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Do not rush the solution

Psalms 16:5 (AMP) The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need]; You support my lot.

I am a stay-at-home mom to a twenty-one-year-old and a seventeen-year-old. That transition happened for me nearly seven years ago. The reason this is the season I am in is because my husband is BI-vocational pastor, as he works at a manufacturing plant for our income. He leads but I am his helper and am referred to as co-pastor. This works for us, because I know his heart and we trust each other. Being helper is not that I am less than, nor does it mean I take on his role. In Hebrew, the word for “helper” used in Genesis 2:18 and 20 is ezer, it means strong support and powerful rescue.

What happens when trust is not in a marriage? What happens when trust is broken? What happens when you want to keep secrets from each other? The Word says that any household divided against itself will not stand (Matthew 12:25). It takes both of us to have a strong marriage. It is the most important covenant that God ordained other than our new life with Christ.

I have quite of few responsibilities that I have taken on so that my husband does not have to worry about them. One of them is managing the business aspect of running the church. I have accountabilities put in place with board members and I seek council before major changes occur. Anything that my husband wants done I have a great support group that helps me with implementing things. That includes managing the church calendar. I also make sure to surround myself with those who seek the best for others, and not just for a particular group, when seeking counsel.

I recently had three big things on my plate to take care of. One thing to know is that we are not going at anything alone. Do not be rushed, but do not be lazy. I dedicated some time to each item each day. Above all, I sought wisdom from the Lord. I am also keeping my husband informed but not overwhelming him with the mundane. When I got to a place that I could not do on my own, I did not push, I waited. I listened. I did not become impatient. Patience has a lot to do with our attitudes in the waiting. God will even empower those we are meant to do life with for the next portion.

Isaiah 25:9 (AMP) It will be said in that day, “Indeed, this is our God for whom we have waited that He would save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us shout for joy and rejoice in His salvation.”

This has been such a shift of peace in my life. I am in awe of how God works things out behind the scenes. I tell Him of what I am trying to accomplish. I do not stop doing my research, but I do not make the next move until my mind has become clear. What happens when we know things need to be done, but we do them in haste? We make mistakes. We can become easily irritated. We can even take on offense easier. This is something I had to grow in. I am growing in it because I have become rooted and grounded in His love. Knowledge of the Word without application of the Word is not doing much transformation. I want to be transformed. Here are two scriptures to get your mind around:

Lamentations 3:20-26 (AMP) My soul continually remembers them and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind, therefore I have hope. It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him, to those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word]. It is good that one waits quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Psalms 37:3-7 (AMP) Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him also and He will do it. He will make your righteousness [your pursuit of right standing with God] like the light, and your judgment like [the shining of] the noonday [sun]. Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him; do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Yesterday, we had movement in all three areas. It was an answer to prayer. Today, I was able to be productive because of the peace that God provided in the waiting. Through putting prayer of thanksgiving before I see the promise fulfilled. I am not rushing the solution to get there. I have to put my trust in God that He is working everything out, and I still have to do my part. There is not strife, there is no uneasiness, there is just peace. I continue to put Him first and foremost in my mind. We continue to seek the best for all those that are involved. We know where our trust lies. We are not in a rush; we want His solution at His time. There is peace in the waiting. Will problems arise? Yes, but I do not have to fret. My God is my portion. My God knew that this would happen. He has the solution, so do not rush it, be patient in the waiting. Do not get fixated on the issue, but on the God who sees the end from the beginning.

Abba, Father, our Portion, we value You before anything else in our lives. You are so Holy and Wonderful. Thank You for Your Son to bring us back to right standing with You. He has made us righteous through our faith in Him. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit to be our Teacher and Comforter. Thank You for the throne room of grace and mercy that we can be with You all day long. You are the God who sees and hears us. You are the God of our inheritance, because all we are is through You. We repent for trying to go at life on our own and in haste. Thank You for the promise of the wait and to be still in You, that You speak to us in the Peace. We put our trust and our confidence in You that You are working all things out. You know the end from the beginning. Any problem that arises can be resolved. We choose to wait. We choose to forgive. We choose hope today. We choose love today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Prayer Request

Mark 11:24 (AMP) For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.

