faith, family, fun, and everything in-between!
Day 30- Walk Worthy
Our scripture for today is Ephesians 1: 15-19 and Ephesians 2:10
What is your identity?
Whose are you?
You are loved. You are worthy. You are a daughter of the most high. Trust Jesus to open the door…walk boldly into your calling with indomitable faith, my sojourning sister!
Thank you for joining me on this Faith Journey! I appreciate and love you more than words would express.
Christa
Day 29- Multiplying Talents
Yesterday was about God’s waiting room. Even though we get impatient, we must not move ahead of Him. No good can come from stepping out on our own. Seasons of “in-between” are opportunities for us to minister where we are…until He moves us on.
I am experiencing a season of “in-between” in my own life. When Ron accepted the call to become part of the pastoral staff at First Baptist Church At The Villages, I began praying about what The Lord might be calling me to as well.
At First Baptist Church of Brandon, I left two very active ministries that The Lord had allowed me lead. Our Deaf Ministry and our Compassion House ministry (community outreach providing food and clothing). I was also part of a leadership team that joined with 15 churches at Thanksgiving and Christmas to provide food, toys, and Jesus to our community. As part of Ron’s out reach to young adults, I would partner with him, on occasion, to co-teach Bible studies.
I was actively involved in ministry for over 12 years. Therefore, when we moved, I found myself in a weird place. In order for Landon to qualify for the charter high school in our area, I had to get a job with an approved market place employer. God graciously provided me a job as an assistant to a husband and wife realtor team. They were a precious couple. However, I was stuck in a cubicle everyday pushing papers. Those that know me, understand that I am a people person. But, I had to do what was needed for Landon’s education.
So, I began to pray about opportunities to minister where He had planted me. God faithfully provided. I began to build relationships with my cubbie-mates at work. We regularly had conversations and once they knew I was a pastor’s wife, they would ask me “deep” questions and seek counsel for their problems. One of my sweet cubbie-mates, is a divorced mom with two young children. The year before I arrived, she had escaped a physically abusive relationship. As a result her abuse, she was diagnosed with PTSD and suffered from severe anxiety.
Over time, she and I became close. I began to share scripture with her, pray with her at work, and shared salvation through Jesus. I saw God begin to transform her life. She began to gain confidence and take back her life from the enslavement of fear that had controlled her every decision.
Throughout this time, I continued to pray about where The Lord would have me serve within our church body. While First Baptist At The Villages has a Deaf Ministry, Ryan is the only Deaf member. And since he works in the tech booth on Sundays, there is no need for me to interpret for him. I have prayed about actively pursuing the Deaf in our area, but God has not given me permission to do that yet.
In the past, I have moved ahead of God. It was disastrous. Because of my self-imposed messes, I have learned to wait. We are called to be others focused, even in seasons of silence or the “in-between.” God has provided me opportunities to love on and minister to others where I am planted. Those opportunities may not have come the way I planned but I had to trust that God was working out His plan.
This Faith Journey devotional has come during this season of “in-between.” I was actually doing “clean-up” of old documents on my computer and came across a file of my writings/journaling spanning a decade. I began to read back over every entry and felt The Holy Spirit prompting me to share them. So, I began the process of praying and confirming that with The Lord. It was with apprehension, I walked through the door He opened and began writing.
In order to write this Faith Journey, The Lord had to open up old wounds that even years later are filled with pain and joy, victory and defeat. Â My conclusion, I believe My Sovereign Creator needed to remind me of His faithfulness in my “in-between.” I needed to pick up my Ebenezers and remember who He is and what He has done so that He could prepare me for what’s next…whatever that may be.
Explain what the first two servants did with their talents (coins)?
What the third servant did with his talent?
In verse 26, what did the master call the third servant?
“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.” Matt 25:29
When you and I accept Christ as Savior, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit imparts gifts to each of us. What are you doing with the gifts that He has trusted you with? Even in seasons of waiting, we are to continue to be His hands and feet to others.
You and I should have a desire to be like the woman with the alabaster box containing expensive perfume. She was willing to pour out all she had on Jesus as a sweet aroma (Matt 26). She didn’t care what others thought, even the disciples. She only cared about what Jesus thought. Her ongoing ministry was not going around and pouring out perfume on those she met. But, for that day, her calling was to serve The Lord with everything she had.
Obedience over feelings…People before things…Service before position.
Let’s Pray together for endurance to trust Him, praise Him, and serve Him in our seasons of “in-between.” Sisters, our addresses may change over time but His will for our lives never-changes…Make Jesus the priority of our lives, to seek and save the lost, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Be Jesus to others today, where you are planted.
