The best news I heard today
My very good friend, mentor, fellow Bible study teacher, and all around great guy, Pastor Karl started a couple of new gigs recently. Today was the first day for him as the temporary pastor of a Baptist church in Murray. For all y'all that read this thing that don't live in "Idaho" (which means anything north of Hill AFB for some of my friends), you should take the opportunity to go hear him preach.
Karl, among all the other things listed above, is a great preacher. I miss him being my pastor, but so glad he's still filling all those other roles in my life. Anyway...
Last night, I felt led to pray for him to have an increase at the church he's pastor of these days. Today, two people came forward and expressed interest in joining that fellowship. God answers prayers. It had nothing to do with me, except a friend praying for his friend, praying for that group of believers to increase. It wasn't my idea to pray for that specifically, but that's just another example of how God works. Sometimes the Spirit leads us to what to pray for.
Sometimes we're on empty, and the Spirit does the praying FOR us, though groans.
God is still very much in the business of being God and I just give Him all the glory for a very quick answer to that prayer. It's one that will be ongoing.
People at my church pray for me and I've asked them to pray for the situation here at the house. For myself, I am kind of uncertain about what I should be praying for these days. I don't worry about God and Wendi's relationship. Her walk is not my walk. So I'm asking God to help ME change. Conflict always takes two. In my defense, I've not meant to cause any. To my chagrin, I can do it sometimes by just being in the same room. So I'll let God deal with Wendi and just ask Him to help change what I can change, which is me.
It's not easy, but it must be necessary.
I was so happy to hear Karl's story today. He didn't tell me that until I mentioned to him that I started praying for an increase for him last night. I'm grateful. I've been avoiding the pity party with all I have in me. But I'm encouraged that God helped me to remember He's still hearing my prayers. He still knows what He's doing and through a little devotional from "Our Daily Bread" yesterday, He reminded me that if I'm following Him, I don't need to know where He's leading me.
I just need to go. Or stay. Whichever the case may be.
A church family is important and I am so grateful for mine. They let me preach sometimes. They pray for me. They might get a little exasperated with me from time to time, but they're there for me. And I could tell by Saturday night that tensions were running a little bit lower.
Saturday morning, God gave me something to do for the ex and her kids. When I'm upset with someone, it's not uncommon for God to find something to do for that person. It's a reminder to me that I need to have a servant's heart, along with surrendering to God's plan for my life.
Another thing I was reminded of yesterday was that if we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up. He did that. At church. This morning.
I told my church family that I was grateful for their prayers, that I felt like "The War of The Roses" was over. Things are tense but I believe God stepped in and poured some cold water on the fire that was burning. Hurt people hurt people. I know this. I refuse to get caught in that trap. So I've learned that when I want to say something in response to an impolite or snyde remark, that Bucket needs to go for a walk. It's a good way to just walk away.
Which is hard for me to do. It's against my nature to back down from a fight. I'm getting better at it. God is working on that prayer, the "Change ME" part of this.
Anyway, sorry for the rabbit trail. The folks I worship with know what I'm going through right now, and our new pastor said some nice things about my part in our congregation. They know I'm trying to not just talk the talk. I do my best to walk the walk.
And then the focus of church today was 1 John where John writes to us that if one of our brothers and sisters is in need and we have the means to help them with food or shelter (or whatever else for that matter) that we should. I know this situation is of God's will. It's just a part of scripture I get to experience and it's about loving each other, because John reminds us of that commandment later on in the passage.
I almost didn't stay for church. I hurt so bad. But I forced myself and I'm glad I did. There is a couple at church who have been married for as long as George and Barbara Bush. They had a reception for them after church. I was unable to stay. I went straight from church to the doctor.
I have something going on that's making walking very uncomfortable. The doctor's first guess was that it was a severe Gout attack. An hour later the labs confirmed it was not that, but the blood markers for inflammation were elevated. I also have a fever that's not being caused by an infection.
She tossed out a couple of things (painful, ugly, life-changing but not terminal, things it might be). Those tests won't come back for a couple of days.
I was blessed today that it was my doctor on duty. I got chastised for not having a physical with her in about a minute. I will call and fix that tomorrow.
I don't know what's going on with the ankles. I do know it's not good. But I also am not freaked out by the diagnosis of whichever of the two she tells me it is. I know that because even after several cups of coffee and a great deal of pain, my blood pressure was good.
