TOMORROW IT WILL BE YESTERDAY'S PROBLEM

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

BUT I KNOW WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE

AND HIS LIGHT WILL GUIDE THE WAY

For the past several years, Steve and I have felt the call of God on our lives for ministry. We have pastored, assisted in various ministries and attempted to build two churches. Ministry can be the most wonderfully, frustrating challenge you will ever face and starting a work with just 2 faithful people has to be number one on the list. For the last 5 years we have had successes and less than successes. Just when it seemed a breakthrough was on the horizon, our faith would once again be tested. In the last 6 months, we seemed to be gaining ground; we were rejoicing over one baptism and excited to see the spiritual growth taking place. God decided about a month ago that it was time for another test. Three of our most faithful members felt God leading them in another direction. A church of a hundred may not feel the loss of 3 people too deeply, while a church of 50 may feel the sting, but when you have 10 parishioners, it can be devastating.

I thank God for a spiritually strong husband. While I was crying and asking God why and where do we go from here, Steve was praying that God would restore what we had lost 10 fold. My first remark was, “You do realize that will be 30 people?” His answer, “Praise God.” I decided right then and there that I am not going to be left out of this blessing that God is about to pour out on Redemption Ministries. I made up my mind to agree with Steve and let God show His greatness. In the last 3 weeks we have had 5 new visitors, only 25 to go. God has been speaking new ideas and a new vision into our heart. I still have fleeting thoughts of yesterday but I am now able to pray God’s blessing on those who left and look with excitement every day to what God is doing and will do tomorrow. God will build an Apostolic Church in Saginaw, Michigan.

Several years ago, I sang with the Jr. High School Girls’ Chorus. I was introduced to a whole new genre of music. This little Pentecostal girl used to hearing southern gospel had never heard of Broadway show tunes and knew very little about a group called The Beatles. To this day I can still remember the songs and their words. One of the songs was Yesterday by Paul McCartney. The song begins, “Yesterday, all my troubles seem so far away, now it looks as though there here to stay. Oh I believe in yesterday.” I find most of the Beatles lyrics to be anti-biblical, yet if I allow it, I find myself applying the song to my situation.

In Philippians 3:14, it’s the Apostle Paul not Paul McCartney who writes so eloquently of where our yesterdays belong, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Yesterday can teach us valuable lessons and hold wonderful memories of God’s blessings but they are not the complete picture of God’s plan. The High Calling of God in Christ Jesus promises a prize if we will just press on. It may look like trouble is “here to stay” but if we keep our eye on the prize, tomorrow, the trouble will be yesterday’s problem.

THE FINE PRINT

Have you ever signed a contract or accepted an offer only to discover later you should have read the fine print? The 10 CD’s for $1.00 are not such a steal when you read further in the contract that you have signed up to purchase 10 additional CD’s at $12.95 each, plus shipping within the next year. If you had taken the time to read the fine print, you wouldn’t have wasted a trip to the grocery store to spend the $5.00 off coupon that expired yesterday. Because of my struggle with weight loss, I am always drawn to the ads that promise to give me “THE BODY I’VE ALWAYS WANTED.” I can eat all I want as long as I buy a $50.00 bottle of pills, after all they couldn’t say it on television or print it in a magazine if it weren’t true. The fine print tells me it only works with a healthy diet and exercise plan. In other words, eat all you want as long as it is celery washed down with water. Even reputable diet plans reel you in with glowing testimonials hoping you miss the tiny disclaimer at the bottom of the page; results not typical. We have all been embarrassed and disappointed because we were drawn in by the big letters, the glowing sales pitch and the mental image of how wonderful our lives will be because we were lucky enough to be given this opportunity.

Satan has a Master’s Degree in Marketing. From the beginning he has painted a beautiful picture of the pleasure of sin, hoping to distract us from the fine print. I have never witnessed someone returning a pack of cigarettes because they suddenly read the surgeon general’s warning, “It has been determined that smoking may cause cancer.” Most of us don’t suddenly put a hold on our tongue because a snippet of gossip may wound a brother or sister. We ignore the fine print of broken homes, ruined lives, hurting children as we pursue a path, following an elusive dream that leads us further from God’s purpose for our lives.

Unlike Satan, God has no need for slick marketing and fine print. Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me;” simple and to the point; no fine print necessary. From the beginning, God presented His offer in plain language, including all the expectations, the rewards for obedience and consequences for noncompliance. In Genesis, the “deal” presented to Adam included the benefits of the garden, a warning as to what would nullify the contract and the consequence of disobedience. The contract with the Children of Israel instructed them to put the blood on the doorpost; those who ignored the instruction would lose their first born son. There were no disclaimers and no fine print to be overlooked by anyone.