It’s hard to believe that Our Faith Journey together ends tomorrow. However, our Faith Journey’s individually never end. I look forward to our last day together. I adore you and I am praying for you!
Day 28- The “In-Between”
On day 27, we learned that God is the great “I AM,” and our compassionate Shepherd. For those who have walked the Faith Journey with The Lord for any length of time, you have experienced change, right?! While our God never changes, He will ask us to move in a different direction for His purposes. I also laid out things He will NEVER ask us to do. Anything that is contrary to God’s Word or His character is not His will for our lives. Daily, we must choose to not live by our feelings or emotions, but instead live by faith in obedience to our Savior and Lord.
Today, let’s focus on the waiting or the “in-between” of our Faith Journey. We have become a society of instant gratification; drive trough windows, microwaves and insta-pots, the internet, steaming movies, binge-watching tv shows, ebooks and same day shipping. Our culture is not prone to having waiting for anything. When we want something, we want it now. However, God is not limited to time and especially not our timeframe.
I have witnessed others do this and even done it myself… gotten ahead of God because of impatience. Our “in-between” seasons are necessary for The Lord to move us on to what He has planned next. In his book, Unanswered, Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston termed these seasons of waiting as “God ‘s waiting room” or the “silence of God.” Often times while in God’s waiting room, We feel as if our prayers are hitting the ceiling and coming back down into a crumbled mess on the floor.
As the Master Dot-Connector, our God is orchestrating big scale, mind-blowing, life altering circumstances. Often that means a period of time in the “in-between.” We have read about King David and the 15 years ‘in-between’ his anointing as King and when he actually took the throne. The Psalms are filled with heart-tugging cries of David’s desperation. He had an overwhelming need to hear from God in his most difficult seasons. Abraham was stuck in the ‘in-between’ for 25 years waiting for the promise to be fulfilled for a son. Then, consider those who lived during the Intertestamental Period, the ‘in-between’ of the Old and New Testaments. These individuals waited an unfathomable 400 years without hearing the voice of God.
“As we study the account of Abraham and Sarah, we see that God had much bigger and better plans for and through them than they could even “conceive.” They desired a child. God wanted to start a faith movement. They were thinking about the continuance of their family line. God was thinking about the messianic line of Jesus. They were worried about not having an heir. God’s concern was for the salvation of all mankind (Gal. 3:29, Titus 3:7, Jas. 2:5).” Â Â Â Â –Â Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston, “Unanswered”
Yep…Wow! God is about the big picture…we can’t even comprehend the enormity of all He is doing. Our hopes and dreams are finite. God is infinite. The fact that we are still discussing Abraham and Sarah thousands of years after their lives on earth ended, is testament to the far-reaching, all-encompassing mind, and miraculous works of The Almighty.
Seasons of silence are not uncommon in God’s economy. God’s silence may be due to our sin of disobedience. At other times, God’s silence is Him saying…”wait, not yet, or I’ve got something bigger in mind.” Becoming a mature follower of Christ means learning to discern the difference between the two (discipline or seasons of in-between) through scripture, prayer, and  introspection.
Who is our help in the midst of trouble?
Why does the Psalmist instruct us to do even when the earth changes, mountains collapse, and waters roar (vs. 2-3)?
Do not fear! Come what may…do not fear!
Stop striving…Stop warring… Stop protesting. Be still…acknowledge His Sovereignty in all things, through all things, and in all things.
My household is always loud. With three men afoot, there is always a bustle of activity and technology swirling around me. But, in the wee hours of the morning when I wake to have time with Jesus and take in my anointed java juice, it’s completely quiet, peaceful, and soothing. It’s in the quiet that Jesus calms my soul and wraps me in His love. He draws me into conversation through prayer, and affirms His trustworthiness through Scripture.
Seasons of God’s silence do not change His attributes, care, or love. He is the same yesterday today, and forever more. When we can not understand His plan, we must hold onto His promises and trust His never-changing heart.
When you and I get discouraged in our own ‘in-between’ times, we must wait. We must rely on what we know to be true about God. Do not move ahead. If the door is not yet open, don’t force it open. If the door remains closed, wait for another to open.
Pray always…without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Even when you feel God is not listening…He is. He sees you. Keep in mind the vastness of God’s mighty working power. He will never fail you.
Oh my friends, take time to be quiet before The Lord…to really be still and quiet in His presence. Let Him cover you with His love. You are beautiful and loved by the One who created you. Never doubt that one bit. I’m praying for you!
To learn more about Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston’s ministry or order his book, “Unanswered,” visit:
Day 27- Our Shepherd
As I have expressed numerous times on this Faith Journey, raising our Ryan, who is Deaf, has brought us to depend on the sovereignty of Creator God continually. If not for the building up of my faith, I would be an utter and complete disaster. What’s worse, I would have imposed my mess on Ryan.
