I grew up in the CRC, and am still here, along with my family. I'm married to Daryl, who has a construction business. I had a CPA license for 10 or so years, then I added EX to the front, and MOM to the back, so now I'm an EX CPA, MOM =). I am MOM to Duncan, Ian and Samantha. Our family also owns a raspberry farm, and in the summers we get to work out there together.
after listening to the intro on Moses Chung, and Moses speech, that is what I'm talking about for selecting leaders....... the search committee said, "God spoke to us and said, this is the person..." after compiling a pool of potentials... then the confirmation of Moses, his mom's dream, his wife' dream (which was in an article I read somewhere), as well as my spirit resonating with his heart for prayer, I know he gets prayer... I have no doubt, God has him exactly where He wants him.
my very specific prayer is that God will raise up Spirit led men and women of prayer for leadership in our denomination.. many will say "of course prayer is important" and "try hard" to pray, but he gets it... so, when we try to orchestrate it through human "goals", we miss God's beautiful orchestration, or doubt it's God, because we might think, well, we're just trying to fulfill the mandate. God, help us all to hear You speak to us...
with all the talk of diversity and unity at Synod, here are two beautiful expressions that I would love to see happen at some level in our denomination... I'm praying into what that will look like, and waiting for God's leading to move forward in our community with this...but in the meantime enjoy, and be inspired!!
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FB1B9CNU this one is by a Baptist group in Houston, so " neighbors" to the Sunrise church... ...beautiful Easter dance with 2000 believers in downtown Houston... I think I cried the first dozen times I watched it..
I have been very encouraged by seeing young people (and in my case many in their 20's) with a heart to worship Him more...the local prayer center I am involved with, has 7-10 worship and prayer missionaries - most in their 20's - who spend 10-40 hours a week in worship and prayer...One friend in this age group was asked what she liked to do in her spare time...Her response was - "worship God", and she does.
I sense that God is putting a fire in this generations heart for worship, and that we, as families and churches, need to pray for Him to lead us into additional times of worship where this generation has the opportunity to express themselves under the direction of the Holy Spirit in the worship, instead of almost exclusively being directed by adults. I sense a "chomping at the bit" from the youth to be more involved in the worship. It is a very powerful experience to see how the Holy Spirit orchestrates a worship gathering, both through the planning (it's not just picking favorite songs), and then through His spontaneous promptings during the service, and to hear the testimonies of how the Holy Spirit "spoke" to different people in different ways through the worship, and often in the same song.
2 different people, within 15 minutes of each other, at 2 different gatherings expressed their excitement over an opportunity to worship for 2 hours - extended times of worship...again, I see this heart for worship being stirred up, particularly in this generation, but we have to ask the LORD for His guidance on what this will look like (the verse the LORD put on my heart this week is Is. 28:29 NKJV - This comes from the LORD of hosts, Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance)...
I know in our community we have an abundance of gifted musicians and I believe the reason is for increased worship. We need to steward these giftings, as in help them have opportunities to use them for the Kingdom... it reminds me of the tabernacle of David, where worship was going on day and night at the temple. In Acts 15, God shares that He is restoring David's tabernacle/tent (depending on version) - think Days of Elijah v2 - and these are the days of His servant, David, rebuilding a temple of praise! We are all hardwired - designed, with a need that what we do is meaningful, and worship is!
We have seen several beautiful ministries flow out of the prayer center that were birthed from the worship and prayer times... We have experienced incredible testimonies of Divine timing that could not be humanly orchestrated...the statistical probability of the convergence of events is basically impossible... we have testimonies of salvations and healings, we have seen abortion rates drop and adoptions double in our county, we have seen our unemployment rate be one of the lowest in the state, if not the lowest, we have seen Godly leaders elected in our county- in a state (WA) that is known for being very liberal, and one of the least churched states in the US, these were not easy wins, but Praise God, He is making them happen as we labor in prayer with Him, and offer up our hearts in worship to Him... and we have seen beautiful growth in believer's walk with the LORD, where their faith is becoming a delight instead of a duty...they're growing closer in their relationship with King Jesus... HALLELUJAH!!!
