I Kings 17:14
You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.
In 2000 Nate and I were pastoring an unruley bunch of inner-city kids. This was our 3rd year, and with very little support of any kind. We were discouraged. I am taking this entry directly from my journal on April 29, 2000.
Nate and I were cleaning the church today. I was vacuuming and praying at the same time. "LORD I am feeling very uncertain about everything. We need to hear from you. As I was vacuuming I came across a pile of hulls on the floor from sunflower seeds. I remember a group of girls sitting there last Sunday. They show little regard for our church building or for us. It saddens my heart, and I feel defeated. Please LORD speak to Nate and I about this ministry."
Nate and I prayed after we cleaned. As we were praying we heard something hit the window of the church. We looked over to the window that reached from ceiling to floor, and a very large black bird was sitting at the window looking in. (Nate remembered how the Lord had fed his prophet by the ravens). He immediately got up and said that he was going to call an older couple that in the past had given us much encouragement in the LORD. He said that they would be God's provision for the ministry at that time. We went to see them two days later, and they received us as their own children. They spoke into our lives courage, we were being refreshed so that we could continue in the work God had called us to do. We were so weary, but the LORD made it very clear we were not finished with these children. This couple also sowed $200.00 into helping with the cost of transporting and feeding many children twice weekly.
You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.
In 2000 Nate and I were pastoring an unruley bunch of inner-city kids. This was our 3rd year, and with very little support of any kind. We were discouraged. I am taking this entry directly from my journal on April 29, 2000.
Nate and I were cleaning the church today. I was vacuuming and praying at the same time. "LORD I am feeling very uncertain about everything. We need to hear from you. As I was vacuuming I came across a pile of hulls on the floor from sunflower seeds. I remember a group of girls sitting there last Sunday. They show little regard for our church building or for us. It saddens my heart, and I feel defeated. Please LORD speak to Nate and I about this ministry."
Nate and I prayed after we cleaned. As we were praying we heard something hit the window of the church. We looked over to the window that reached from ceiling to floor, and a very large black bird was sitting at the window looking in. (Nate remembered how the Lord had fed his prophet by the ravens). He immediately got up and said that he was going to call an older couple that in the past had given us much encouragement in the LORD. He said that they would be God's provision for the ministry at that time. We went to see them two days later, and they received us as their own children. They spoke into our lives courage, we were being refreshed so that we could continue in the work God had called us to do. We were so weary, but the LORD made it very clear we were not finished with these children. This couple also sowed $200.00 into helping with the cost of transporting and feeding many children twice weekly.
God is so faithful to his children! He does require things of us that will stretch us to our max, but He never leaves us alone. We have found He has many resources, usually through his body of believers. His Kingdom is the best!
I wonder what God has asked of you. Is it to stay home and pour His love into little ones? Is it to go into the marketplace and be his witness there? It could be to change an attitude of your heart that is not pleasing to him. Whatever it is, He gives much grace to walk it out with joy and peace. I hope that I did not give the wrong impression of the ministry being a burden. We loved those children unconditionally. It was a joy to serve them, but the kingdom does not come without oppostion.
So... stand firm in what God has asked of you to do. He is faithful to complete the work in you and through you.
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