God has amazing plans for Ryan of which we have not even scratched the surface. He is now in college working toward a Media Design degree. He works with our tech team at church running our Facebook Live stream each Sunday. He is a HUGE University of Florida, Gators fan and is hopeful for a winning season this year. With Landon off at college, Ryan is adjusting to not having his best bud under roof every night.
As we approach the end of our Faith Journey together, I want to take the next few days to recap and encourage you as you motor on down the faith path in your relationship with Jesus.
I believe that one of the greatest lessons The Lord has taught me over the years is this… fight against complacency. While our God is never-changing, He is continually working. That means you and I are His perpetual workmanship. The circumstances surrounding our call might be tweaked but our calling remains unchanged…To know Jesus and make Him known to others. Ron and I understand this well.
About two and a half years ago, The Lord began to stir our hearts. Ron and I began to feel like God was getting ready to move us from our church home and family of twelve years. It is not something we actively sought. In fact, we prayed that God would literally “hit us over the head” if He wanted us to move.
Ron met Bob Perry, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church At The Villages at a conference led by Johnny Hunt two years ago. Pastor Bob asked if Ron would be willing to conference call with their leadership team on how to reach young adults and their families. They were primarily a senior adult congregation but felt God was leading them to reach younger families. Ron agreed…that was the beginning of God connecting their hearts. That God-connection led to First Baptist Church At The Villages presenting a call for Ron to serve on staff in April of 2017.
Leaving First Baptist Brandon church family was hard. Leaving our friends and the ministries we had been involved in, some we established, was heart wrenching. But, The Lord’s peace once again reigned in the decision process. The Lord worked out every detail, checked every box, and provided for needs we weren’t even aware we had. To stay…would have been outside of His will for our lives.
How are we to serve The Lord?
“We are His people and the______ of His pasture.”
We are His sheep, He is our great Shepherd. He leads us in ways everlasting. In verse 3, The LORD is translated Yahweh, the I AM. He is our all-powerful God and compassionate Shepherd especially in times of uncertainty and waiting.
Our callings can morph and bend over time as The Lord sees fit. However, there are a few things that he will never ask of us:
Pray–If you are questioning The Lord’s call or you feel He’s leading you down a different path…stay on your knees in prayer and bathe yourself in His Word. Then, wait patiently for His answer. The Lord’s peace will rule in your hearts when He’s ready for you to step through a new door that He has opened.
Some of you have shared that you are in a “different season” of your life and Faith Journey. That’s okay…remember your Ebenezers and continue to proclaim, “Thus far The Lord has helped us.” Â AND, He will again…hang on to Jesus with all your strength. He’s working all things together for your good and His glory.
Praying for you! Crossroads within your Faith Journey provide an opportunity for The Lord to show His power and lead you in the right direction with loving kindness and compassion.
My sojourning sisters, Â remember this…
“Faith is not merely a journey for the feet, but a journey for the heart.” Â Â Â Â Â Â A.W. Tozer
**Enjoy your Labor Day weekend. Our baby boy will be home from college. Can’t wait to see his face! I will post again on Tuesday, 9/4.**
Day 26-Faith in Action
It is my prayer that yesterday helped us do some self-introspection about insecurities we might unknowingly be putting on our children and those we love. We have to allow God to be God in their lives. He did not give us the title of Holy Spirit Jr. No, really…He didn’t. We have to let go and let God.
As we prepared to send Ryan back to public high school after 5 years of home school, we had a motto; “Ryan, Jesus loves you and wants to do amazing things in your life.” I had to say it everyday when Ryan would complain about his high school plight. Repeating our motto over and over was probably for my reassurance as much as it was for Ryan.
We prepared Ryan to the best of our ability and prayed that The Lord would provide caring students and teachers along the way. Ryan was the only Deaf student at Durant High School who signed. He was mainstreamed in regular education classes with a full-time sign language interpreter that went to each class with him. He also had a Deaf Education Resource Teacher, Sandy, who was a life line of support that helped keep him on track in the classroom.
A couple of weeks after school started, the student government adopted Ryan and invited him to eat lunch with them everyday. Some of them were in ASL (American Sign Language) class with Ryan and enjoyed practicing their signing skills with him. He was also in TV Production class and signed the morning announcements. His TV Production classmates became great friends to Ryan.
It took some time but we truly began to see Ryan blossom and mature through the kindness of others. He was doing well with his school work and grades. The teachers and administrators knew him and loved him. It was not uncommon to be out somewhere and hear, “Hey, Ryan!” from classmates.
