Each of us, who are serving the Lord and loving Him with all our hearts, goes through times of testing, and sometimes those times of testing seem to come out of nowhere.
In those times, our character is sharpened and refined, and we may find ourselves close to the edge, ready to give up, ready to raise the flag of surrender and go our own way.
God has heard your cries. He has not forgotten you. Cling to Him. Hold on to His Truth. Stand on His promises. Don’t give up. Remember you are already made victorious, and He is the peace that surpasses all understanding. Make sure you are with clean hands and a pure heart as the Scriptures speak about. Lean on Him. Trust Him.
HE SHOULDERS ALL YOUR WORRIES & CARES
“Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you.” –1 Peter 5:7
YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN NOR FORSAKEN
“Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before me.” -Isaiah 49:15-16
“He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” -Hebrews 13:5
YOU ARE CHOSEN, A ROYAL PRIEST, A HOLY NATION
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” -1 Peter 2:9
God will deliver you out of your troubles and give you boldness as you continue trusting in Him… for He is Who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will do.
Linda A. Knowles
IF YOU GO INTO MINISTRY expecting to make a great amount of wealth, then you do not understand what ministry is. Ministry is about reaching out to the hopeless, speaking for those who have no voice, and reaching the lost and dying by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ so they may inherit eternal life. Ministry is about winning souls for Jesus Christ. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost,” Luke 19:10.
IF YOU GO INTO MINISTRY expecting to make a great amount of wealth, then you have lost the purpose of what ministry is about. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,” Mark 10:45, Matthew 20:28. We lay down ourselves, our ego, our desires, our will in exchange for picking up our cross, dying to selfishness, and following His Will, giving our lives in service to Him, and going forth to tell others about Jesus Christ and who He is. “He must increase; I must decrease,” John 3:30. “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me,” Luke 9:23. Note the words “Let Him Deny Himself.”
THE WORD “MINISTER” on its own means “servant.” MINISTERING TO (SERVING) OTHERS is a calling.
IF YOU GO INTO MINISTRY JUST SO YOU CAN GET WEALTHY AND MILK PEOPLE DRY, then your ministry is built on the foundation of self and on things that will collapse when the storms come. IF YOUR MINISTRY IS BUILT ON SELF, THE LOVE OF MONEY, EGO, GREED, AND BUILT WITHOUT CHRIST BEING THE FOUNDATION, your ministry will eventually collapse.
“Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head,” Luke 9:58. There isn’t a bible verse that says Jesus lived in mansions while He on earth, and there’s isn’t a bible verse that shows Him demanding payment before or after He ministered to people. There isn’t even a verse that shows Jesus demanding money for His ministry. You will find Jesus preaching repentance and bringing hope to the hopeless, healing the sick, teaching crowds of people, delivering those who were possessed. He is Savior and Lord, and we see Him in the Scriptures as ministering to those who cried out to Him, those who recognized their need for salvation. In those same Scriptures, we see Jesus overturning the table of the money changers for taking advantage of those who were purchasing animals they needed to make sacrifices, “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers,'” Matthew 21:12-13.
I will end this post with these words from the book of Jude Verses 10 and 11 and 2 Peter 2:11-13, “These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively. Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion,” and “Yet not even angels, though greater in strength and power, dare to bring such slanderous charges against them before the Lord. These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed. The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.”
Linda A. Knowles
Confessions of a Former Church Secretary #2
LOOK HOW WELL IT WENT FOR HIM!
By Linda A. Knowles
Wally came in for his work shift at the church. He was busy getting the trash from the administrative offices. Wally looked distraught so Poppy, who was sitting at her desk doing paperwork, figured she might as well ask, “Wally, what’s wrong?”
Wally looked at her, “Well, Ma’am, I’ve tried everything. I tried being a garbage man. That didn’t work and then I tried being a truck driver. That didn’t work either, and I have had a number of other jobs: What’s the name of that donut shop? It’s like two minutes up the street. I tried food delivery. You get the point. Now I have decided there is only one other thing that I have to try because it’s the only answer.”
Poppy now curious, “So what are you going to be now?”
Wally declared, “I’m going to be a pastor.” Poppy’s mouth hung open and was unable to find any words, “You see, Ma’am, nothing else has worked. So clearly the only right option is for me is to be a pastor.”
Poppy said in complete disbelief, finding her words, “But you hate working! You can’t even show up for your shift on time here at the church! What are you going to do as a Pastor?! You are aware Pastors do work, right?”
He looked at Poppy and spoke rather nonchalantly about being a pastor, “Look at how well it worked for Pastor Grant! He has it made in the shade.” Poppy was shaking her head and looking at Wally at the horror of the image she had of Wally being a pastor as he continued to talk, “I’m serious, Ma’am. Look at how well it worked for him! He sits back in his chair, talks for an hour on Wednesday, talks for an hour on Sunday morning and on Sunday Night. And he rakes in the cash!”
Poppy’s composure was about to give way, but she managed to keep her composure together as Wally continued to talk, “He has no worries, Ma’am! Everything goes well for him,” Poppy found herself tilting her head to the side as she was looking at Wally wondering to herself if she was really hearing what she was hearing as Wally continued to talk, “How difficult can it be to serve communion? Others do it for him. He has everyone doing everything for him. Look at how well it has worked for him! He doesn’t have to do anything. He just comes in, sits back in his chair, and he reads.”
