The beginning of this year began like a dream, but by the end of January and halfway through February, I abruptly awoke from many dreams. Loss seemed to hover over each week. I waited for the next phone call, text, email, or conversation that brought heart breaking news. My heart had never physically hurt like it did and I never thought putting one foot in front of the other would require so much strength. I tried to hide the extent of what I felt, but couldn't. (I am more thankful for Pam Brassart now than I have ever been. I saw daily, sometimes hourly, the true character of my Mama. She truly is a gem and deserves to be called blessed). And I admit that Jesus was who I tried to seek but darkness seem to shroud his face. Some of you know what I am talking about. Others may not ,and that is okay. I had to see the day minute by minute and not as a 24hr day. (Believe me, I know how crazy it sounds, because I thought I was crazy).
Why?
Why did more than one special relationship end either by human decision-making or by death?
Why did a dream of grad school crumble?
Why was my practicum not what I hoped?
Why did granddaddy pass away a month before graduation?
Actually, why did any of this happen before graduation?
Why did granddaddy pass away a month before graduation?
Actually, why did any of this happen before graduation?
Why?
I don't humanly know.
BUT there are several things I do know.
Someone very dear shared these things that helped alter my perspective.
1. We cannot truly be like Jesus unless we have experienced sorrow. He was the man of sorrows.
2. We are in good company when Satan bullies and darkness hides Jesus. Peter told Jesus he would never deny him. Jesus compassionately responded saying, "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail." Even now, Jesus is sitting beside God the Father and interceding on our behalf.
3. He wounds so that he may heal. His timing is not ours and the process may take longer than we imagined, but Joy will come.
Today, I am still lying in bed recovering from a surgery that has caused me to be on my stomach and sides for almost a month. There have been good days and bad days, and I have continued to learn a few things.
1. Jesus really can do more than we ask or imagine: I am moving to Baylor in little over a week. The grad school dream is back.
2. He allowed and He really did know all along what 2014 would hold thus far, and he knew to the extent my heart would hurt and how it would need to be healed.
3. "He is too wise to make a mistake and too loving to be unkind."
Today I received an incredible graduation gift. In high school Spanish, I was given the name Amada. Today, I opened a gift that says, "Amada sin medida." That translates to "loved beyond measure." How special to have the reminder that my name whether in English or Spanish (Amiee or Amada) means "beloved."
2014 has happened for my good and His glory.
You and I are loved beyond measure.
3. He wounds so that he may heal. His timing is not ours and the process may take longer than we imagined, but Joy will come.
Today, I am still lying in bed recovering from a surgery that has caused me to be on my stomach and sides for almost a month. There have been good days and bad days, and I have continued to learn a few things.
1. Jesus really can do more than we ask or imagine: I am moving to Baylor in little over a week. The grad school dream is back.
2. He allowed and He really did know all along what 2014 would hold thus far, and he knew to the extent my heart would hurt and how it would need to be healed.
3. "He is too wise to make a mistake and too loving to be unkind."
Today I received an incredible graduation gift. In high school Spanish, I was given the name Amada. Today, I opened a gift that says, "Amada sin medida." That translates to "loved beyond measure." How special to have the reminder that my name whether in English or Spanish (Amiee or Amada) means "beloved."
2014 has happened for my good and His glory.
You and I are loved beyond measure.
2 comments:
Amiee:
Praying with and for you. Thank you for your transparency and honesty.
Love,
Tracie
THE PASTOR BY STEVE FINNELL
Was there ever and office of, The Pastor, approved of or mentioned in New Testament Scripture? No, there was not. There was no single pastor appointed as the authority over any local church congregation.
The word pastor is mention one time. (Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (NKJV)
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (ESV)
Pastors were shepherds. Bishops, elders, and overseers are one and the same; and they were the pastors or shepherds.
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; (NKJV)
1 Timothy 3:2 So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. (New Living Bible)
1 Timothy 3:2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (New International Version)
Titus 1:5-7....appoint elders in every city....7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, (NKJV)
Titus 1:7 Since an overseer manages God's households, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.(NIV)
Titus 1:7 An elder is a manager of God's household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. (NLT)
Acts 20:17,28 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (NKJV)
Acts 20:28 Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God's church which he acquired with his own blood. (God's Word-Translation)
Notice that the apostle Paul called for the elders (plural), he did not call for The Pastor (singular).
Acts 14:23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
The apostle Paul and Barnabas appointed elders (plural) in every church congregation. They did not appoint a pastor (singular) in every church congregation.
Elders, bishops, and overseers are the same office and their responsibilities were to pastor or shepherd the individual church congregations.
THERE WAS NO SINGLE PASTOR WHO HAD AUTHORITY OVER A INDIVIDUAL CHURCH CONGREGATION.
Men today like to be called Reverend Pastor.
Reverend means awesome. So they want you to refer to them as Awesome Pastor.
Psalms 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. (KJV)
The Lord has earned the right to be called reverend (awesome).
Is there any man that has earned the right to be called Reverend (awesome) Pastor?
THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES ONLY MENTION A PLURALITY OF ELDERS IN CHURCH CONGREGATIONS.
MEN HAVE INVENTED THE REVEREND PASTOR (SINGULAR) AND HAVE PLACE HIM IN AUTHORITY IN LOCAL CHURCH CONGREGATIONS.
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com
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