One Year Later
It was a year ago that Preacher and I stood on the stage of a mega church in front of thousands of people and said our good-byes as their Senior Pastor and his wife. It was a bittersweet day for me. Bitter because I truly loved being a senior pastor’s wife, and sweet because we were saying “Yes” to the Lord by choosing obedience to a new calling on our lives……..serving Him through Life Action Ministry.
This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions for me as God has both revealed things to me about myself and reminded me of truths through the lives of those serving Life Action.
- Confession: Being the senior pastor’s wife caused me to become an addict – I have confessed these addictions before the Lord and He has graciously forgiven me. My addictions: Attention and Power. If my addictions have ever offended you, please forgive me. Years under the spotlight caused me to lose sight of the sixteen year old girl who humbly walked down an aisle, took a pastor’s hand and committed her life to serve the Lord. No human being should ever be placed on the throne that only has room for One – Christ.
- Truth: Servanthood People working at Life Action are among God’s choice servants. Their lives are characterized by what Life Action calls our six responses to God: Humility, Honesty, Repentance, Forgiveness, Obedience, and Seeking God’s Kingdom First. Over and over I have witnessed these six responses demonstrated in their lives. Women who choose to raise a family in a RV nine months out of year as they serve churches across the USA. Communicators and musicians so gifted that they could serve the Lord from any stage, yet choose to serve churches of various sizes so that they may experience a reviving work of God’s presence.
- Confession: When we walked away from the mega church, we also walked away from a very large salary. Although our church agreed to support us for a season, we were walking toward a “no salary” position. In other words, we had to raise our own support. We became full-time missionaries. The Lord used this as a reminder of the commitment I had made to him when I was sixteen – a commitment to serve Him as a missionary. He had been preparing me for this for forty years. I was in a completely new situation – sitting with someone and sharing with them about our new adventure and asking them to support us financially. This proved to be quite a challenge for me, but through it God taught me humility and reminded me that He was always my True Provision.
- Truth: Faith People at Life Action are people of faith. This past year I have witnessed families who live on very limited budgets, yet do not hesitate to sacrificially to give to others in need. There are families who adopt children that the world would cast aside. Grumbling and complaining are rare while praying is a way of life.
Our mission at Life Action is “to inspire your next Yes to God.” When we say “yes” to something, it usually requires us saying “no” to something else. This past year I have said “Yes” by following Him in obedience and it did require me saying “no” to pride, control, selfishness and bitterness. God has begun a new work in my heart and I am so grateful to Him and to Life Action Ministry.
My prayer for you today is that you will choose to “Say YES to God.” Is He asking you to forgive someone? Is He asking you to be honest with yourself and admit you are addicted to something…power, attention, food, gossip, a negative attitude, or maybe social media?
This past weekend I hiked up to Grotto Falls in the Smoky Mountains. As I observed the rushing water flow over the rocks into the pool below, the Lord whispered into my heart “Refreshment comes when you confess your sin and turn to me.” Sin is choosing our way over God’s way. Are you choosing to do life your way and not God’s way?
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19
If Life Action or I can serve you or your church in any way, it would bring us great joy. Preacher’s motto during this last year has been: “I am just His servant.” I just love that man! So excited to serve alongside him at Life Action as a servant to the Most High God!