Ryan is an amazing young man. He has an infectious laugh and witty sense of humor. He loves to joke around and is loyal to those he loves. Ron and I knew this about him. It took entering high school for Ryan to learn this about himself.
Ryan entered his senior year of high school in 2015-2016. He was blessed with an amazing, caring, out of this world interpreter named Pam. She is a Christian and regularly prayed with Ryan before tests. The two of them had a special relationship. She was an answer to prayer.
As much as Ron and I prayed for and encouraged Ryan, he had to do the hard work of “putting himself out there.” He’s a Deaf kid who signs. Some people have no idea what to do with that. But, the more Ryan stepped out of his comfort zone, the more The Lord blessed his efforts. God showed up and showed off in Ryan’s life.
Ryan was asked to prom by a beautiful, kind, and sweet friend named Seida. She even did a “prom-posal” for Ryan to make it special. The cherry on top of the sundae for Ryan’s high school career…Ryan was voted Prom King by his senior class of 2016. It is a memory he will carry with him always of God’s faithfulness in his life.
Our God wants to show up in awe-inspiring ways in the lives of those we love! He brought our motto to fruition in Ryan’s life…We serve a mighty God!
“Ryan, Jesus loves you and wants to do amazing things in your life.”
What is made perfect in our weakness?
In your own words, write verse 9:
Our obedience and faith in Jesus is far reaching…to our children, grandchildren, family, friends, co-workers, co-laborers, and the list goes on and on. The legacy of faith that we pass down will be weak or strong. Our dependence on Christ should be a strong faith established and lived out with courage. A weak faith is self-focused and allows fear to control our actions. Then, in turn we impose our anemic faith on those we love.
We need to raise up a generation who seeks and depends on Jesus daily. What would the world look like if we raised up men and women who stepped over their fear and insecurities to impact the world for Christ? What if they were others focused instead of self-focused?
I am thankful for the students at Durant High School whose parents taught them compassion and love for others. Ryan was the recipient of their selfless, Christ-like love. They were exhibiting the fruit of The Spirit toward Ryan that reassured him of His Creator’s faithfulness.
 Pray  over those in your life that need an extra dose faith encouragement today. Don’t put God in a box. He is omnipotent and will accomplish the impossible.
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” Â 1 Corinthians 2:9
Day 25- Move Out of His Way
Yesterday, we looked at our call to be fruity for Jesus. He is producing the fruit of The Spirit in us. Our fruit should be evident to all through the outpouring of our lives to others.
At this point in our Faith Journey, Ron and I have set-up a full-fledged after school program for Deaf children and their siblings. Each day, students were bussed to us. We had amazing volunteers and enjoyed having these children with us each afternoon. We provided hands-on tutoring help through Sign Language and worked on life skills with the older kids. On Wednesday nights, the parents were on campus for Sign Language and parenting classes.
As the Deaf children’s Ministry was growing, so was our ministry to Deaf adults. We offered interpreted services on Sundays, as well as, Bible study. And, our after school program provided service opportunities for our Deaf adults. We were amazed at all God was doing because we faithfully stepped through His open door.
At this time, Ryan was getting ready to transition from elementary school to middle school. As I began praying over and preparing for his IEP meeting, I just felt uneasy. I was not at peace about sending Ryan to middle school. I had heard stories of bullying and was not knowingly going to send Ryan into an abusive environment. So, we prayed about an alternative. The only answer that The Lord provided…home school.
“AAAHHHHHH!!! NO!!!!! Lord Jesus, please! This can not be the only alternative to public school for a Deaf kid.”
Please do not get me wrong, all you home school mommas, I admire you…I look up to you…I have the utmost respect for you. I just didn’t want to be one of you. I still do not feel that home schooling Ryan was my giftedness but it was necessary. For this season, I had to buckle down, and do what was best for Ryan.
I was so thankful that my friend, Joyce, came to the rescue again. She helped me get Ryan through science and math. Without her, poor Ryan was doomed in these subjects. I already confessed my severe inadequacy in the home school department. It was a struggle…for me. It had nothing to do with Ryan at all. I was not an educator. I never dreamed of being a teacher. Each lesson involved  hours of reading and prep work in order to adequately explain content in Sign Language to Ryan. However, Ryan loved it and did very well. We persevered through 4 years of home school together.
Then, it happened! My sweet, compliant, rule keeping, obedient Ryan, hit “that age.” You know…the age where kids become teens and turn into aliens right before your very eyes. Oh my…the last year of home school was horrible e-v-e-r-y-d-a-y! Two days ago I shared how conflict brings change. Well, we were certainly in the middle of conflict and needed change. But, what did that look like?