Because I had just been reminded that God is still very much in control and that while the ride is bumpy, He's driving.
Just knowing that helps things take proper perspective.
So when I hear something I'll let all y'all know. In the mean time, Glory to God for answered prayers!
Karl, among all the other things listed above, is a great preacher. I miss him being my pastor, but so glad he's still filling all those other roles in my life. Anyway...
Last night, I felt led to pray for him to have an increase at the church he's pastor of these days. Today, two people came forward and expressed interest in joining that fellowship. God answers prayers. It had nothing to do with me, except a friend praying for his friend, praying for that group of believers to increase. It wasn't my idea to pray for that specifically, but that's just another example of how God works. Sometimes the Spirit leads us to what to pray for.
Sometimes we're on empty, and the Spirit does the praying FOR us, though groans.
God is still very much in the business of being God and I just give Him all the glory for a very quick answer to that prayer. It's one that will be ongoing.
People at my church pray for me and I've asked them to pray for the situation here at the house. For myself, I am kind of uncertain about what I should be praying for these days. I don't worry about God and Wendi's relationship. Her walk is not my walk. So I'm asking God to help ME change. Conflict always takes two. In my defense, I've not meant to cause any. To my chagrin, I can do it sometimes by just being in the same room. So I'll let God deal with Wendi and just ask Him to help change what I can change, which is me.
It's not easy, but it must be necessary.
I was so happy to hear Karl's story today. He didn't tell me that until I mentioned to him that I started praying for an increase for him last night. I'm grateful. I've been avoiding the pity party with all I have in me. But I'm encouraged that God helped me to remember He's still hearing my prayers. He still knows what He's doing and through a little devotional from "Our Daily Bread" yesterday, He reminded me that if I'm following Him, I don't need to know where He's leading me.
I just need to go. Or stay. Whichever the case may be.
A church family is important and I am so grateful for mine. They let me preach sometimes. They pray for me. They might get a little exasperated with me from time to time, but they're there for me. And I could tell by Saturday night that tensions were running a little bit lower.
Saturday morning, God gave me something to do for the ex and her kids. When I'm upset with someone, it's not uncommon for God to find something to do for that person. It's a reminder to me that I need to have a servant's heart, along with surrendering to God's plan for my life.
Another thing I was reminded of yesterday was that if we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up. He did that. At church. This morning.
I told my church family that I was grateful for their prayers, that I felt like "The War of The Roses" was over. Things are tense but I believe God stepped in and poured some cold water on the fire that was burning. Hurt people hurt people. I know this. I refuse to get caught in that trap. So I've learned that when I want to say something in response to an impolite or snyde remark, that Bucket needs to go for a walk. It's a good way to just walk away.
Which is hard for me to do. It's against my nature to back down from a fight. I'm getting better at it. God is working on that prayer, the "Change ME" part of this.
Anyway, sorry for the rabbit trail. The folks I worship with know what I'm going through right now, and our new pastor said some nice things about my part in our congregation. They know I'm trying to not just talk the talk. I do my best to walk the walk.
And then the focus of church today was 1 John where John writes to us that if one of our brothers and sisters is in need and we have the means to help them with food or shelter (or whatever else for that matter) that we should. I know this situation is of God's will. It's just a part of scripture I get to experience and it's about loving each other, because John reminds us of that commandment later on in the passage.
I almost didn't stay for church. I hurt so bad. But I forced myself and I'm glad I did. There is a couple at church who have been married for as long as George and Barbara Bush. They had a reception for them after church. I was unable to stay. I went straight from church to the doctor.
I have something going on that's making walking very uncomfortable. The doctor's first guess was that it was a severe Gout attack. An hour later the labs confirmed it was not that, but the blood markers for inflammation were elevated. I also have a fever that's not being caused by an infection.
She tossed out a couple of things (painful, ugly, life-changing but not terminal, things it might be). Those tests won't come back for a couple of days.
I was blessed today that it was my doctor on duty. I got chastised for not having a physical with her in about a minute. I will call and fix that tomorrow.
I don't know what's going on with the ankles. I do know it's not good. But I also am not freaked out by the diagnosis of whichever of the two she tells me it is. I know that because even after several cups of coffee and a great deal of pain, my blood pressure was good.
Because I had just been reminded that God is still very much in control and that while the ride is bumpy, He's driving.
Just knowing that helps things take proper perspective.
So when I hear something I'll let all y'all know. In the mean time, Glory to God for answered prayers!
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