Our problem is we are always looking for a loophole or an exception. The Word tells us, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned and the soul that sinneth shall surely die. We have a hard time believing that such a “loving God” could actually apply that clause to us since other people have done much worse than we have. Surely there must be a paragraph of fine print that we have missed. Then we remember He is the truth; there are no loopholes. II Corinthians 1:20, For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us. Lay hold of the promises of God today and rest assured they are yea and amen.

NO POWER

After conducting chapel services Monday morning, I decided to run all my errands on the way home so that I could enjoy the rest of a gorgeous day. I had to make one last stop at the credit union then the day would be all mine. I determined that it would take less time at the drive-thru especially since there was no one else waiting. Everything was falling into place. I pulled up to one of the outside “windows” only to find a hand written sign declaring “CLOSED, NO POWER.” In my haste to complete my tasks, I had failed to notice an empty parking lot and a dark building. Determined not to let this set back take one more minute of my time, I sped home. Then God began to speak.

Our credit union is a brand new beautiful building. Millions of dollars has been spent on the structure, furnishings, latest banking equipment, and landscaping. As you walk into the lobby, a smiling receptionist at a central desk greets you. If you turn to the right, you will find a flat screen television broadcasting today’s news, a conversation area complete with magazines, brochures, coffee and in the afternoon, fresh popcorn. To the left is a row of monitors complete with tubes that whisk away your transactions to a hidden room complete with more smiling faces. They have infused an impersonal business atmosphere with an aura of friendliness and comfort. On Monday, however, the beauty and the efficiency was all a waste because there was no power. The bank could not function as it was meant to function. I could not take anything out or put anything in my account. No loans could be arranged, no accounts opened or closed and no interest added to investments. The only light in the dim lobby was sunlight filtering through the shaded windows. It was nothing more than a dark, empty shell.

We were created for a specific purpose. God has made His power available to us so that we can function according to His plan. John 1:12 tells us, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. The very first step we make in our spiritual journey requires power. It is only through belief in the Name of Jesus Christ that we have the ability to become sons of God. As God continues the construction, Acts 1:8 says “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” We are called to be witnesses, but we cannot be a witness to something we do not possess. It doesn’t end there, He fills us with joy, hope and peace through the power of the Holy Ghost, Romans 15:13, Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Fear is replaced with love and a sound mind, II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. According to Luke 10:19 we have power over the enemy, Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. One of the most exciting Power Promises that God gives us is contained in Ephesians 3:20, Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

I may look beautiful and holy on the outside, know the right words to say, sing the latest praise and worship songs, quote scriptures and smile invitingly but, I am a dark empty shell without the power of the Holy Ghost. Like the bank, I can take nothing in and I am unable to give out anything. Make sure you are connected to the power source. Let Him fill you with love, joy and peace. People will be drawn to the Light that shines forth and you will fulfill the purpose He created you to fulfill.

HOW I LOST 60 POUNDS

I would like to be able to tell you that I woke up one morning and the weight had magically melted off during the night. A recent study has found that you lose more weight if you get more sleep, unfortunately, I’m an early riser. I saw an ad in a magazine that said if I took a little pill, the fat would disappear and I would not even have to change my poor eating habits. I was assured this had to be true because they couldn’t print it in a magazine or say it on television if it were not; tempting, but not for me. I didn’t spend $3 a meal on packaged food or purchase any torturous gadgets guaranteed to help you lose flab and inches. While all of the aforementioned methods are tempting, my secret is much more mundane; I have been disciplined and consistent for 7 months.

I have struggled with flab and yoyo weight loss my entire life. I cannot recall a time when it was not a constant “thorn” in my side. Even at the age of 5, I remember smiling people remarking to my mom about my “chubbiness.” I went for a school physical at the age of 6, only to hear the doctor talk about I was getting too fat. To this day I would rather suffer extreme pain than to hear the scorn in the physician’s voice as he tells me all my problems could be solved by losing a few pounds. In grade school all students were put through the mental torture of getting on the scale twice every year. I would pray that the rapture would take place as the line moved swiftly along and the school nurse announced each student’s weight. Obviously, God didn’t answer this fervent prayer. I went on my first diet in 6th grade by limiting myself to 1000 calories per day. It lasted until I lost about 15 pounds; the calories increased and so did my weight. The dieting continued off and on in 7th, 9th and 12th grade. During the 32 years I have been married, I have lost major amounts of weight 5 times. They have all lasted around 2 years and the weight would begin to creep back up until I would reach a top limit and start the process over.