As I prayed over Ryan each morning, I pleaded for wisdom, patience, and nerves of steel. As Ron and I discussed Ryan’s behavior, we began to lean toward putting Ryan in public high school. To be honest, that was scarier than toughing out the next three years in home school.
But, I swallowed my fear and began exploring putting Ryan back in public school. I contacted the necessary departments for their guidance. I was instructed to visit our neighborhood high school and set-up a meeting. Throughout this process, I walked through doors The Lord opened and begged Him to slam doors shut if I was headed down the wrong hall way.
From the moment I stepped foot in the guidance office of Durant High School, I had His peace. I felt welcome, everyone was friendly and helpful, and if they did not have the answer…they committed to get it. Before long, Ryan was registered for high school. However, he was not happy about it! Not one bit!
Ryan had become used to finishing school at around 1:00pm each day with no homework. He enjoyed the flexibility that home school offered and was not excited to have that freedom strangled by school rules, homework, and class schedules.
He protested so much that I began to doubt the decision I felt The Lord had placed so strongly on my heart…
What excuse did Moses make to The Lord?
How did God confirm His call to Moses?
The more I prayed about sending Ryan to high school, the more The Lord confirmed that it was the right choice. In my mind, I thought that if it was the right decision, Ryan would be on board…he was not. He finally shared with me that he was scared of being different, had a fear of bullying, and did not think he could manage changing classes and all that involved. Ryan felt overwhelmed and inadequate.
But what The Lord revealed to me through His Word and exhaustive prayer was that it was not me making the excuses this time… It was Ryan. He gave me His peace so I could push Ryan toward God’s purpose for his life. This decision was about Jesus care and  love for Ryan. He desired to help Ryan understand a deeper faith in his Creator God. That required Ryan to step out of his comfort zone and trust that Jesus knew what was best. But, that meant The Lord needed me to trust Him with our Ryan once again. I had to reassure Ryan that God was for him.
“The Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” Exodus 4:11
Often we push our insecurities off on our children without realizing it. I don’t think it’s something we do intentionally. Our insecurities and doubts take root in us and become part of who we are. Then, without warning…they come out in our parenting. What can happen if we are not careful, is that we stifle our children’s God-given call. We can become so paralyzed by our “what-if” scenarios that we try to keep our loved ones in a bubble instead of allowing God to be God in their lives.
As we travel our Faith Journey, let’s be mindful that just as God has worked in and through our lives, He will do the same for those we love. I know it’s impossible to believe, but The Lord loves them more than we do.
Pray and then trust Him for the outcome of those you love. He has a work to do in their lives. You do not want to do anything to block The Lord’s refining and character building that’s necessary for their call, right?! God’s gonna need you to move out of His way.
Sisters, say this with me…”move it, move it, move it!”
Praying with you and for you as we keep movin’ on down the road.
Day 24- Faith Without Works
Ron and I are so thankful for Dr. Tommy Green and his wife Karen. As I shared yesterday, Pastor Tommy was sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit to call Ron on staff to start and lead the Deaf Ministry at First Baptist Church of Brandon. Pastor Tommy was, also, instrumental in helping us navigate our initial call to ministry that led us to Southeastern Seminary. We are forever thankful for how the Lord used he and Karen in our lives. We had the privilege to serve alongside them for 11 years.
As Ron and I began to pray about what Deaf Ministry would look like at First Baptist, we became aware of needs through Ryan’s school. I have always been involved in volunteering in Ryan’s classrooms. I got to know his teachers and helped out regularly with projects and field trips. Since the children were Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, I was able to Sign with them.
It was in getting to know Ryan’s teachers that they presented both a need and a challenge. Most parents of Deaf children do not learn Sign Language. Therefore, they have very little interaction with their children at home. Which meant no help with homework, language development, or discipline.
Ryan’s teachers asked us to figure out how we could engage the parents and teach them Sign Language and provide tutoring opportunities for the children.
This caused us to think “outside the box.” The only experience Ron and I had with Deaf Ministry was with adults. We had never considered a Deaf Ministry to children and their families. So, we committed this to prayer knowing there were hurdles The Lord was going to have to knock down in order for an after school tutoring program to happen. So, we began to pray. “Lord, if you are in this thing, we need you to come through BIG time…”
In the mean time, we began a Wednesday night Sign Language class. The teachers at Ryan’s school sent home information to the parents for us. We also offered a fun, interactive Bible class for their Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children in Sign Language. The response was very encouraging.
One of the most amazing blessings is that my friend Joyce (that I shared about on Day 22), became a North American Mission Board Missionary to the Deaf. She sold her home in North Carolina and moved to Florida to be our “right hand” in this new version of Deaf Ministry to Deaf children and their families.