LORD, restore Your tabernacle of Praise, where Your Name is being lifted up 24/7...
One of the "spheres' we pray for specifically is for the family unit... the family is under intense attack from the enemy particularly the males (one of the answers to prayer is this new movie "Courageous" coming out by the same church that did Facing the Giants and Fireproof, it's about men taking up and walking in the authority of their God given roles), and every time the enemy can break up the family, keeping the God ordained family unit from a meaningful, Kingdom focused activity such as worshipping and praying together, he scores in some way. Look at the evening family meal, how rare that is in many homes... and yet studies have shown that is one of the key aspects to a healthy childhood.
My husband and I will fight for the honor to worship together as a family. We will also encourage them to find worship opportunities in addition to the Sunday services and allow them freedom to express their worship in our church. I am very thankful that our church incorporates the youth regularly into the service... my daughter (she's 5) will dance in the back of church - there's a little nook that she can dance freely in, so she's not distracting anyone... at other worship gatherings outside the CRC, the kids dance with flags and/or instruments or just dance. We have tables set up for kids to draw - not just busy work, but what we call "prophetic art" during the service as worship is going on... at one that is specifically for kids, they can sing at the mic. (there are some guidelines of course). We pray that as our kids are heading into the teen years, they will have experienced God via His Holy Spirit in many ways already (they already have amazing testimonies of promptings through scripture that the Holy Spirit helped them use for guidance in various situations, we share with them how God has helped us financially in unextpected ways, so "seeing" God work is pretty normal for them, I will be talking to someone and they will encourage me to share a confirmation of something the LORD has put on my heart earlier, or an answer to prayer, my daughter (5) will ask to drive by the casino so we can pray for all the people that are having their money "stolen", and that it will be a place where people pray to God instead). Kids' worship is very powerful, based on Ps. 8:2... out of the mouths of children and infants, I have ordained (strong) praise because of Your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger... it makes the enemy flee...
so, let's pray for Holy Spirit inspired opportunites in our services and outside our services, to increase the worship from children/youth. and also pray that the family unit will be strenghthened through worship time and prayer time together...
Sorry Ken, didn't even think about the political aspect... there are good things about each political group and there are negative things about each, so let's pray that God brings forth the goodness in each, and pushes back what is not from Him in each...that He purges, cleanses and redeems these systems of politics and the government...but of course, may He start with our hearts...
Now if we'll just direct that creative energy into worship... God is pouring out the gifts in the creative sphere for His glory, for 24/7 worship... Ex. 31:3,6 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of "crafts" to make artistic works... I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans. So, let's get this God given creativity being used for His Kingdom... I senses that there are many more in the 15-30ish age group that are chomping at the bit to used their gifts in a meaningful Kingdom way. This is a good start...
Bless your heart... that's awesome... Believe you me, I do not want to limit God...we've already done that way too much... and I am desperate to do it His way... not using man's understanding... but with much prayer and fasting... maybe the denomination sends out a call to every church to pray and fast specifically on a certain day... even if it's only one meal, or a fast of TV or computer...there are lots of options here... and that there are worship and prayer gatherings on that day at the church from 6-7am, and from 12-1pm, and from 7-8pm so most can at least make it to one of the times. I would much rather see something like that, then implementing a human system to control the selection. Jesus promises us that His Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us in all truth...The LORD of Hosts is wonderful and counsel and excellent in wisdom... I hope I'm wrong, but it's possible the cessationist belief that was held by the Reformed tradition for so long, has hindered our "hearing" of the Holy Spirit... LORD, help us to trust in You with all our hearts, and follow the direction You give us... Your promise is when we acknowledge You, that You will direct us and make our paths straight....
kind of curious on what you are referring to re. the leadership being regrettably shaken though?