I never want to pray selfish prayers. My prayers are for growth to happen within others. I pray for my family to seek their daily bread from Him. I pray for my church to seek His face daily. I pray for unity in the body of Christ. I pray that I am a good steward with everything that He places in my hands. I pray for courage and opportunities throughout the day to show others love in unique ways that points to Him. I pray over my mind and ask for Him to search within me for any way that is not pleasing. I pray for the needs of others as they share them with me.

These are prayers that I know lines up with His Word. That is what He means by praying in accordance with His will. I have also been praying for us a place for our church to call home (one of our very own). In the natural it looks like we keep making steps backwards. I have to stand firm on His Word. We are keeping our eyes open. We have set the vision before us. We have written it down (Habakkuk 2:2). Our focus is not on the lack, but on the desire for growth within those who have connected. Praying for those that have walked away and that they are planted somewhere that seeks to direct them to the Father’s heart. We have sown seed in others with building programs and seen them receive their land/buildings (2 Corinthians 9:10). We have even helped other ministries in their starting phase.

Matthew 6:33-14 (AMP) But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We have been praying for a place of our own for six years now. We have leased longer than we thought we would and can tell that the one thirty service time is wearing on some. I pray for strength in their resolve and keeping the focus on the bigger than us vision.

Galatians 6:9-10 (AMP) Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).

Although our need is a building, people need to be our focus. The two greatest commandments are to Love God and to Love people (Matthew 22:37-39). We are looking and we are keeping our ears open. So here is what I am asking. Would you be in prayer with us for a building of our own? Would you pray for us to keep our focus on the vision that God has given us for this community? I know this blog is not about some deep spiritual revelation. This is part of desiring for more. To step out of our comfort, to not be complacent (not saying I am not content), but to desire to step into the fullness of why He has me in this place that He has me at this moment.

I do not believe that prayer is a getting God to do what we want. I believe prayer is aligning our hearts with what He already desires for us. I know that our vision, “we exist to touch the world through our community,” is a God statement (Acts 1:8). We are seeking out opportunities to see our community grow as a church (spiritually) and outside of our church walls. Our desire is for people to come as they are, allowing the Holy Spirit to do the work in them. We do not want a polished place to show as a monument. We are the temple, not a building. We want a place that says come and be loved and grow. We want a place that discipleship can take place without a time restraint and without a fear of getting messy. We want a home to call out to the highways and byways (Luke 14:23).

There are many types of prayer. So, if you want to join with us in agreement, please do so. If you add us to your intercession list, we would love that to. Prayers of petition are also welcome. Above all, we are already thanking God for what He is doing now. We thank Him that we are healthy and a place of healing. We are thankful that those that are allowing us to, will grow deeper in their love of God, and receive His love in a deeper way. We are thankful that we are a church that desires the heart of God, that we reverence Him and stand in awe of His Glory. We are especially thankful that He is building us up together and we are allowing the work to be done within us to bring unity to His body (Ephesians 2:21). We are thankful that the Holy Spirit still speaks and has freedom at Connect Church. We are thankful for you.

Father, Jehovah Jireh, You are so Wonderful and Marvelous. We stand in awe of You. Thank You for Your Son, that we may be in right standing with You once again. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit to teach us Your Love. Thank You for clothing us in Your Love once again. We thank You for being a God who desire to see us face to face. We grow stronger under Your mighty arms as we reach deeper for You. Thank You for the needs of those who are reading this blog today. We stand in agreement with them as they stand in agreement with Your Word. Your Word hold all the precepts and promises for this abundant life that You desire for us. We repent for us trying to make our own way, we want Your way. Thank You for the vison that You have planted deep inside of us. We desire to bring glory to Your Name. We thank you in advance for our building. We choose life today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose joy today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

If you want to help with our building fund, give here. Most of all we appreciate your prayers.