As word spread, we had more families get involved. God faithfully sent volunteers, and the Deaf Education teachers at school were so encouraged that they regularly sent home information about our Wednesday night Sign class and Deaf children’s’ class.
God had checked all the boxes for an after school tutoring program, except for one…
To have an after school tutoring program for Deaf children, we needed our school district to provide transportation from school to our church. With the input of the school’s Deaf Education teachers and a few calls to the district’s transportation department, God provided. This was a true miracle. No where else in our district did transportation drop off children at any business, especially a church.
Who but God?!
In verse 17, “______ with works is dead.”
In your own words, what does James 2:14-26 mean to you?
Do these verses imply that we must “work” for our salvation? Explain why or why not:
Do you remember the fruit of the spirit from and earlier devotion? Write them out (hint: there are 9-Galatians 5:22)
Here’s the deal, my friends…we are known by our fruit. If there is no fruit, there is no faith. On this Faith Journey we have explored and verified through scripture that our faith is an active faith. To have a relationship with Jesus Christ means I am being built up in my faith… so that His character is produced in me…so that He can use me for His purposes to further His kingdom.
I want to be clear on this point, we are saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ and repentance from our sin. That is the grace gift from God that you and I Â can not earn. His only son, Jesus, because of his death on the cross, burial, and Resurrection provided for our free gift of salvation. He did the work. And Jesus work of salvation in our lives is made evident by our fruit, call, and ministry to others.
Ron was ministering to a family whose son was in the hospital dying because of severe, long-term drug and alcohol abuse. The son was conscious and Ron felt compelled to share the gospel. As he finished up and was getting ready to ask the son if he was ready to repent of his sin and place his faith and trust in Jesus Christ, the mom spoke up and said, “Honey (to her son), you did that. Don’t you remember when you walked the aisle at church when you were 8?” Â Ron explained that the fruit of her son’s life was contrary to the scriptural definition of salvation…there was no evidence, no fruit. The mom continued to excuse away her son’s actions until the son spoke up and said, “you’re right mom, I already made that decision.” The conversation ended and Ron left grieved over the justification of sin and ignorance over true salvation that possibly sent this man to hell.
I know what you are thinking…only God knows someones heart. You are right. However, even though we are not called to judge, we are called to be “fruit inspectors.” If the fruit of our life or those we know is rotten, then we have to ask ourselves a question. Is there true salvation or only belief like that of the demons in verse 19?
Ouch!!! I know…fruit inspection is painful but necessary. You and I are saved and called. If we are saved, we are called. We are known as Christ followers by our fruit/works/deeds/ministry.
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” Matthew 12:33
The Lord wants to work powerfully in and through our lives to make Himself known in ways that are beyond our imagination. Let’s trust Jesus for the miraculous that only He can accomplish through us…others will be amazed, not in us, but in Him alone.
Pray that the fruit of your life is good. That others will know you by your fruit that is good, ripe, aromatic, and nourishing to the soul. Most importantly, fruit that beckons others to the Tree of Life…Jesus Christ.
Praying for you my fruity sisters!
Day 23- Change is Challenging
On Day 22, I reminisced about my treasured friendship with Joyce. I hope you were encouraged by the Biblical example of friendship between Ruth and Naomi. Their’s is an example we should strive to follow in our own friendships.
Often God brings about change through conflict. It can be relational conflict or circumstantial conflict. I shared that The Lord had given Ron and I a brief season of rest. We were thankful for it…because change was a comin’.
The Deaf program at Ryan’s school was changing dramatically. They were adopting a new program for speech development that required Ryan (and us) to learn Cued Speech. Cued Speech is not Sign Language. It’s hand signals produced near your mouth area that signaled the recipient what sound or syllable to produce with their voice.
I am not a proponent or opponent of Cued Speech. But, after much prayer…we decided it was not an option. Ryan was doing well with Sign Language and we simply could not comprehend the confusion of adding hand signals into his curriculum.
So, we began to pray and I felt God was getting ready to move us. Where? We had no idea. We researched Deaf schools and programs all over the US. We visited a Deaf School connected to a Deaf Church and looked into the Washington DC area near Gallaudet University. While the programs and schools were impressive, we did not have God’s peace regarding any of them.
Almost simultaneously, Ron and felt God was calling us back to Florida so Ryan could attend his former elementary school. But, that was all we were sure of. Ron had no prospect of a job and we would need to live with Ron’s parents initially. Again, we were trusting Our Provider and Sustainer.