In October, 2007, I turned 50 years old. I hated being fat and fifty. I wanted to exchange the “A” for an “I” and wake up fit and fifty. However, that was not enough motivation. I dreaded going to bed every night because I couldn’t rest due to the loud wheezing as I tried to breathe. I was sick to my stomach regardless of what I ate and popped purple pills followed by an alka seltzer chaser daily. That was not enough to spur me to change my lifestyle. The acid reflux irritated my esophagus so much that my throat was dry and scratchy, my voice was hoarse and I coughed constantly. Although I coughed at embarrassing moments and could no longer sing a complete solo or lead worship, I continued to find comfort in food.

What happened January 3, 2008 that was different than the other 50 New Years Days I have lived through? It took more than wanting to feel or look good, it took a complete surrender to the Will of God. I was filled with the Holy Ghost at the age of 9. I always had a desire to live for God but on my terms with me controlling the situation. When Steve felt a call into the ministry, I was resentful because it did not fit into MY plan. I played the dutiful minister’s wife, followed him to Dekalb, IL, Saginaw, MI, St. James, MN and back to Saginaw, MI. I lived in big houses and small apartments, pinched pennies and enjoyed years of plenty, taught Sunday School, organized church events and learned to play the piano. On the inside, all my activities were performed under protest. Then it happened, a couple of years ago, God placed a special call on my life. Maybe it was there all along buried under my own willfulness and I just refused to listen.

God worked on my attitude, my desires started to change and I began to have a burden and a love for lost, hurting people. The change didn’t happen all at once, it has been a process that is still not complete. Late last year, I began to plead with God to do a work through me to reach the lost. God spoke to my heart about two necessary changes; I needed to begin to write and I needed to discipline my body. The writing was easy because I have never lacked for something to say and blogging gave me the necessary platform. Bringing my body under subjection has been a different kind of battle. It really is a spiritual battle. Food appeals to every emotion I possess. It is a form of celebration and comfort, appeals to my eye and taste buds and feeding people is even my “love language.” The battle involves saying NO, avoiding certain places and situations and having a strategy to combat the never ending temptations. I haven’t won the war yet but I am winning one battle at a time.

After 7 months, the weight has come off. I no longer wheeze at night, my pills have changed to a daily vitamin and I have put almost 300 miles on a pair of tennis shoes. I feel strong, energetic and much more confident. God is still smoothing a few rough edges but I am ready to walk through every door He opens. In October, I will be 51 and FIT because I finally let go of my will and surrendered to His.

STANDING IN THE HALLWAY

As a child in school, I never wanted to hear the words, “go stand in the hallway.” That was just one of the ways a teacher controlled unruly students. It meant you were disrupting the class, you were out of control and you would be dealt with later. Those were the “good old days” when children still feared and respected the teacher. Today I find myself standing in the hallway; not because I have been disruptive or unruly, but because a door has been shut and I’m waiting for a new one to open.

Hallways are dim and shadowy. There are usually no windows and only artificial light breaks the oppressive darkness. I cannot see a clear path in the hallway that I am standing in. The dim light creates intimidating shadows that fill up the emptiness, but “standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus.” When I focus on the light of Him, the shadows began to fade away.

Hallways are narrow and constrictive until an open door is reached. Movement and activities are limited by the walls on either side. You may feel claustrophobic but your only option is to walk through an open door. What if no door is open or you don’t know where the door leads? You can begin to open every door until you find the right one, but what if the door leads to a closet, another hallway, or the boss’ private office. The uncertainty of what lies behind a closed door can be very intimidating. Sometimes the best thing to do is to wait and ask someone familiar with the hallway.

There may be times you find yourself with your back to a door that has just been shut, facing a wall of closed, unmarked doors. Be patient, wait on Jesus, he is familiar with the hallway. He will open the right door at the right time. Revelations 3:7 These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:

In the midst of my frustration, God allowed the following song to reach me through Christian radio:

God is gonna finish

What He has started

Even though the waters

Got to be parted

Lift up your heads

Don't be broken hearted

God is gonna finish

What He started in you

Philippians 1:6 reminds us; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. We can be confident that the doors will not stay permanently shut because Jesus has promised to finish what he has started in every one of us if we stay faithful.