Thanks for responding...and being gracious with my sense of humor... I love how God is connecting His body, crossing many traditional barriers between congregations, denominations, and nations... and when it is done His way, we are in awe of how incredibly He orchestrates it...
please keep me posted on the gatherings regarding this... I would love to pray and fast in conjunction with them on behalf of those involved...
hey Ken...just curious what quotas you're referring to...the CRC ministry shares that have traditionally been called quotas, or something else...
it's not the God-designed wiring to correct injustice that I was referring to as from the flesh, it was being willing to support a human way of fixing it because I might benefit... basically letting the ends justify the means... I have worked with groups that have fought injustice with attorneys and man's wisdom... dang if that aspect wasn't a waste of time and money... however, Praise God that He does redeem it for good, because one of the redemptions was that through it I connected with someone who is native, which became a friendship, through that friendship she began going to church which resulted in her daughter not choosing an abortion - so she has a beautiful grandson now - we call him the miracle baby, and my friend became a believer in Jesus Christ. Just last week our family got to witness her baptism... Praise God! anyway, that's a whole testimony in itself, but my point is I have seen what the brightest and best (and highly paid) can do, and it doesn't even come close to being in the right place at the right time under God's direction...
I will confirm that He is purifying us, starting with leadership... several insights I received earlier this year as I was praying specifically for the CRC were: Malachi 3:3 He is purifying and purging us... and from How Firm a Foundation... the dross to consume and His gold to refine...to keep our foundation firm...
now in case someone infers that this is the 2 who have resigned... I have no clue, only God knows the hearts... I don't know them at all, but the reason the shake up in leadership caught my eye is because others that I pray with have shared that there will be a shift in leadership in the Body of Christ, that those who are in leadership positions, but are not men and women of prayer (God does the shaking/purifying/purging, He knows the hearts), He will either help them become men and women of prayer, who have a close relationship with Jesus, or if they are unwilling, then they will be shifted out.
Now, we can all say... "Well, I pray, of course I pray"... How dare anyone imply that someone isn't a man or woman of prayer. Every one gets to ask God for themselves, and watch for His response to you. He loves to answer the prayer. LORD, teach us to pray. He prompted me to focus on prayer more through several dreams and a bloody casino (we're asking Him to make it a House of prayer for the tribe)... talk about Him using something bad for good. But through this prayer journey, I have re-discoverd His voice, how He speaks now one way, and then another, making the Word living and active in fresh ways, and that those "coincidences" are designed by Him, getting my attention. I don't share this to brag, believe you me, I have been attacked for these testimonies... however, that was one of the words He gave me early on in my rediscovery of His voice... I will testify... from the Avalon song...
I know where I was before He taught me to pray. and I know that my prayer time is now a delight instead of a duty... I love to linger in the secret place with Him (ps. 91.1 NKJV). He is converting me from a Miss Martha to a Miss Mary. and again, someone might respond, well we can't all be Miss Mary's, nothing will get done. Not true. In my Miss Martha days (and I love Miss Martha - she was so practical, industrious, diplomatic - sound familiar?), I don't remember ever leading someone to Jesus, I hope I was instrumental in some peoples faith and I believe God used my weak efforts - but we worked hard, we were very involved in all the church programs, in leadership positions, but it was with some prayer, 0-15 minutes depending on the day, of here's my list LORD and then gotta run cuz there's lot to do. But as I spend more time with Him, the conversations I get to have with Him and with others are amazing, I have had the privilege to lead people to Jesus... I love to be in worship with Him, I don't care what style worship music... When He's there with you and you are aware of Him, it doesn't matter, it can be a 1000 year old hymn (of course those are the good ones since they've endured) or a song that was just released last week... I pray that everyone will have an incredible, beautiful relationship with Him. That your faith will be a delight, not a duty. That all believers will experience Him in ways they have never sensed Him before. That awareness of Him increases so you see little (and big) treasures from Him every day, little (serendipity type) signs that you are exactly where you are suppose to be at that moment. These are Him... I have been told they are not, but these experiences or whatever you want to call them are happening way too often to be random... and sometimes so statistically improbable, they can only be from God... Now if I had only experienced one of these in my life, you might say that was chance, but I have experience at least one major impossible, beyond calculable event a year in the last several years including this year, and probably more often... I would have to go back to my journals...
