HOPE! She was born an illegitimate child at a time when the world considered those things taboo. In fact, as a baby she was beaten by the man who was not her father. In fear for the baby’s life, her mom put her up for adoption. She lived in an orphanage until she was eight years old. Finally, like the story of ANNIE, a wealthy woman came and adopted her. The little girl went to her new upper-middle class home. Sounds like a fairy tale. Not quite!
This little girl’s adopted mother was extremely controlling. She refused to let her husband spend any time with the little girl even though he showed her nothing but admiration. Whenever the little girl didn’t dry the dishes properly, sit properly, or do exactly as she was told she was locked in a closet for hours. It was an awful life. Not what anyone had HOPED for this little orphan girl…
Due to the brutal beatings as a baby, this little girl was diagnosed with Epilepsy. She experienced repeated Grand Mall Seizures & was given the most powerful drugs available to ease these violent convulsions. When she was finally old enough to work, her mom confiscated every paycheck. Her life continued like this until she was thirty years old. Years later, her life ended due to complications from Alzheimer’s with no memory of the painful life she endured. Surprisingly, her name was HOPE!
You see, that part of the story sounds all too HOPELESS! However, she married and had only one son. He was the joy of her life. Everything she did from that moment on was to be sure that her son had a better life. She was MY mom. I can still remember her banana sandwiches, famous goulash, & thick oatmeal. I still eat oatmeal like porridge because that’s how she made it.
The memory I cherish most is the time she went to church with me. She heard a message of TRUTH that penetrated her soul. She surrendered all that painful baggage to JESUS. Like a child, she let go of all those painful hurts & experiences. I was in high school when she was born-again! THE LORD took away her life of ashes, and gave her beauty & a future fitting her name ~ HOPE!
“And this is the promise that He has promised us…” I John 2:25a
POSSIBILITIES… Before we go any further, you need to know that I am NOT a mechanic. When I was a small child I helped my dad change the oil in the old car. He put the car on “jack stands.” He got two of those mechanic creeper things that you lay on so you can roll around under the car on your back, and we went to work. We rolled under the car to the drain plug at the bottom of the oil pan. He placed a big bowl under the oil pan. Then he showed me how to take out the drain plug to drain the oil. I was feeling very manly as a young boy. For a moment I thought I might grow up to be great mechanic…
But just then… it happened! The hot oil hit the edge of the bowl, ran at high rate of speed along the bottom of the bowl, and flowed all the way up the other side of the bowl. Next, the burning oil left the bowl and began looking for a place to land. Then, the imagined molten liquid landed on my face. It went in my eyes, up my nose, and in my mouth. My dad and I scrambled out from under the car, and ran into the house to get me fixed up. I was done! I vowed never to work on a car again!
Now, having shared all that… Cheryl’s power window died recently. The mechanic wanted hundreds (and a lot of them) to fix it. So, it occurred to me that I might be able to fix it. First, I prayed for the Lord to give me wisdom. Next, I went to the internet and started to learn: http://www.youtube.com is becoming my friend. I realized I might be able to do this. So, I looked for the motor/regulator unit online and found one for less than $60. I ordered it and replaced the part by dismantling her door and installing the new part. Amazingly, it works like a charm. PTL!
Years ago, I had a traumatic event happen that kept me from doing things that Godmight want me to do because I thought they were impossible. Then, I remembered the God’s Word says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) When I fail to trust Christin whatever I decide to do I am reminded that Jesussaid, “apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) I also recall the angel Gabriel telling Mary, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37) My experience has caused me to wonder what else we could do if we trusted Godcompletely. What do you think? Has Godasked you to do something that you simply ignored because you’ve let your past experiences convince you that you can’t do it? Remember, we serve a great God, and He is the Godof promise&POSSIBILITIES…
Here are ten things I’ve learned after being forced terminated several times from churches for reasons like “we just don’t like you,” “we just want an old work mule instead of a stallion,” or “we don’t want the kind of people you’re reaching coming to this church.” To this day, I still don’t know what some of these phrases mean. Praise the Lord; I have never had to resign for “personal reasons,” even though some tried to “trick” me into saying it. I made it a point to spend my last minutes in each of those churches at the altar praying for revival to come to their community. So, if you’re like me (unfortunately there are many ministers today who are) I hope this comforts you and helps you grin a little more easily… (Oh, and for you terminators… this will probably ruffle your feathers just a bit… trust me: the Holy Spirit wants your feathers to be ruffled…)
SMILE ~ It’s been my experience {repeatedly 😉 } that you will survive the ordeal. It may not seem like at the time, but there will be a tomorrow… God is in control, and HE has a purpose for you.