Poppy looked at him, beside herself, “No, no, no, he doesn’t just read…”
Wally interjected, “Yes, Ma’am, he does. I’ve seen him. What would you know about what he does?!”
Poppy looked at him sternly and said, “I’m Pastor Grant’s secretary! Do you have any idea what it takes to be a pastor?! Can you do the preparatory work to be a pastor?! Do you know that being a pastor is a calling not just something to do?! Are you ready to buckle down to study Hermeneutics, Eschatology, Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey?! Could you even sit long enough to study those and those are not the only other subjects you would have to study?! You think Pastor Grant does nothing! Have you seen his schedule?! He does hospital visits, is the chairman at every board meeting, has to keep up with the state of his flock no matter how many there are! He is on the phone praying with people, attends the week day and even night prayer meetings, meets with ministry leaders on a bi-weekly basis, disciples and mentors about five people at the moment, equips the members of the congregation to evangelize. He does marriage counseling, family counseling, and individual counseling! He leads an evangelism team and goes evangelizing in the inner city! He meets with city officials and serves on the board of the local bible college! So are you really thinking that being a pastor is the right option for you?!”
Wally was scratching his head and seemingly confused, “Ma’am, I have only one question.”
Scowling, Poppy asked, “What’s your question?”
Wally stated, “What do you mean by he has to keep up with the state of his flock?”
Poppy sighed, “Lord, help me.”
You are a child of the Most High God, and He has created you with purpose. He has plans He has designed specifically for you. As you go through this season, ask Him what He has planned for you. Seek His counsel and His ways.
If the Lord has laid on your heart to do something and if you have been putting it off, then let me encourage you to rise up and do what God has called you to do. Do whatever task God has told you to do.
What is stopping you from moving forward into the plans God has for you? May I encourage you to lay whatever is stopping you before God? Surrender yourself to God and submit to His will. Let Him do His work in you, and let Him use you for His glory and to further the Kingdom of God. Let Him use you to be a blessing to others.
Rise up, Child of the Most High God! This is not the time to sit back! Wait on God, and as you wait on Him, do His will. Obey His Word. Follow through with whatever God is calling you to do and do whatever He has told you to do.
Heavenly Father, You are the Most High God, and You have created me with purpose and significance. You have called me according to Your purpose that I might go forth and do Your will, to do the tasks You have called me to do. Lord, I surrender myself to You, asking You to show Your will and Your way that I might walk into the destiny You have specifically designed for me. Continue to be my Light and my Guide. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Our standing before God matters. Either we are hot or we are cold. If we’re lukewarm, God will spit us out of His mouth. The Word of God states, in Revelation 3:15-16(BSB), “I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of My mouth!”
REFLECTION: “So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference,” (Revelation 3:18-19NLT). This is the counsel of Jesus Christ to the Church of Laodicea, but it is very much for you today. The purpose of the Lord’s discipline is to turn you back to Him, the only one in whom salvation can be found. If you are finding yourself lukewarm in your devotion to God, then draw close to Him through repentance and confession. Don’t wait. Be washed and cleansed through the reading and study of His Word. Consecrate yourself to Him in both service and worship, and answer His call to you. Let Him restore you. “‘Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches,'” (Revelation 3:20-22NLT).
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, salvation is found in no other. Only You are able to restore and make a person whole. Father, I’m sorry for compromising Your Word and for being indifferent to the things of God. I’m sorry for relying on my own self-sufficiency. Father, I ask You to forgive me, and wash me clean. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, O God, and restore me as only You can do. Father, I give myself fully to You, to live for You and to honor You. May I seek out Your ways, and may I always stand for the Truth of Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
“Accept the way God does things for who can straighten what he made crooked?”
Accept the way God does things? “Linda, you can’t be serious.” Yes, I am serious. I cannot overlook what the verse says. “Accept the way God does things.” The fact is God loves us, and He wants the best for us. God’s way of doing things is vastly different than ours. If I could have some things done instantly, they would be done, but I am so glad God did not give me some of the things I wanted immediately; Some things I’m glad He didn’t give me at all. We could complain and talk until we’re blue in the face, but that will not make God answer us faster or even get Him to move out of His perfect timing. God has good things in store for each of His children, and the good things He has for us ARE WORTH waiting for. Doing things our way can only mess things up. However, when God works, His work is done in His perfect timing, and everything works out for the good of those who love Him and according to His purpose.
REFLECTION: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work God has done from beginning to end,” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Are you willing to accept God’s ways? Will you submit to God’s timing and wait for Him to work out everything? Remember, God is your Heavenly Father and only wants the best for you, and no one is able to stop Divine Providence. Accept how God does things because His ways are not our ways. You do not know the future, but God sees what is up ahead of you. He is the only One Who truly knows your future and what lies ahead. Consider the work of God and His sovereignty. God has not forgotten about you, and He is still in control.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, nothing stops Your divine providence. Your Word goes forth and Your Word will accomplish the purposes for which it was sent. Your ways, how You work, is something I cannot fathom, but I know everything is working together for my good because I love You and am called according to Your purpose. Father, I am humbled by Your goodness and Your faithfulness, and though I may not understand how You work everything out, I am trusting and hoping in You for You, O God, are still in control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
Stained Glass Confessions 