynchings, rape, insult, mockery, and odious hypocrisy, make up that smell. But the thing comes nearer than that. Those of us who have little authority, who have few people at our mercy, may be thankful. But how if one is an officer in the army... a hospital matron? a magistrate? a prison-warden? a school prefect? a trades-union official? a Boss of any sort? in a word, anyone who cannot be "answered back"? It is hard enough, even with the best will in the world, to be just. It is hard, under the pressure of haste, uneasiness, ill-temper, self-complacency, and conceit, to continue intending justice. Power corrupts; the "insolence of office" will creep in. We see it so clearly in our superiors; is it unlikely that our inferiors see it in us? How many of those who have been over us did not sometimes (perhaps often) need our forgiveness? Be sure that we likewise need the forgiveness of those that are under us.
(Clive Staples) C. S. Lewis
leadership wisdom from Ron edmondston blog
How do you know when God is stirring your heart for a change in ministry assignment?
I work with pastors every week who are asking this question. I previously posted my answer to this question, but after several conversations recently I thought it was time for a revision to strengthen some of the points based on what I'm currently learning and observing. This can be one of the most grueling decisions a Christian leader makes. Because most of us feel we are in positions God has called us to do, it is often more difficult to leave one called position for another called position.
Several times in my ministry, first as a layperson and since then in vocational ministry, God has called me to leave one ministry and begin another. It can be a scary place to face the unknown, yet know that God is up to something new in your life. In sharing my experience, I am hoping it can help others process through what God may be doing in their life. Please realize that God uses unequaled experiences in each of our lives, but at the same time there are some common patterns I think each of us may experience, while the details remain unique.
Here are 5 steps I have experienced as God has led me to something new:
Pastor Ron Edmondson
Wonderful sweet success – Each time the door of a new opportunity opened it began opening (looking back) when things were going well in my current ministry.
Inner struggle – I usually have not been able to understand what God is up to, but there is something in me (and usually in my wife at the same time) where I know God is doing something new. It could be a growing dissatisfaction, consistent unexplained frustrations, or just an uneasiness where I am currently. While I do not know what it is, and often not even if it involves a change in my place of ministry, I know God is working something new in my heart.
Closeness to Christ – Brennan Manning calls it a Dangerous love of Christ. During the times leading up to a change of ministry assignment I will be growing in my relationship with Christ, usually in new depths of trust and abandonment. Again, looking back I can see this clearly, but at the time I usually am just enjoying the closeness to Christ not expecting anything.
Opportunity presents itself – An opportunity seems to come from nowhere. In some seasons there has been multiple opportunities at the same time. Reflecting back, I can see this is the pattern that has occurred each time. It is only after these first three experiences that God brings a new opportunity my way. This is probably because my spirit must be totally aligned with His Spirit in order for me to trust the new work He calls me to, because I have yet to feel completely "ready" for the next step in my journey with Christ. New steps of obedience always involve a leap of faith on my part. I'm always stretched in my trust beyond where I've been previously, but this process prepares me to be ready to say "Yes Lord…Here am I…send me."
I surrendered to God's call – After I receive confirmation in my spirit, review the journey God has had us on, and Cheryl and I agree where God is leading, I have yet to refuse the next assignment. That does not mean it is easy for us to leave our current ministry, but it has always been most rewarding to know we are in the center of God's will for our life.
A special word to the spouse: Cheryl has never been "ready" to leave friends in our current ministry, but she has always lined with me in knowing God was calling us to a new work in our life. Cheryl has always had the same Spirit's leading that I am having, often before me. God has never allowed us to be confused with differing messages. That's part of our confirmation.
Discerning a change in ministry assignment can be a difficult task, especially when you are comfortable where you are currently. Perhaps my experiences can help.
Have you shared these experiences? What other experiences have you had that have led you to step out by faith into a new adventure with Christ?
Depending on your circumstances, you may want to read my post "When a Leader Gets Too Comfortable" or "10 Scenarios to Know It's Time to Quit".
SPECIAL NOTE to the people of Grace Community Church: I didn't write this post for me. I use this blog to minister to other pastors and ministers and that is who I am addressing with this post. As of now, I am where I am supposed to be at Grace. It is important to always remember, however, that I do not work for Grace Community Church. I work for a person and His name is Jesus Christ. I keep thanking Him daily for allowing me to be a part of the work He is doing at Grace for such a time as this.
My Thoughts About This = Miraculous Musings! J
Thank you for this, it helped me today! We had been involved in Campus Life Military Ministry at Ft. Benning Georgia and were just enjoying sharing the Word, loving and encouraging the soldiers and watching God draw them to Him, encourage them and change their destiny. It was awesome! God suddenly moved us and it has been a difficult transition. I realize that I am called to God 1st and that holds me steady, but I had extreme restlessness in our new town and I could not shake it, so I took a week off from everything and fully faced God. God showed me that my restlessness came from looking back with "nostalgia" and this nostalgia became a strong hold and he told me to get my mind out of the past and move forward with Him in complete followship and trust of Him. So I am letting go of my past and waiting on Him with active faith that does not despise a small beginning and a hope that faces forward, expecting a suddenly!
Verse Of The Day@biblegateway.com
Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
My Thoughts As I Listen To Psalm 59
Deliver me God, protect me from what rises up against me. Deliver me from evil doers and blood thirsty men…. People that conspire against me when I have done no wrong. Show no mercy to wicked traders who spew swords from their lips. You scoff at them Lord. You are my fortress, I look to You. In Your might bring down those for the sins of their mouth. Let them be caught in their pride. God rules!! People howl when not satisfied. Sing of God's strength in the morning, sing of His Love. I sing Praise to You, My fortress, my loving God. I love to hear that… My Loving God!!
Check Out My Website For Further Encouragement-Exhortations From God! Enjoy!
The Bridegroom's Café http://thebridegroomscafe.com
I have written an amazing book, actually God wrote it to His Bride and I penned it. It will be an incredible journey for you with AWE-GOD. It will be available in 2012 online. If you are interested send me your email address at kmac4him@maxforcepublishing.com I will make sure you get notified when "The Bridegroom's Voice" is ready to be purchased online. God Bless You Huge!
The Bridegroom's Café http://thebridegroomscafe.com
Currently Posted Menu
AUTHOR TABLE****************** BE Encouraged
BREAKFAST TABLE*************** Tighten Your Belt
FAMILY TABLE******************* A New Day
LISTENER TABLE*****************Forever Yours
MILITARY TABLE*****************Enduring Heat
SERVANT TABLE******************Drink Deeply
SMORGASBORD TABLE ***********Peace
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