BRUSH YOUR TEETH ~ Always leave with fresh breath. WHY? Everything is better with fresh breath! After all, you may have a wife like mine who will console you with a little huggin’ and kissin’, and believe me it’s one of the better parts of the process.
DRESS YOUR BEST ~ If you have honored the Lord through the process, then they haven’t beaten you. There is no reason for you to feel anything less than your best. Besides, some of those in the room are usually on your side secretly. You are not alone!
DON’T CARRY A TORCH ~ You may want to burn that bridge. It may seem like they deserve your worst, but don’t do it! It dishonors the Lord, and you will feel like crud afterward. Sorry about the word crud, but if you have been through this you have probably said or at least thought worse. Of course, I realize there are those who will quit reading right now, but they are probably some of the ones who told us to leave because they can’t handle honesty and transparency! (Yeah… I moved into a moment of therapy… sorry!) With that in mind…
JUST KEEP SWIMMING ~ Disney got this one right! Get up in the morning, get dressed, have a quiet time regardless of the way you feel. Make a daily plan of things to do and stick with it. Again, many of you may have never experienced the deep depression that comes from rejection, but for those of us who have… the hurt runs deeper than you can imagine. Just stay alive! I love the movie, Last of the Mohicans. Hawkeye tells his love to “just stay alive, I will find you.” Listen ~ that’s great advice! Keep your faith alive. God will not struggle to find you. He knows where you are even though it may not feel like it to you. When you hurt the deepest, keep running the race!
GIVE YOURSELF TIME & LOTS OF IT ~ The deeper the hurt… the longer the process will be. I know that SUPER CHRISTIANS aren’t supposed to let anything bother them. However, here on a little planet we like to call Earth, we’re still wrapped in flesh (sarks – for you fellow Greek-nerds)… You will fight this battle your whole life. God designed it that way! We’ve all heard… Here it comes… I have learned more from my failures than my successes. It’s a cliché, but I have found it to be true. Guess what? I am still learning more from failure than success!
PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE ~ Some people are going to like you… Some people are not going to like you… Some people who don’t like now will grow to love you… Remember, some people who like you now are not going to like you later. The prescription ~ Love JESUS! He is going to love you through it all… He has not given up on you, and you are not forgotten!
DON’T ASSUME YOU KNOW WHAT’S NEXT ~ I wish I had a penny for all my “ministerial friends” who thought I quit the ministry. In my last 8 month full-time senior pastorate/unintentional interim, I finished with a resume that looked like Swiss Cheese. I sent resumes all over the world. No amount of embellishing, redirecting, long references, or imagination could make it look better. So, I spent a year “out of ministry.” HOWEVER!!! God’s Word tells me that all of life is ministry. No matter what you do for work God never says, “Oh, you’re only a teacher, lawyer, plumber, office worker, or laborer. Maybe, one day I’ll put My call on your life again and make you as special as the pastor.” Just enjoy being who He created you to be. God’s Word says that He called farmers, carpenters, and others to minister for Him who were not “full-time Christian ministers.” Your source of income does not dictate nor prove your call as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ! Some of the greatest ministers I’ve met have never received income for their ministry. The Bible says, “Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly unto the Lord.” (Col 3:23)
LOVE YOUR FAMILY ~ They were with you as you walked into what you thought was going to be an amazing ministry opportunity. They endured the experience with you. They rejoiced in the highs with you. They are hurting through this process, too. They are the ones who will remain with you throughout your life. Love you spouse! You married your spouse for a reason! Adore your children. They are watching you to learn how to deal with adversity. As you pour out your broken heart to the Lord… they will watch and love you all the more!
BE ENCOURAGING ~ since you’re still reading this ~ you care! If you know someone who is in this place or has been in this place… HELP THEM… LOVE THEM… ENCOURAGE THEM… They are your brothers & sisters in Christ! Again, I am still bruised myself and I can almost hear my brothers and sisters who’ve never experienced this kind of hurt… thinking, “Oh, that could never happen to me.” Well, I sincerely hope not, but if it does get ready for the worst emotional roller coaster… Just keep breathing… scream occasionally! Pray without ceasing! It really does help!
Wes Frank is a lead pastor, teacher, husband, father, pet owner, college football fan, and so much more… He has been a youth minister, campus police chief, US Army Airborne soldier, land surveyor, general merchandise associate & greeter, aquatic maintenance specialist, alarm system consultant, sandwich artist, not to mention substitute school teacher…
readyforafreshstart 