He has undone me more than once, in a terrible, beautiful way... these stories are actually quite humorous now... but several times I am crying my eyes out, in a public place without kleenex... and when I cry it's intense and everything pours forth - not pretty... I had one time where the Holy Spirit prompted me..." You might want to get some kleenex before you go in." and since i was in a snarky mood, I thought with a bad attitude, why would I need kleenex for this, it's just practice... about 5 minutes later I was "undone", during the choir practice... God used the first song Away in a manger, second verse...the little LORD Jesus no cyring He makes - the HS instantly dropped Hebr. 5:7 - and while in the days of His flesh, He prayed with loud, fervent cries, and tears... into my thoughts and by the next line... I love Thee, LORD Jesus, He melted the hardness I had let build up in my heart and by the 3rd verse I was a total basket case. It wasn't whipped up emotionalism. It's a whole story in itself, but through it He had me intensely weeping on behalf of the slaughtered unborn - those being aborted, as several songs later we sang...Lully, Lullay the lullaby about the children that were murdered by King Herod... it still brings tears to my eyes and gives me chills when I think about it, it was powerful, not pretty, but very powerful. I almost walked out of that choir practice between v2 and v3 of Away in the manger because of not knowing what I was going to do with all the fluids pouring forth from my face, and I knew v3 was going to be worse for me than v2... and wouldn't have come back to that practice or any others...
ok, that's my testimony - and I'm sticking to it - I have only shared a very small portion, even of the being undone. That whole testimony alone would probably be about a chapter's worth. Since I started "hearing" Him again, I have journals of testimonies of these, and since I haven't been very diligent with journaling consistently, those probably only represent 25% or less.
at this point, you might say, what does this have to do with minorities in leadership, well, I'll say that my heart cry is that everyone who doesn't already experience this will have an incredible, delightful relationship with Jesus, that you know in your heart and experience in your inner man, what it looks like to love the Lord, Your God with all your heart, soul, strenghth and mind - that Jesus is your first love, and then out of that will flow via the Holy Spirit, His perfect combination of who He has determined should be delegates or elders or whatever the position might be, because we are sensitive to His "voice" and in the right place at the right time at His leading.
May you, even today, "see" Him in a way you've never "seen" Him before.
Ps. here's a statistic on the devotional life of 1050 reformed and evangelical pastors - it makes me cry. I don't think we want to know what the % is with leaders or the lay people, the article does suggest that it is probably lower -
Two hundred seventy (270 or 26%) of pastors said they regularly had personal devotions and felt they were adequately fed spirituality.
Thank you... I was starting to feel very cautious about sharing any concerns about our denomination.. and that we were just skirting the deeper issues, while only having freedom in addressing the more superficial ones. These deep concerns have to be addressed, and in a healthy, open, Spirit- led way. Joel 2:17 Oh, LORD, that our priests/leaders would weep between the porch and the altar on behalf of Your broken, hurting Bride, Jesus...
thank you for stating so diplomatically your concerns on the BOT... I was sensing something there, but couldn't put words to it... and if there's one thing I have found that particularly the dutch don't like - I won't speak for other cultures on this, it is lack of transparency... whether it's perceived or real...
I know you do Ken... that's why I'd love to meet you and your family... even if you are liberal (i am teasing you)... I sense you have a beautiful heart for Him and for justice... and for worship...for His Kingdom... you wouldn't happen to be eligible for going to synod, would you?
on an entirely different note. while I have your attention =).. there is a pastors and prayer leaders prayer summit next week M-W at Cedar Springs... I know you are a prayer warrior, so please intercede on behalf of those gathering next week... and if you feel so led by the Spirit, come out for a few hours... I am planning to be there, not sure what that's going to look like for me yet as there is only one other woman going at this point (there are 15-20 guys signed up - including Mitch S, whom you know). So thanks in advance for your prayers on behalf of these leaders... and maybe I'll see you there...
