I sat for a while yesterday, marveling at how God is working in Misti’s life. You do your best while raising your children and leave the rest up to Him. We as a church have been at a pivotal point, Stephen & I as pastor and wife, have done our part with praying, fasting, his teaching and preaching God’s word, and we reach a certain point, then sin and people reek havoc and we are left to clean up the aftermath!
I, for one, have had a hard time with the continual issues, knowing that God has promised “Us” revival here. I realized this past week that my focus has been on the wrong things. Here we are with over 20 brand new people in various stages (Christina & Michael & children, ~Teresa Gutierrez, & 3 children, ~ Joseph, James, Julia & their mother~ Augie, Trina & 3 children~ and a host of visitors that my hubby knows their names, shame on me, I’m bad with names!!) And, here I am focusing on whether this one is in a bad mood, if so and so is acting cranky, who is missing church, and what will go wrong tonight at church. Not thinking for one minute about just plain PRAISE!!! I do praise, don't get me wrong, but before service, I worry! Shame on me! I went in Sunday with a total different mindset, and God met us from the very beginning! He even spoke to me directly through other ministry that He is in control, His promises are still my promise, and that He knows exactly where we are and that we are to remain strong because He is taking care of everything. That we are at a point that we can go any direction and that we had stepped over the line to the next level in the spirit! Wow, I didn’t even look for frowns after that!!
Back to Misti, I knew that she and Adam were carrying a heavy burden for certain people and situations in our church. I have also noticed a new depth in both of them. She sat at my house last night, both of us in tears, as she talked about her passion, her determination to see God’s church in Kerman prosper, and the fact that they are binding with us! You see, the missionary, Bro. Peircy that was with us on Sunday morning spoke that our revival would come when the church’s burden met the burden of the pastor. He said that until present, we have carried it and God was waiting on the church to join us. I have blamed (not spoken out loud, just to myself) every flaw on our lack of knowledge, that my family must pray and fast more, be harder, be nicer, be…be……… as of Sunday I realized that we cannot do what God can’t do! He is waiting on others to join us!
Do I still worry about so and so? Yes, because I want them to be part of the revival that God has promised. I want to see the fruits of the Spirit in their lives. But, they have to make decision for themselves, my worry will not do it!!
Misti, don’t ever forget what you have learned in the past year about dedicated prayer. Every time in the past few months that we have gone to focused prayer for specific situations, it was just days before God answered. You were amazed on Sunday when the very ones you have been interceding for, were lost in the Lord with no prodding! On their own they were worshiping and loving God.
He is so good! It blesses my heart to see you dedicated and weeping before the Lord! Never lose that! Dad and I love you and Adam dearly!
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