Hallelujah Anyhow!
Today as I sit to write this blog, I am praying that I may be able to convey to everyone that might read this all that God has placed in my heart. As you know this past six months has been indeed a life changing experience for me...and I am not talking about the "change" that occurs to women in my age group. I am talking about this wonderful adventure that we are experiencing by the grace of God.
My husband was called to plant a church in Oakdale, CA, and so here we are! We moved here believing that God would take care of us and meet our needs and He has miraculously provided exceeding, abundantly ABOVE ALL that we have asked or even thought He would do!
Right now I am sitting in my new home - at the time of my last writing I knew that God was going to provide it - at the right time - and He certainly did...without a minute to lose! We moved on a Friday morning - and as of the Thursday morning before our move, the house we hoped for (and also the only one available at the time we needed to move) was not secured. The landlord was unsure if she wanted to rent her home to a pastor that had a church of less than 3 months old. I must admit I went through a grueling afternoon on Thursday, crying and asking God what I was supposed to do...and He wasn't giving me an answer...(which was His answer)"do nothing; wait!" Finally after 5:00 pm on Thursday afternoon we received the call that the house was ours! Praise the Lord!
Yesterday we held a baptism service and we had 14 potential people that had agreed to be baptized; perhaps it was a lack of faith on my part, but I was praying that God would bless us and give us 7 baptisms (I already knew of a few folks that were unable to get baptized yesterday), and 40 in attendance for our morning service. Well, we had 35 in attendance and 1 baptism...so does that mean God didn't answer my prayer? I don't think so, and here's why.
Well, let me first start by telling you a little about the day yesterday. It started off with the phone ringing...for those of you in the ministry I am sure you know that when the phone rings on a Sunday morning - it is not usually good news:) It is normally someone letting you know that they can't be in church - discouraging to say the least. Then ladies, you'll be able to understand the "pain" I suffered when after doing one side of my hair - my flat iron died! I have very curly, frizzy, hair - and my flat iron died! on Sunday morning...ugh! Fortunately, I had an old flat iron that worked well enough to finish my hair - though it did not turn out quite as I would have liked. To top that off the hose that leads to the water softener in our garage slipped out of the pipe and flooded the garage! Satan was definitely camping out on our doorstep. Well after all those things we recognized who was attacking us, praised the Lord singing "Hallelujah Anyhow...I never let my troubles get me down; When the trials come my way, I hold my head up high and say, "Hallelujah Anyhow!"
Now, after such a morning it would seem that by not having the attendance I hoped for both in the service and in the baptism tank that I would be discouraged and even charge God for not answering the way I hoped...but that is not the case at all. Philippians 4:4-7 says, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Perhaps I didn't get the exact "number" I was praying for, but I had asked that God bless us, and that He did! I am rejoicing in the Lord - He blessed us yesterday with a great service, a sweet spirit, visitors, and a baptism. If you'll notice the commandment is to rejoice, show moderation (meaning calm, patience, temperance), then we are reminded that God is "at hand," so...don't worry about anything, pray letting God know you will be thankful with the outcome He gives, and then He will give you peace to accept what you get. I am rejoicing in the many blessings He has provided, and He has given me tremendous peace:)
Some might call it a "Pollyanna" attitude, but I believe that we should pray and then trust that God's outcome is best regardless of what we think...Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Haven't discovered what good will come out of a broken flat iron yet, but I'll keep you posted...but as the song says, when your troubles come your way, hold your head us high and say, "hallelujah anyhow!" love you ladies!
Have a wonderful day!
My husband was called to plant a church in Oakdale, CA, and so here we are! We moved here believing that God would take care of us and meet our needs and He has miraculously provided exceeding, abundantly ABOVE ALL that we have asked or even thought He would do!
Right now I am sitting in my new home - at the time of my last writing I knew that God was going to provide it - at the right time - and He certainly did...without a minute to lose! We moved on a Friday morning - and as of the Thursday morning before our move, the house we hoped for (and also the only one available at the time we needed to move) was not secured. The landlord was unsure if she wanted to rent her home to a pastor that had a church of less than 3 months old. I must admit I went through a grueling afternoon on Thursday, crying and asking God what I was supposed to do...and He wasn't giving me an answer...(which was His answer)"do nothing; wait!" Finally after 5:00 pm on Thursday afternoon we received the call that the house was ours! Praise the Lord!
Yesterday we held a baptism service and we had 14 potential people that had agreed to be baptized; perhaps it was a lack of faith on my part, but I was praying that God would bless us and give us 7 baptisms (I already knew of a few folks that were unable to get baptized yesterday), and 40 in attendance for our morning service. Well, we had 35 in attendance and 1 baptism...so does that mean God didn't answer my prayer? I don't think so, and here's why.
Well, let me first start by telling you a little about the day yesterday. It started off with the phone ringing...for those of you in the ministry I am sure you know that when the phone rings on a Sunday morning - it is not usually good news:) It is normally someone letting you know that they can't be in church - discouraging to say the least. Then ladies, you'll be able to understand the "pain" I suffered when after doing one side of my hair - my flat iron died! I have very curly, frizzy, hair - and my flat iron died! on Sunday morning...ugh! Fortunately, I had an old flat iron that worked well enough to finish my hair - though it did not turn out quite as I would have liked. To top that off the hose that leads to the water softener in our garage slipped out of the pipe and flooded the garage! Satan was definitely camping out on our doorstep. Well after all those things we recognized who was attacking us, praised the Lord singing "Hallelujah Anyhow...I never let my troubles get me down; When the trials come my way, I hold my head up high and say, "Hallelujah Anyhow!"
Now, after such a morning it would seem that by not having the attendance I hoped for both in the service and in the baptism tank that I would be discouraged and even charge God for not answering the way I hoped...but that is not the case at all. Philippians 4:4-7 says, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Perhaps I didn't get the exact "number" I was praying for, but I had asked that God bless us, and that He did! I am rejoicing in the Lord - He blessed us yesterday with a great service, a sweet spirit, visitors, and a baptism. If you'll notice the commandment is to rejoice, show moderation (meaning calm, patience, temperance), then we are reminded that God is "at hand," so...don't worry about anything, pray letting God know you will be thankful with the outcome He gives, and then He will give you peace to accept what you get. I am rejoicing in the many blessings He has provided, and He has given me tremendous peace:)
Some might call it a "Pollyanna" attitude, but I believe that we should pray and then trust that God's outcome is best regardless of what we think...Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Haven't discovered what good will come out of a broken flat iron yet, but I'll keep you posted...but as the song says, when your troubles come your way, hold your head us high and say, "hallelujah anyhow!" love you ladies!
Have a wonderful day!
I was praying for your services yesterday. I often think to pray for your invitation as we are singing and beginning our evening service.
ReplyDeleteWe had a garage flood about a month ago, but it was (partially) my fault. I know now not to put potato peels through the garbage disposal, despite what the instruction manual says it can do!
Praise the Lord for the baptism and your people who came, and how the Lord has provided for you!
Just to let you know that I am constantly encouraged by you facebook comments and blogs. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI am a "Pollyanna" girl myself...and realize God is in control....and His ways are higher than mine...so no need for me trying to explain them!
Praying for you and your husband and the work there!