Posted in: Intentionally Diverse and Unified
after listening to the intro on Moses Chung, and Moses speech, that is what I'm talking about for selecting leaders....... the search committee said, "God spoke to us and said, this is the person..." after compiling a pool of potentials... then the confirmation of Moses, his mom's dream, his wife' dream (which was in an article I read somewhere), as well as my spirit resonating with his heart for prayer, I know he gets prayer... I have no doubt, God has him exactly where He wants him.
my very specific prayer is that God will raise up Spirit led men and women of prayer for leadership in our denomination.. many will say "of course prayer is important" and "try hard" to pray, but he gets it... so, when we try to orchestrate it through human "goals", we miss God's beautiful orchestration, or doubt it's God, because we might think, well, we're just trying to fulfill the mandate. God, help us all to hear You speak to us...
Posted in: What's In A Name? [VIDEO]
with all the talk of diversity and unity at Synod, here are two beautiful expressions that I would love to see happen at some level in our denomination... I'm praying into what that will look like, and waiting for God's leading to move forward in our community with this...but in the meantime enjoy, and be inspired!!
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FB1B9CNU this one is by a Baptist group in Houston, so " neighbors" to the Sunrise church... ...beautiful Easter dance with 2000 believers in downtown Houston... I think I cried the first dozen times I watched it..
http://ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir
cool virtual choir with 2000 "videos" from around the world
Posted in: Is it Important for Youth to Attend Church with Their Parents?
I have been very encouraged by seeing young people (and in my case many in their 20's) with a heart to worship Him more...the local prayer center I am involved with, has 7-10 worship and prayer missionaries - most in their 20's - who spend 10-40 hours a week in worship and prayer...One friend in this age group was asked what she liked to do in her spare time...Her response was - "worship God", and she does.
I sense that God is putting a fire in this generations heart for worship, and that we, as families and churches, need to pray for Him to lead us into additional times of worship where this generation has the opportunity to express themselves under the direction of the Holy Spirit in the worship, instead of almost exclusively being directed by adults. I sense a "chomping at the bit" from the youth to be more involved in the worship. It is a very powerful experience to see how the Holy Spirit orchestrates a worship gathering, both through the planning (it's not just picking favorite songs), and then through His spontaneous promptings during the service, and to hear the testimonies of how the Holy Spirit "spoke" to different people in different ways through the worship, and often in the same song.
2 different people, within 15 minutes of each other, at 2 different gatherings expressed their excitement over an opportunity to worship for 2 hours - extended times of worship...again, I see this heart for worship being stirred up, particularly in this generation, but we have to ask the LORD for His guidance on what this will look like (the verse the LORD put on my heart this week is Is. 28:29 NKJV - This comes from the LORD of hosts, Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance)...
I know in our community we have an abundance of gifted musicians and I believe the reason is for increased worship. We need to steward these giftings, as in help them have opportunities to use them for the Kingdom... it reminds me of the tabernacle of David, where worship was going on day and night at the temple. In Acts 15, God shares that He is restoring David's tabernacle/tent (depending on version) - think Days of Elijah v2 - and these are the days of His servant, David, rebuilding a temple of praise! We are all hardwired - designed, with a need that what we do is meaningful, and worship is!
We have seen several beautiful ministries flow out of the prayer center that were birthed from the worship and prayer times... We have experienced incredible testimonies of Divine timing that could not be humanly orchestrated...the statistical probability of the convergence of events is basically impossible... we have testimonies of salvations and healings, we have seen abortion rates drop and adoptions double in our county, we have seen our unemployment rate be one of the lowest in the state, if not the lowest, we have seen Godly leaders elected in our county- in a state (WA) that is known for being very liberal, and one of the least churched states in the US, these were not easy wins, but Praise God, He is making them happen as we labor in prayer with Him, and offer up our hearts in worship to Him... and we have seen beautiful growth in believer's walk with the LORD, where their faith is becoming a delight instead of a duty...they're growing closer in their relationship with King Jesus... HALLELUJAH!!!
LORD, restore Your tabernacle of Praise, where Your Name is being lifted up 24/7...
Posted in: Is it Important for Youth to Attend Church with Their Parents?
