SOMETIMES GOD SAYS NO, SO HE CAN SAY YES!

There is nothing more fulfilling than being involved in the work of God. It is so awesome to realize that you are a small piece of God’s master plan. Each morning I pray that God will open my eyes and help me to accomplish what He has planned for that day. This prayer has led to some strange and interesting situations at the grocery store, a nursing home, my office, the subdivision where I live and other places I frequent. It is so amazing while meditating on God’s goodness in the evening to suddenly realize that the events of the day were not strange or coincidental at all. They were orchestrated by God and I was a part of them!!!

About 7 years ago, Steve and I felt led to start a small group in our town. Although we are surrounded by many churches, there is no church that teaches the Acts 2:38 message in our immediate area. It began as a small group in our home where we met once a week to study the Word of God, share testimonies of God’s goodness and pray for each other’s needs. As the group expanded we began to look for a building and held our first services there about 5 years ago. For the next 4 years we continued to minister to people and reach out to the community. Although many people visited, our core group remained small. About a eighteen months ago, the core shrunk to 3 individuals and we felt God telling us, “NO.” Our last service was Easter Sunday, 2009. It took several months for me to go back into the building because I was not ready to let go. I was sure it was the will of God but still I grieved.

As the months continued, Steve and I prayed, wept and sought God for direction. During that time we learn to see opportunities one day at a time and allow God to use us for that specific situation. We felt a burden for small churches and traveled on weekends to minister in them. I was privileged to complete 3 different Bible Study series and to teach them in small group settings. God allowed me to speak at some ladies meetings and seminars. I volunteered at the Rescue Mission and worked with hospice. I was blessed every time I saw God work in a situation or we enjoyed a powerful service in one of the small churches, but still something was missing. I had a longing to be a pastor’s wife again!!! I wanted to walk beside precious people as they worked out the issues in their lives, cry with them as they let go of the pain and rejoice when the joy of the Lord filled their heart. I was not very good at “lovin’ and leavin’.

Some opportunities began to present themselves. Every time we were optimistic; could this be the place God wanted us to minister? As we prayed for direction, it seemed as if God had forgotten that YES was also a word. The door would always shut with a resounding NO. There was one opportunity we were so sure would be perfect. Everything seemed to be falling into place except for one important detail. This had to be God’s plan for our lives, but to be sure we put a “fleece” before the Lord. We soon realized that although the fleece was wet the ground was very dry. We continued to pray about this one, because it was so “perfect” for our lives. One more “fleece” went before the Lord. This time, you guessed it, the ground was wet but the fleece was dry. God had not only answered our “fleece” but had taken the desire for this opportunity out of our hearts. So we continued to seek God’s will.

When we come to the end of our own imagination, God shows us His. God slapped us upside the head with an open door that we never saw coming, could not have imagined or even dreamed up. On August 22, 2010 we had our first service as pastor of Cornerstone Apostolic Church, Morristown, TN. Even as I write this, I am overwhelmed by the goodness of my God, tears fill my eyes and I may have to take a little praise break right here. God reached way up north in Saginaw, MI, touched a seeking pastor and his wife, filled our hearts with love for a beautiful congregation way down south in Morristown, TN. He has not only given us the desire of our heart but is allowing it to be fulfilled in one of the most beautiful areas in America.
All of the months of uncertainty allowed us to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ as we let go of our plans and sought His purpose. The miles of traveling to small congregations on weekends gave us a new perspective on God’s love for His people. Struggling in “Home Missions” for five years with little “success” in man’s eyes, taught us that, “there are no throwaway’s,” every soul is precious and you may be in that individual’s life for just a moment in time along their spiritual journey. All of the closed doors and God’s answers of “NO,” fine tuned our hearing so that when God said “YES,” the answer was unmistakable.

God has confirmed His “Yes” to us over the last month in unbelievable ways. I am so thankful for all the times God said no so He could say YES!!! This experience has taught me that accepting, with grace, the times that God says no makes the time He says yes so much sweeter.