People ask 'What exactly is your mission?'. I mean, if you tell people what is expected of them what about you? What are you expected to do?
That is a very fair question and one I struggled with greatly at the beginning of this journey.
My Children will tell you that I have a very frustrating habit (frustrating for them) of telling them what to do and then going on to do it myself, i.e. while cross about having to do it! Sorry girls!
The thing is, I would rather accomplish stuff myself than have to depend on others to carry it out.
I had it planned out: I would be another Kathryn Kuhlman. The Lord had other ideas, he called me 'Deborah'. Then proceeded to tell me what he wanted me to do. Not to mention that I could not shake off the feeling of being more than a pastor or evangelist. So, I have a choice, do a 'good' thing by following my passion to preach or pastor, OR do what YHWH would rather I did on his behalf: be an oracle and encourage the Church to do His will.
Well, God is always wiser so, his will goes. But my passions remain. So you can imagine how I feel when I see people being led to God, I am ecstatic! The Billy Graham Crusade at the Excel Centre in London this weekend drew over 10,000 people with the participation of 200 partnering churches! Please join me and the family in heaven in songs and salutations (hallelujahs!) to the glory of God. Indeed,
'He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair
He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair'
- Chorus of 'Beauty for Ashes' [by Crystal Lewis 1996]
Hallelujah!
''In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10
The Family of God is huge! It consists of individuals with gifts that differ. Some have gifts of healing, some of helping, guidance, and of different kinds of spiritual languages, while others are called to serve; teach, counsel ( i.e. comfort and exhort); give, lead, or do acts of mercy. The point is that the different gifts we have, enable, energize, and mature to build up the whole family. Hence, I might not have the privilege of drawing large crowds as an Evangelist does, but I can rejoice at the accomplishments of the Evangelist's mission. After all, we are part of the same family and his mission has birthed new brothers and sisters in our family!
What I am getting at is that once you come to be a member of God's Family, you are truly a part of everything that goes on in it. The progress and success of one is your progress and success, while the loss of one is a loss to the whole. In God's eyes, we are truly a unit. So what can you contribute? Who or what can you support? And most of all, how can you celebrate and promote the progress of the different parts?
[The picture used belongs to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and is sourced from their website]
''So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.'' 1 Corinthians 14:12
'' 10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.'' ''Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.'' [Philippians 4: 10, 14 - 16]
''For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.'' Romans 12:4-5
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