One of the "spheres' we pray for specifically is for the family unit... the family is under intense attack from the enemy particularly the males (one of the answers to prayer is this new movie "Courageous" coming out by the same church that did Facing the Giants and Fireproof, it's about men taking up and walking in the authority of their God given roles), and every time the enemy can break up the family, keeping the God ordained family unit from a meaningful, Kingdom focused activity such as worshipping and praying together, he scores in some way. Look at the evening family meal, how rare that is in many homes... and yet studies have shown that is one of the key aspects to a healthy childhood.
My husband and I will fight for the honor to worship together as a family. We will also encourage them to find worship opportunities in addition to the Sunday services and allow them freedom to express their worship in our church. I am very thankful that our church incorporates the youth regularly into the service... my daughter (she's 5) will dance in the back of church - there's a little nook that she can dance freely in, so she's not distracting anyone... at other worship gatherings outside the CRC, the kids dance with flags and/or instruments or just dance. We have tables set up for kids to draw - not just busy work, but what we call "prophetic art" during the service as worship is going on... at one that is specifically for kids, they can sing at the mic. (there are some guidelines of course). We pray that as our kids are heading into the teen years, they will have experienced God via His Holy Spirit in many ways already (they already have amazing testimonies of promptings through scripture that the Holy Spirit helped them use for guidance in various situations, we share with them how God has helped us financially in unextpected ways, so "seeing" God work is pretty normal for them, I will be talking to someone and they will encourage me to share a confirmation of something the LORD has put on my heart earlier, or an answer to prayer, my daughter (5) will ask to drive by the casino so we can pray for all the people that are having their money "stolen", and that it will be a place where people pray to God instead). Kids' worship is very powerful, based on Ps. 8:2... out of the mouths of children and infants, I have ordained (strong) praise because of Your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger... it makes the enemy flee...
so, let's pray for Holy Spirit inspired opportunites in our services and outside our services, to increase the worship from children/youth. and also pray that the family unit will be strenghthened through worship time and prayer time together...
Posted in: Is it Important for Youth to Attend Church with Their Parents?
Sorry Ken, didn't even think about the political aspect... there are good things about each political group and there are negative things about each, so let's pray that God brings forth the goodness in each, and pushes back what is not from Him in each...that He purges, cleanses and redeems these systems of politics and the government...but of course, may He start with our hearts...
Posted in: What's In A Name? [VIDEO]
That is so good!!
Now if we'll just direct that creative energy into worship... God is pouring out the gifts in the creative sphere for His glory, for 24/7 worship... Ex. 31:3,6 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of "crafts" to make artistic works... I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans. So, let's get this God given creativity being used for His Kingdom... I senses that there are many more in the 15-30ish age group that are chomping at the bit to used their gifts in a meaningful Kingdom way. This is a good start...
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
Bless your heart... that's awesome... Believe you me, I do not want to limit God...we've already done that way too much... and I am desperate to do it His way... not using man's understanding... but with much prayer and fasting... maybe the denomination sends out a call to every church to pray and fast specifically on a certain day... even if it's only one meal, or a fast of TV or computer...there are lots of options here... and that there are worship and prayer gatherings on that day at the church from 6-7am, and from 12-1pm, and from 7-8pm so most can at least make it to one of the times. I would much rather see something like that, then implementing a human system to control the selection. Jesus promises us that His Holy Spirit will lead us and guide us in all truth...The LORD of Hosts is wonderful and counsel and excellent in wisdom... I hope I'm wrong, but it's possible the cessationist belief that was held by the Reformed tradition for so long, has hindered our "hearing" of the Holy Spirit... LORD, help us to trust in You with all our hearts, and follow the direction You give us... Your promise is when we acknowledge You, that You will direct us and make our paths straight....
kind of curious on what you are referring to re. the leadership being regrettably shaken though?
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
Thanks for responding...and being gracious with my sense of humor... I love how God is connecting His body, crossing many traditional barriers between congregations, denominations, and nations... and when it is done His way, we are in awe of how incredibly He orchestrates it...
please keep me posted on the gatherings regarding this... I would love to pray and fast in conjunction with them on behalf of those involved...
