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Joy unspeakable and full of glory - 1/15/2008 2:11:30 PM
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sisrev
Posts: 469
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: The South, ya'll
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God is so good!
For the last few days, I’ve this really strange feeling running along just beneath the surface. It’s so odd, almost like a kid anticipating their birthday, or Christmas, or summer vacation. Lets see---my birthday was last month, as was Christmas; it’s a long time until summer---what could it be? Why do I feel all tingly and almost excited all the time? Oh yes---now I remember what this is---it’s JOY!!!
JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY
Joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Amazing grace
What a friend we have in Jesus
Oh, how sweet to walk in the pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms
JOY, JOY, JOY, joy, joy, joy
JOY, JOY, JOY, joy, joy, joy
JOY, JOY, JOY, joy, joy, joy—JOOOOOOOOOOOY!
I am awed and amazed at how often God comes through, right in the nick of time, right when we need Him most, right when we acknowledge how miserably unworthy we are to even lift our hands and our voices to Him. I am so thankful for HIS righteousness. For HIS glory. For HIS worthiness.
He is the glory, and the lifter of my head.
Thank you Lord.
You may not come when we want it, but you’ll be there right on time. You’re an on-time God, yes You are.
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Oh the times, they are a changing… - 1/22/2008 12:24:55 PM
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sisrev
Posts: 469
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: The South, ya'll
Status: offline
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Oh the times, they are a changing…
It was Bob Dylan, wasn’t it, who sang that song? The times, they are a-changing.
I resigned from my church last night. For the last time, I think! I’ve been resigning for the last two months, but my presbyter has kept me praying and seeking the Lord’s will to be sure I was not just quitting, or leaving out of emotion or disappointment. Thank you, Brother Presbyter!
I am disappointed, that’s for sure. Disappointed that things have not worked out better than they did. I think that this particular body was too far gone when I got there, I just didn’t want to admit it. Two people have left already; several others are not “there” enough to count in any kind of meaningful way. That leaves three of us who want to make a go of it, and no matter how hard you try, or how the Lord moves on us few, it is just not enough to rebuild a dying church.
I already knew that I was the District’s last hope for this church. I was the only one willing to even try in the last 18 months that they had been without a pastor. I grasped at many a straw trying to keep hanging on. I did not want the closed, empty building that would result from my leaving to bring a reproach to the work of the Lord that has gone on there in the past. I prayed and prayed for either a life-line or a way out.
The good news is, the Lord has graciously provided both. I have a building without a church, and the Lord has directed us to a church without a building. With the blessing of our District, we are going to join forces. They will get our building, and the building will finally have a church in it again. I am stepping down; the other pastor will step up; and the Lord will move His body forward from there.
I am very happy at the way things have worked out, and very sad as well. I always felt that the Lord was not finished with His church in this location. There is such a need for a vibrant body who can minister to the needs of the community. I could not walk away and leave the building locked and empty and dark.
And now I don’t have to.
Thank you, Lord, for your gracious provision. You may not come when we want, or in the way we would have chosen, but You’re an on-time God, yes You are..
< Message edited by sisrev -- 1/22/2008 12:58:09 PM >
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I go to the Rock - 2/1/2008 5:24:27 PM
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sisrev
Posts: 469
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: The South, ya'll
Status: offline
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“Where do I go,
When there’s no place else to go to?
Who do I lean on,
When there’s no foundation stable?
Who do I run to,
When the storms around are raging,
I go the Rock, know He’s able, I go to the Rock…”
Wednesday night was my last night as pastor of my little church. I held it together pretty well, I think; I only teared up once.
This coming weekend will be very difficult. The other church body that we are merging with is overjoyed at having a building to meet in again. Their musicians can leave their instruments set up, and their Sunday School teachers can put up posters and leave their arts & crafts materials in the cabinets. They can come pray in the sanctuary any time they want to. I am happy for them, really I am. But their joy is coming to pass due to our sorrow.
Yes, the times, they are a-changing. I suspect there will be some hard times for me personally. I am trying to be as helpful as possible, but while I’m smiling on the outside, my heart is breaking on the inside.
I need your Comforter, Lord, more than ever before.
Help me not to be a thorn in the flesh to this happy congregation.
Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
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It's a roller coaster ride - 3/4/2008 12:35:02 PM
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sisrev
Posts: 469
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: The South, ya'll
Status: offline
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4Him has a song with this line "It's a roller coaster, roller coaster ride..."
This last month has been a time of many ups & downs. Our “merge” weekend went really well. That first day it was awkward at times, but everyone in the larger group has taken much care to help the smaller group feel they are part of the family, and yet not just swallowed up and consumed. After a month, I feel more loved and welcomed than I ever would have thought possible after such a brief time.
For some reason, I think of a sub-heading in one of my study Bibles, “The Lord’s tender care of His overwrought prophet”. Not that I am equating myself with Elisha, but I am thankful that when we need tender care, the Lord is there to provide that for us.
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I've been sick with this terrible flu that has been going around. I burned up three of my personal/vacation days from work; the rest of the time, I just made myself get up and go to work, sick or not. It has taken several weeks to start really feeling better, and I still have my moments of exhaustion.
I find it difficult to pray for myself during times of sickness. I wonder if that’s why we’re instructed to call for the elders of the church to pray for us when we’re sick. I think the Lord knows that there is a connection at times between how we feel physically, and how we feel mentally and spiritually.
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I am slowly working my way back into ministry; trying to seek the Lord’s will. I don’t want to grasp desperately at the first thing that comes my way, but I don’t want to miss an opportunity that is truly from the Lord. I’m staying busy, but trying not to stay too busy.
< Message edited by sisrev -- 3/4/2008 1:49:51 PM >
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This is a job for superwoman - 4/10/2008 10:52:17 AM
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sisrev
Posts: 469
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: The South, ya'll
Status: offline
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I just got word from my husband that he’ll be flying in next Thursday night. He’ll be home almost 10 days! Hurray!
I can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait! Last time he was home, I was sick the whole time. I didn’t cook, didn’t clean, I could barely function. I made up my mind then the next time he came home, the house would be spotless, the pantry stocked, he’d get homecooked meals every night…
And now reality is starting to step in---my house is a total wreck right now. I mean, the kind where you keep the company on the porch so they won’t see what the inside looks like wreck.
The kind where you may get up in the morning and have to wash and dry underwear before you can get dressed kind of wreck.
The “we’re out of toothpaste and qtips and soap and cereal and bread and milk and everything else” kind of wreck.
So, I guess I know what this means. Marathon cleaning. Hiding stuff under the bed and anyplace else I can find to stash it. Muttering under my breath, “If I ever get this place cleaned up this time I will never let it get this way again”
Oh how the mighty have fallen....
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Render unto Cesear - 4/14/2008 11:48:35 AM
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sisrev
Posts: 469
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: The South, ya'll
Status: offline
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My house is still a mess, but my taxes are not! I finished Federal and one state return. I have one more state to do, but it's not due for another month. I'll probably do it tonight, anyway, so I can file away all of the extra W-2s and forms instead of leaving them out in a pile to "remind me" to do them.
Hurray! One thing down, 99 more to go.
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