After we got settled back in Florida, we began looking for ministry opportunities with the Deaf in the area. Our former church did not have a Deaf Ministry. So, we located a Deaf church in the area and began to attend. However, after a few weeks of attendance, Ryan began to give us a hard time about going to church. He told us there were no other kids and that it was boring. Landon was not too keen on it either for the same reasons. The people were nice and welcoming to our family. But, for some reason both boys were opposed to it. Every Sunday was a struggle. That had never happened before. We persevered and continued to attend hoping and praying for His guidance.
Christmas 2004 was on a Sunday. The Deaf church decided to cancel services. So, I contacted the pastor from our former church, Dr. Tommy Green at First Baptist Church of Brandon. Through email, I explained our situation and asked if it would be okay for me to interpret the service for Ryan on Christmas Sunday. He graciously agreed.
As Pastor Tommy was preaching that Christmas Sunday, he put forth the vision for FBCB for 2005. He said, “I feel God is calling us to start a language ministry this next year.” On a phone call with Ron the next morning, Pastor Tommy said that as he was saying those words, he looked down at me interpreting and felt The Lord compelling him that FBCB was to start a Deaf Ministry. In the coming weeks, Ron accepted a part-time position over Deaf Ministry and Evangelism at First Baptist Church of Brandon.
When Ron and I left Florida, we did not expect to ever return. We had burned the plow so to speak. But, The Lord had other plans and AGAIN used our Ryan to propel us into His call for our lives.
We were excited but nervous about starting a Deaf Ministry from the ground up. We felt the weight of all that would entail. We had to cling to our Way-Maker and trust His guidance.
In the chapters leading up to Chapter 33, there was conflict in the camp. The Israelites were an obstinant people. While Moses was on Mount Sinai meeting with God and receiving the commandments, the people got bored and discouraged. They decided to make an idol of a golden calf. While still on the mountain, God told Moses what the people had done and wanted to destroy them. Moses interceded on behalf of the people and God showed mercy. But, The Lord was going to remove His presence. Again, Moses interceded for the people.
What does Moses beg of The Lord?
Oh Lord, “If your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.”
When God calls us…He will lead us. We do not want to go ahead of Him or worse yet, go without Him. That doesn’t mean that what The Lord calls us to is laid out like Map Quest. I wish it were sometimes. But, we have to trust the open doors He provides and change directions when He closes doors that are wrong for us.
The Israelites had experienced God’s amazing miracles first hand and still turned their backs on Him at the first sign of trouble. That’s how the enemy works. At the first sign of trouble, he plants seeds of doubt in our minds and if left to their own devices, become full-fledged sin of disobedience. That’s why we must stand firm in our faith and proclaim…if You, Oh Lord, are not in this thing, DO Not lead us up from here. Make Your presence known.
Our path back to Florida was filled with uncertainty. But, we both knew beyond the shadow of a doubt, it was His will to step through that door and follow His lead. We had to trust that once we walked down the hallway through that open doorway, He would provide the next open door.
My friends, some open doors look good at first glance…but are not God’s plan for us. Pray and seek His guidance. Then, depend on His peace in the decision-making process. If you are unsure…beg for His conformation. He is faithful…always! He can be no less than who He is…
Praying that The Lord will guide and protect you today!
Day 22–The Gift of Friendship by Way of East Asia
I hope that Day 21 inspired you and encouraged you to armor up and join the battle against our enemy, Satan. I read a plaque one time that said:
” Be the kind of woman who when your feet hit the floor each morning the Devil says, “Oh crap, she’s up!”
Love it!!! Let’s be on offense against our foe. He won’t know what hit him!
In our time together , I have talked about the sovereignty of the Master Dot-Connector. Our God is in the business of orchestrating everything for our good and His purposes. As I have shared, God is actively involved in connecting the dots in our relationships with others.
One of the sweetest dot-connections He has orchestrated is with my friend, Joyce. Would you believe our friendship started in East Asia, of all places?
In 2002, our church partnered with Southeastern Seminary for a mission trip to East Asia. This trip had many layers of which were working in a Deaf orphanage and some medical expertise. Ron and I both prayed about it and felt strongly that I was supposed to go. My roommate was, Joyce Gerardi. She is actually Dr. Joyce Gerardi, a veterinarian.
Over the three weeks in East Asia we got to know each other very well and hit it off. We really bonded over stomach bugs, being followed by the police, remote village visits by bus, weird food, Dove Bars, tuk-tuk rides, elephant rides, sharing the gospel, and coffee. I even assisted her in a couple of animal surgeries.
