My Turn on the Couch

[LadyCoonskinner]

Originally Posted by TalkLady

Throughout our years of living for God, we have given tithes and offerings and supported missionaries....We've helped pay other people's utility bills and gone miles out of the way to pick up people and take them to church. (When it was a real burden on us.)...We've worked in store fronts and we've helped people who were establishing new works. We've cleaned churches, cooked for special dinners, mowed yards, knocked on doors, taught Bible studies, etc. etc.......We've borrowed money a few times to be able to pay commitments. God has repaid us many times over. Children witness the sacrifice made. This is something that mold them.....Servants are supposed to work and they are supposed to sacrifice. ....Living for God is so much more than a job - but if you chose to look at it that way, it's part of the job description.

That is supposed to be the spirit we, as Christians, possess. But so many times we forget that.

We have a tendency to think, "Hey, I've "sacrificed" for God and He's supposed to step on the scene and bless me. " And then the attitude of unthankfulness rears it's ugly head and then takes a hold of us and we soooo unaware of what is really going on.

I know, I've been there the last few days. Thought these very thoughts and felt some pretty "un-Christian" thoughts, and held on to some pretty unholy attitudes.

So, I say thank you, all of you, who have posted on this thread, for the gentle reminder.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by LadyCoonskinner

That is supposed to be the spirit we, as Christians, possess. But so many times we forget that.

We have a tendency to think, "Hey, I've "sacrificed" for God and He's supposed to step on the scene and bless me. " And then the attitude of unthankfulness rears it's ugly head and then takes a hold of us and we soooo unaware of what is really going on.

I know, I've been there the last few days. Thought these very thoughts and felt some pretty "un-Christian" thoughts, and held on to some pretty unholy attitudes.

So, I say thank you, all of you, who have posted on this thread, for the gentle reminder.

It's threads like this and posts like yours, LCS, that help me to realize the worth of these forums.

The thing that is so easy to forget is that God does see it all...the sacrifice and weariness...He knows it all.

But experience has taught me that the words of the Bishop are true...God will train us our entire life for a moment...a season of service. And in our willingness to submit and yield to His will, He makes provision and gives the necessary grace and strength.

What a tremendous blessing it is to know that we are not out there alone...

[TalkLady]

Originally Posted by LadyCoonskinner

That is supposed to be the spirit we, as Christians, possess. But so many times we forget that.

We have a tendency to think, "Hey, I've "sacrificed" for God and He's supposed to step on the scene and bless me. " And then the attitude of unthankfulness rears it's ugly head and then takes a hold of us and we soooo unaware of what is really going on.

I know, I've been there the last few days. Thought these very thoughts and felt some pretty "un-Christian" thoughts, and held on to some pretty unholy attitudes.

So, I say thank you, all of you, who have posted on this thread, for the gentle reminder.

Don't get weary in well-doing, LadyC....I've found this is a good place to come to vent....I've been weary myself lately - but I'm looking at my life and feel that I am in the process of going from "strength to strength" which should mean going from one level of success (or closeness to God) to a higher level of success (or being even closer to God and knowing His will)...I'm trying not to look at the times I feel weak between the strength to strength times.

Remember this verse:

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God - Psalms 84:7.

I love this song - SPEAK TO THE MOUNTAIN

1. From strength to strength we sometimes go, then again we're sinking low,
In the shadow of a mountain looming high above our heads.
We need not fear what lies ahead for the Word has clearly said,
That our faith would be sufficient to make the mountain disappear.

Speak to the mountain, you'll not triumph over me.
Be thou removed from here to yonder disappear into the sea.
Speak to the mountain, speak with authority
And the mountain must move, and you shall claim victory.

2. In the midst of the battle, when the foe is gaining ground,
Look up and see the mighty hand of God reaching down.
Speak God's name, Satan trembles, speak God's word and watch him flee,
Once again our God delivers, the mountain crumbles at our feet.

Speak to the mountain, you'll not triumph over me.
Be thou removed from here to yonder disappear into the sea.
Speak to the mountain, speak with authority
And the mountain must move, and you shall claim victory.

