Lately I have had a new situation that has become an opportunity to learn. It is called remodeling the church. It is going so well and everyone is doing an excellent job. It is absolutely beautiful but this doesn’t all happen without some prayer. An old saying in church is that the church can divide over the color of paint or carpet. If you ask 10 people the same question about what color they like – what design and so on you would have 11 different opinions. I want to share a few things the Lord has been dealing with in my heart. Guess it boils down to one basic thing and that is fear. Last week someone had told me that I had a poverty mentality when I worried so much about keeping the carpet clean. What? I had never heard such a thing but decided to pray about it. I am fighting back with them that I don’t think we are in lack. As I prayed and meditated on the Word I did see I had an attitude of fear. Fear that after all the hard work we had done that the carpet would get abused and cause – well to be honest – myself and a few others hours of work to get the spills cleaned up. Sounds selfish on my part but this is my reality. I am not looking for more to do as far as cleaning up after others and those who help with the church cleaning don’t want more to do either. Bottom line – fear of my work. As I saw that I felt silly. But then the Lord spoke to me on the attitude of poverty or lack that may could be the actual foundation to my fear.
The Lord provides. “The Lord is my Fierce Protector and my Pastor. I always have more than enough.” Psalm 23:1 Passion Bible He gave us the carpet. He provided actually what we were desiring. Lack is a curse and worry I don’t want that in my life. We call it responsibility to care for the carpet and church itself and there is something to that but it has to be without fear. We call it respect. Yes, but respect with the right motives of heart. He tells us not to worry about tomorrow or dirty carpet.
“This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing—everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing? Look at all the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they? So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life? And why would you worry about your clothing? Look at all the beautiful flowers of the field. They don’t work or toil, and yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was robed in beauty more than one of these! So if God has clothed the meadow with hay, which is here for such a short time and then dried up and burned, won’t he provide for you the clothes you need—even though you live with such little faith? So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require? “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” Matthew 6:25-34
This past week I was talking to someone who said they are just made to be anixious and worry. I felt so bad that they believed that. That’s the perfect set up for diseases to take over. The enemy gets us sidetracked with worry and life then disease can work in our bodies before we know it. Another friend shared with me that she had being fighting junk in her body since last October and was just waiting for it to get better and then realized she needed to take authority over the stuff and know who she was in Christ and not receive the lie of the enemy. The Lord is my Fierce Protector and my Pastor. I always have more than enough.” Psalm 23:1 He is ALWAYS more than enough! Why can’t I get that through my mind and heart! His blessings are endless. He says this to me over and over – NEVER FEAR WHAT I HAVE ALREADY GIVEN YOU THE VICTORY OVER. What has He given me victory over? Everything because of He gave His life for all things and then He rose again with resurrection power! He tells me to let NOTHING steal what He has given me. He is aware of all that I need – all that the church needs and He has promised He will meet every need. He has promised to meet every need I have even before I ask. As my heart is set on Him hope will overflow to others around me. I read this the last week, “Let your devotion to Me have no limit this day. Be willing to turn aside from the trivial to find the eternal.” Those words would make my abused dirty carpet seem like nothing.
He is telling us that little things don’t matter like we let them matter. He understands my desire for a nice looking chapel and clean carpet. He is more than enough to speak to each person’s heart to help keep it clean. Is it good to have coffee in the chapel? Depends on how you see it. Again, many different thoughts about that. Some don’t want it there because entering into the chapel is like entering into His presence. They see it as a holy place and a place to respect and put aside things like physical needs of coffee and such for an hour. I understand that. Others see the chapel as a place to meet the Lord and be in His presence as they are in their own living room. They feel His presence everywhere and having their cup of coffee while sitting and listening to the praise and worship and message brings them closer to Him. I understand that too. There isn’t a right or wrong as long as the attitude isn’t fear, doubt, lack, religious or judgment. If your attitude is about spending time with the church family in His presence, worshipping together and listening to the words from the pastor then a cup of coffee isn’t going to matter. What does matter is your heart. And I saw my heart was in fear.
With Resurrection day coming He has been speaking to me more and more about His resurrection power. I am mediating on this and hope to write more later but I saw it so powerfully this week. His resurrection power is able to handle coffee stains and the people who make coffee stains. He isn’t asking me to deal with the people who may not understand respect and responsibility for other peoples stuff – He is telling me to trust Him. To lay down my fears and His resurrection power will take care of it all.
That was a powerful word to me this week and I apologize if I was rude to anyone when in fear. I am learning and desiring everything He has for me and for us. Have a blessed week and check out your heart and meditate on His resurrection power. You will be blessed. Thank you for your patience with me as I learnJ