The mission trip was so impactful in both of our lives. But, the greatest treasure that came out of that trip was a life long friend, sister, and ministry partner. Joyce became part of our family over the next 3 years. She learned Sign Language to be able to communicate with Ryan. Landon adored her. Both boys call her Aunt Joyce. Well, until she reached an age milestone, then Ryan started affectionately calling her Grandma Joyce. That boy…
When God called us back to Florida (that story to come in the days ahead), Joyce helped us move. I was heartbroken when she left Florida. But, we talked every week on the phone. God was doing a work that neither of us quite understood at the time. He was orchestrating a reunion in ministry that was quite profound in the not to distance future.
What happened to Ruth and Orpah’s husbands? Who is their mother-in-law?
What instruction did Naomi give to Ruth and Orpah?
“But Ruth said, ‘do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17
I can only imagine the deep friendship, love, and care Ruth and Naomi shared. Ruth had lost her husband and Naomi lost her sons and her husband. They were both hurting but clung to each other. Even in her grief, Naomi was willing to sacrifice her own needs for those of her daughters-in-law and release them back to their mothers’ home.
As you can see in the verses above, Ruth was having no part of leaving Naomi. She vowed her loyalty and care to her beloved mother-in-law til death. I have to believe that theirs was a relationship that goes beyond the norm. They were friends…the best of friends with an agape love for one another.
How sweet it is that The Lord sends those kind of precious friends into our lives. For the last 15 years, Joyce has been my prayer partner, burden bearer, and faith encourager. I thank God for her everyday! Being a pastor’s wife can be very lonely. Being vulnerable is difficult and loyal friends that you can depend on and confide in are rare. So, when The Lord sends you that kind of friend…you hold onto them with everything you have.
Pray for and over the friendships in your life. Spur one another on to good works, cry together over heart breaks, and rejoice over victories.
I love you, Joyce! I am praying for you, my friend!
Day 21- Not Today Satan!
On Day 20, we learned that we all need rest for our bodies and souls. Our souls can become weary just as easily as our bodies during seasons of “building up” our faith. Our souls can become war-weary and in need of His rest as well.
Today, I want to focus on a someone who is given way too much power over our lives…Satan. I have purposely waited until we were far down the path in our Faith Journey to bring him up. Over the course of my ministry, I have discovered that many Christians submit to the power of Satan before they submit to the Power of the Holy Spirit working in and through them. They surrender defeat and wave the white flag to the enemy at the first hint of trouble.
It has been my prayer in writing this Faith Journey, that we would establish a firm faith foundation in Christ. So that, when difficulties come, our first “go-to” is Jesus and not to surrender to the enemy.
Make no mistake…Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy those that claim Jesus as Lord and Savior. His greatest victory is destroying our testimonies. He cannot steal our salvation…but he can steal our witness. He cannot kill our souls… but he can kill our influence. He cannot destroy our giftedness… but he can destroy our effectiveness.
We, God’s people, have allowed Satan to steal our victories for far too long. We have given in to the enemy’s attacks rather than arming ourselves for battle under the command and power of The Almighty.
Who are we battling?
What is our defense? Write it out–
Armor up daily, Sisters! Each piece of the armor reminds us who we are in Jesus Christ. We are not wienies…we are warriors. People are not our enemy…Satan is. And he has become quite effective in using others to stir up trouble, steal our joy, and render us ineffective. Â BATTLE him…Satan only has power over you if you allow it. ” Greater is He in us than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
1 Peter 5:9, Â how do we resist Satan? If we stand firm and resist what will happen?
YES!!! Stand firm in our FAITH! We cannot stand firm in what we do not have. We are powerless to battle Satan without faith in the One and Only!
Job is a great example of enduring under Satan’s attacks. We see in the book of Job that God gave Satan permission to sift/test Job…twice. His body, his family, his business were utterly destroyed by the enemy. Why would God allow that? Because God was sifting Job for His purposes. God had faith in Job to stand up against Satan and claim victory through His almighty power.
Throughout our time in ministry, Ron and I have experienced seasons of sifting and refining through battles with the enemy. Our sifting took on various forms; relationships with others, unbelief, pride, self-sufficiency, feelings of inadequacy…and so on. After allowing Satan to defeat us numerous times, there came a point where we stopped, armored up, and prayed through those battles to victory.
There will be seasons The Lord will allow Satan to sift us like Peter and Job. But, remember as we have studied, He always has a purpose. Our Mighty God believes in you…He’s called you…He loves you…He has empowered you to stand toe to toe with Satan and render him DEFEATED!!!
Pray and armor up! Do not let Satan have one more victory in your life.
End today by reading Luke 22:31-32. We have a mighty intercessor that prays our faith will not fail. Take comfort in that today!
Praying for you Mighty Warriors of God! Let’s say it together…”Not Today Satan!”