AMEN.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I said all of that to say this, Is sacrifice ugly, or beautiful?

When you look back over your life and view all of the things you have sacrificed, does it bother you or fill you with joy? Do you regret the life you have lived and feel like you have missed out on something, or do you rejoice at the opportunities God has given you to minister?

I have mixed feelings about the sacrifices we have made. We were in Home Missions 5 years and the church is still there.....we still have some bills left from that...we left there more than 7 years ago. Then we were in an established church that blew up while we were there. I feel good in a way about the Home Missions church. I never, ever regretted it while we were there. I guess what I regret is not doing it, but putting so much into the works we were at and into the ministry only to leave it all. We definately feel that we followed God in leaving. I expect He will bless us in the long run for doing what we believe is right. But it didn't turn out like we thought it would. The second church we pastored, I still am sometimes reeling from. The sacrifices were more in a spiritual warfare setting. My husband and I left there with a lot of health problems. The stress was so great it was unbelievable.

So, I don't regret serving God at all. I don't have a problem with making sacrifices. What hurts me is pouring it all in for 19 years and then walking away. Some will say "That's your own fault and your own choice", but I say it isn't. Yes, we chose to walk away, but we had to to keep our integrity when our beliefs had changed. We could have stayed and pulled the church out. I'm not saying those who do are wrong, but it wasn't right for us.

[ILG]

I stayed home with our kids....I have never regretted that. Things were always very tight, but you can't trade that time with your kids for anything.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by QueenEsther

Unfortunately I work - due to finances - we still dont have much - my husband works for our church full time - the pay isn't the best but the blessings are more than you can imagine. Our car is falling apart and our wardrobes consist of Wal-mart clearance itemss! Lol!! But that is ok, I feel we are where God wants us, why? I am not sure yet but I know we are where we should be. I have let the Lord know my desires and I believe one day when the time is right I may get them.

QE,

Your post reminded me of a recent conversation where a relative was relating how some guy one of our young female relatives had dated had put down shopping at Ross or TJ Max because the merchandise was "seconds".

I laughed and said he definitely would not fit in our family because if he didn't like those stores he surely wasn't going to like Wal Mart and we practically live there!

[QueenEsther]

Originally Posted by LadyCoonskinner

That is supposed to be the spirit we, as Christians, possess. But so many times we forget that.

We have a tendency to think, "Hey, I've "sacrificed" for God and He's supposed to step on the scene and bless me. " And then the attitude of unthankfulness rears it's ugly head and then takes a hold of us and we soooo unaware of what is really going on.

I know, I've been there the last few days. Thought these very thoughts and felt some pretty "un-Christian" thoughts, and held on to some pretty unholy attitudes.

So, I say thank you, all of you, who have posted on this thread, for the gentle reminder.

Amen!! Awhile back we had 2 older vehicles for sale - an older mini van and an old chevy truck (I think they were both 70 somethings) and we wanted to sell them becuase we really weren't using them and we could use the extra money - anyways, there is a young man in our youth group who's family is not in church and they are dirt poor and his car broke down and he didn't have the money to get it fixed so my husband gave him our old van. And believe me the van is nothing nice at all!! It is OLD and a hoopty! But it would have been an extra $500. in our pocket. My first reaction was "No, we could use that money!!" but I didn't say that and just about as soon as I thought it, I felt sooooo guilty and I knew that my husband had done the right thing. I guess this is just something I am struggling with and I feel that God is trying to change me and I want him to so I am doing my best to allow him to.

Thanks again PP for this thread.......

[QueenEsther]

Originally Posted by CC1

QE,

Your post reminded me of a recent conversation where a relative was relating how some guy one of our young female relatives had dated had put down shopping at Ross or TJ Max because the merchandise was "seconds".

I laughed and said he definitely would not fit in our family because if he didn't like those stores he surely wasn't going to like Wal Mart and we practically live there!

Lol! Yep! We practically live there also!!

[Scott Hutchinson]

Thanks PP for posting for some decent and High quality posts here on AFF.
We need more threads like this.