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
hey Ken...just curious what quotas you're referring to...the CRC ministry shares that have traditionally been called quotas, or something else...
it's not the God-designed wiring to correct injustice that I was referring to as from the flesh, it was being willing to support a human way of fixing it because I might benefit... basically letting the ends justify the means... I have worked with groups that have fought injustice with attorneys and man's wisdom... dang if that aspect wasn't a waste of time and money... however, Praise God that He does redeem it for good, because one of the redemptions was that through it I connected with someone who is native, which became a friendship, through that friendship she began going to church which resulted in her daughter not choosing an abortion - so she has a beautiful grandson now - we call him the miracle baby, and my friend became a believer in Jesus Christ. Just last week our family got to witness her baptism... Praise God! anyway, that's a whole testimony in itself, but my point is I have seen what the brightest and best (and highly paid) can do, and it doesn't even come close to being in the right place at the right time under God's direction...
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
I will confirm that He is purifying us, starting with leadership... several insights I received earlier this year as I was praying specifically for the CRC were: Malachi 3:3 He is purifying and purging us... and from How Firm a Foundation... the dross to consume and His gold to refine...to keep our foundation firm...
now in case someone infers that this is the 2 who have resigned... I have no clue, only God knows the hearts... I don't know them at all, but the reason the shake up in leadership caught my eye is because others that I pray with have shared that there will be a shift in leadership in the Body of Christ, that those who are in leadership positions, but are not men and women of prayer (God does the shaking/purifying/purging, He knows the hearts), He will either help them become men and women of prayer, who have a close relationship with Jesus, or if they are unwilling, then they will be shifted out.
Now, we can all say... "Well, I pray, of course I pray"... How dare anyone imply that someone isn't a man or woman of prayer. Every one gets to ask God for themselves, and watch for His response to you. He loves to answer the prayer. LORD, teach us to pray. He prompted me to focus on prayer more through several dreams and a bloody casino (we're asking Him to make it a House of prayer for the tribe)... talk about Him using something bad for good. But through this prayer journey, I have re-discoverd His voice, how He speaks now one way, and then another, making the Word living and active in fresh ways, and that those "coincidences" are designed by Him, getting my attention. I don't share this to brag, believe you me, I have been attacked for these testimonies... however, that was one of the words He gave me early on in my rediscovery of His voice... I will testify... from the Avalon song...
I know where I was before He taught me to pray. and I know that my prayer time is now a delight instead of a duty... I love to linger in the secret place with Him (ps. 91.1 NKJV). He is converting me from a Miss Martha to a Miss Mary. and again, someone might respond, well we can't all be Miss Mary's, nothing will get done. Not true. In my Miss Martha days (and I love Miss Martha - she was so practical, industrious, diplomatic - sound familiar?), I don't remember ever leading someone to Jesus, I hope I was instrumental in some peoples faith and I believe God used my weak efforts - but we worked hard, we were very involved in all the church programs, in leadership positions, but it was with some prayer, 0-15 minutes depending on the day, of here's my list LORD and then gotta run cuz there's lot to do. But as I spend more time with Him, the conversations I get to have with Him and with others are amazing, I have had the privilege to lead people to Jesus... I love to be in worship with Him, I don't care what style worship music... When He's there with you and you are aware of Him, it doesn't matter, it can be a 1000 year old hymn (of course those are the good ones since they've endured) or a song that was just released last week... I pray that everyone will have an incredible, beautiful relationship with Him. That your faith will be a delight, not a duty. That all believers will experience Him in ways they have never sensed Him before. That awareness of Him increases so you see little (and big) treasures from Him every day, little (serendipity type) signs that you are exactly where you are suppose to be at that moment. These are Him... I have been told they are not, but these experiences or whatever you want to call them are happening way too often to be random... and sometimes so statistically improbable, they can only be from God... Now if I had only experienced one of these in my life, you might say that was chance, but I have experience at least one major impossible, beyond calculable event a year in the last several years including this year, and probably more often... I would have to go back to my journals...
