Ministry Chapters!

-

So many emotions from this video memory from my YouTube account, from last September 2018, for so many reasons. Though I have played piano in church lots, as well as nursing home ministry, over the past 20 years since first taking piano lessons and earning, I had become perfectly content with only playing for occasional specials. I needed my freedom and ability to raise my hands and freely praise the Lord during worship service. But a year ago that all changed, and I took the weekly piano position at New Life Assembly of God. He has been so faithful to keep me physically able to be there every Sunday since filling in last April 2018. I have only missed one Sunday morning in that timeframe due to sickness. God has restored my desire and talent to play the piano for His glory and reminds me that it is another form of worship to Him. I am thankful for the previous pastor and his wife, as well as the people here, for giving me the opportunity to teach the youth, play the piano, and sing for His glory. I have learned so much in a year regarding the piano and strengthening and encouraging myself in the Lord. It has been like taking lessons all over again. Afterall, ministry should challenge us to do our best; not perfection but strive to become better. Through long music practices, constant key changes, missed notes or chords, lots of prayers, laughs, a few tears, and maybe a grey hair (insert chuckle), I kept pushing through it. Oh, the stories we could tell you about our intros, tagging, outros, music hand signals, ma'am you're not in b flat mishaps; wait that was mostly me. But, despite my stumbling and insecurities the enemy would throw in my way, it was all to be God's hands and feet. The pastor's wife was so good and gracious to work with me and encouraging me to keep playing and singing and Bro. Bill helped me gain confidence with my piano playing in the short time that I knew him. Bro. Bill has since passed away (he testifies and sings the second song in this video). Jesus Us Me. I have sung and prayed this many times and now He is using me. As the previous pastor's family moves on, and myself and others step up to the plate to allow the Lord to work through us and keep this country church going, this last year has been a roller coaster journey, but one I would do again. It teaches you just how tough yet rewarding ministry can be, yet it also finally helped me to not quit and keep pushing on. The enemy fills your head with the you are not good enough lies etc, but God is there drowning him out with His precious voice nudging you to keep going on to fill the need within His church. If you are never given a chance to do or lead a ministry in church how will you ever improve your talents and abilities? So, in writing this post I am thankful for my 'in the waiting' season and now my 'in the working' season. As I continue playing the piano and teaching on Sunday mornings, for however long God sees fit for me to be at New Life Assembly of God and also transition back to Clanton First Assembly of God for Sunday night/Wed night services (let us continually keep praying for our churches and pastors)... I simply thank Him for chapters: the chapters ending, the chapters beginning, and the chapters continuing.

YouTube video link: https://youtu.be/iYOc9YaqR_0

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconnect and Reset!

-
Image
8.21.2022 - 8.24.2022 • A "reconnect and reset trip" to the Great Smoky Mountains with my dear friend of 10 years, Susan. We haven't got to visit and see each other in a long while. We talk over the phone some. In 2012, we met while attending the same church, and connected instantly. We've held each other up in prayer, encouraged each other in the Lord, cried and laughed together, and worshipped together, as sisters in Christ should. We belly laughed so much on our vacation until we were hurting and seeing stars. We were planning to rest more, but we decided to pack in the fun while the Lord gave us the opportunity to do so together and memories sure were made. We prayed for God to pave the way and He did. He gave us favor with the traffic, favor with my vehicle, favor in keeping us safe from harm (we know how dangerous it can be for two women to travel alone, but with God you are never alone), favor with His band of Holy Angels all around us, ...
Read more >>

Why A Blog Titled: "Becoming Better Women"?

-
Image
Back around the last week of October 2017, I had a dream about the acronym "BBW" standing for something profound! I was standing in a room full of women, some I knew and some I had never seen before in my life and I looked down at a piece of paper and it said in bold cursive writing, BBW =  "Becoming Better Women" . There were women of all shapes and sizes in this room, different ages and races, showing different emotions. Nothing was said in the dream but when I woke up I didn't forget about it. In fact, a couple of days later I text myself those three words, becoming better women. Not yet knowing what to do with it, what it meant exactly, but feeling very strongly the Lord gave it to me for a reason! I had no idea that a week later, after having this dream, I would end up in the hospital for what seemed to be the longest and most challenging 7 days of my life! Throughout my time in the hospital, "Becoming Better Women" would go through my mind. Aroun...
Read more >>

We Prepare for Battle in Prayer!

-
Read Ephesians 6:10-18 The armor of God is vital to Christian belivers when it comes to our prayer life, overcoming spiritual warfare, and overcoming a lukewarm lifestyle. We can learn to become crucified in Christ so that the flesh part of us can resist the enemy's lies and temptations to sin. We can become transformed into a new person in Christ and no longer be enslaved to our old habits and sinful nature and attitude. We have daily choices to live accordingly to God's righteous standards and deny sin. We we choose God's desires for our life instead of sins, we crucify our flesh. Sin is only pleasurable for a season, and then it will turn on you like an unknown allergic reaction to a favorite food you ate. We prepare for battle when we suit up daily with the armor of God.  ---------- ARMOR of God and its PURPOSE: Belt of Truth - backbone of the word  Breastplate of Righteousness - protects is from satan's fiery darts, lies, temptation Feet Preparation of the Gospel o...
Read more >>