Don't Believe Me?...

For 29 years God to me was always angry and disappointed in me. I could never do what I felt was right and eventually gave up all together settling on the idea that there was no hope for a sinner like me, a person like me. How could God possibly want anything to do with ME?

It was not until I was 30 years of age that encountered the true and living God for who He really is. At that very point in my life I committed to God, "use me however YOU want to use me". You know that scripture that says not my will, but yours be done? That was never more real to me than that very moment in my life and since that day, my relationship with Him has only intensified, been solidified and my past has been nullified!

So what have I learned in the last 8 years of total surrender to the Father? Here are few of the "biggies". I have to pick just a few because there isn't room enough in the posting for everything! Just ask me to buy you a cup of coffee and if you have plenty of time, I will share the last 8 years with you!

1. He cares about EVERY detail of our lives. Read that again.. He cares about EVERY detail of our lives. Not some, not just the "important" ones but EVERY detail.

Just when I begin to take that truth for granted, my beautiful Father does something to remind me that 'yes, Brandi, I do care about EVEN that!' Don't believe me?

This morning as I was preparing for our two Sunday services I just told God.. Lord, the harvest is so bountiful but the workers are so few. Lord, please send the workers! At that moment God spoke very clearly to my heart by responding, 'do you trust me?' With a smile on my face I responded - I ABSOLUTELY trust you! And I knew He cared more about what it takes to run the nursery/preschool ministry than I could possibly understand.

You see our church is in a season of gathering jars because the oil is overflowing and because the oil is overflowing we are being given the opportunity to expand our ability to minister to even more individuals in the community by adding a fourth service to our weekend worship. THAT is a beautiful thing! With an additional service comes the opportunity to love and share the Truth of Christ with little ones, with more little ones comes the opportunity for more individuals to come forth with the heart to serve and impart that Truth.

IMMEDIATELY (Did you catch that? Not a moment later.. IMMEDIATELY) I received a text from a leader asking if they could serve both services this morning. I arrive at the church for our pre-service prayer and one leader who had been away on a mission trip and just got back, came in saying she was there to serve. Another leader showed up that wasn't planned. As I sat down to write this, I received an email from an individual of the church body stating she was ready to do her part in serving. What do you think? Do YOU think He cares about EVERY detail?

2. He desires for our lives reconciliation and freedom. Reconciliation to Him and with others and freedom in Him and from our past choices and current struggles. Don't believe me?In ministry, this one is all around me! My deepest passion when you get to the core of my being is for individuals to truly receive COMPLETE freedom in Jesus Christ. That can look like so many things and usually does. But when He gives me the opportunity, I easily recognize when an individual is desperate for freedom in Him and from their past and current circumstances and choices.

For the last six years I have been praying that both of my parents would truly experience absolute freedom in Christ. This journey of six years is a beautiful reminder that it is not our timing but His.

Because the Father desired freedom for my mom, and because she responded, on March 21st of this year, my mom totally surrendered to the Father all of her past wounds, all of her current circumstances and gave Him all of her. She made her outward expression of her inward change by affording me the most beautiful honor of baptizing her on May 2nd. My mom is free and has been fully reconciled to the Father.

3. You cannot resist Him! Whether you have known Him and walked away or you have never known Him at all, I promise you... I promise you... you CANNOT resist Him! Don't believe me?I had the most beautiful opportunity today to watch someone so dear to me admit that as much as she has tried for the last year to "put God in a box" and walk away, He never let her go. We were both overflowing with gratitude at the revelation that as hard as she tried, she was not going to be able to keep resisting His loving hold He has on her life.

I also had an opportunity this week to share with an amazing young man why we can't resist Him. This young man doesn't know Him like I know Him but I can promise this, he will! When I pray about his encounter with the one living and true God, I feel it deep within that he too will not be able to resist Him!

In John 6 Jesus is explaining the true Bread of Life to the disciples.. Many among his disciples heard this and said, "This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow." Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, "Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don't make anything happen. Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this." (Jesus knew from the start that some weren't going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, "This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father." After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: "Do you also want to leave?" Peter replied, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We've already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God." (MSG)

Father, if there is any good thing inside of me, it is ONLY because of you. My one petition is that everyone who should read this be given the eyes to see and the ears to hear so that NOT ONE will waste one more day apart from you!

What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, andyou know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail. James 5:11 (MSG)