He has undone me more than once, in a terrible, beautiful way... these stories are actually quite humorous now... but several times I am crying my eyes out, in a public place without kleenex... and when I cry it's intense and everything pours forth - not pretty... I had one time where the Holy Spirit prompted me..." You might want to get some kleenex before you go in." and since i was in a snarky mood, I thought with a bad attitude, why would I need kleenex for this, it's just practice... about 5 minutes later I was "undone", during the choir practice... God used the first song Away in a manger, second verse...the little LORD Jesus no cyring He makes - the HS instantly dropped Hebr. 5:7 - and while in the days of His flesh, He prayed with loud, fervent cries, and tears... into my thoughts and by the next line... I love Thee, LORD Jesus, He melted the hardness I had let build up in my heart and by the 3rd verse I was a total basket case. It wasn't whipped up emotionalism. It's a whole story in itself, but through it He had me intensely weeping on behalf of the slaughtered unborn - those being aborted, as several songs later we sang...Lully, Lullay the lullaby about the children that were murdered by King Herod... it still brings tears to my eyes and gives me chills when I think about it, it was powerful, not pretty, but very powerful. I almost walked out of that choir practice between v2 and v3 of Away in the manger because of not knowing what I was going to do with all the fluids pouring forth from my face, and I knew v3 was going to be worse for me than v2... and wouldn't have come back to that practice or any others...
ok, that's my testimony - and I'm sticking to it - I have only shared a very small portion, even of the being undone. That whole testimony alone would probably be about a chapter's worth. Since I started "hearing" Him again, I have journals of testimonies of these, and since I haven't been very diligent with journaling consistently, those probably only represent 25% or less.
at this point, you might say, what does this have to do with minorities in leadership, well, I'll say that my heart cry is that everyone who doesn't already experience this will have an incredible, delightful relationship with Jesus, that you know in your heart and experience in your inner man, what it looks like to love the Lord, Your God with all your heart, soul, strenghth and mind - that Jesus is your first love, and then out of that will flow via the Holy Spirit, His perfect combination of who He has determined should be delegates or elders or whatever the position might be, because we are sensitive to His "voice" and in the right place at the right time at His leading.
May you, even today, "see" Him in a way you've never "seen" Him before.
Ps. here's a statistic on the devotional life of 1050 reformed and evangelical pastors - it makes me cry. I don't think we want to know what the % is with leaders or the lay people, the article does suggest that it is probably lower -
Two hundred seventy (270 or 26%) of pastors said they regularly had personal devotions and felt they were adequately fed spirituality.
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
Thank you... I was starting to feel very cautious about sharing any concerns about our denomination.. and that we were just skirting the deeper issues, while only having freedom in addressing the more superficial ones. These deep concerns have to be addressed, and in a healthy, open, Spirit- led way. Joel 2:17 Oh, LORD, that our priests/leaders would weep between the porch and the altar on behalf of Your broken, hurting Bride, Jesus...
thank you for stating so diplomatically your concerns on the BOT... I was sensing something there, but couldn't put words to it... and if there's one thing I have found that particularly the dutch don't like - I won't speak for other cultures on this, it is lack of transparency... whether it's perceived or real...
Posted in: People of Color in Leadership Positions
I know you do Ken... that's why I'd love to meet you and your family... even if you are liberal (i am teasing you)... I sense you have a beautiful heart for Him and for justice... and for worship...for His Kingdom... you wouldn't happen to be eligible for going to synod, would you?
on an entirely different note. while I have your attention =).. there is a pastors and prayer leaders prayer summit next week M-W at Cedar Springs... I know you are a prayer warrior, so please intercede on behalf of those gathering next week... and if you feel so led by the Spirit, come out for a few hours... I am planning to be there, not sure what that's going to look like for me yet as there is only one other woman going at this point (there are 15-20 guys signed up - including Mitch S, whom you know). So thanks in advance for your prayers on behalf of these leaders... and maybe I'll see you there...