From Our “Spiritual Mom”, Mary Anne
Ladies,
Mary Anne sent this as a comment, but I’m choosing to post it as an entry. As we remember Gregorio’s word about remembering our spiritual “parents”, I want to honor Mary Anne as a mother to us women. I encourage all of us to avail ourselves of her measured wisdom, and to trust that she is for us–she is the champion of the women of Lamb of God. Thank you, Mare.
“Ladies, As I think about this great man of God who came to minister to us this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I can become very discouraged. This man told us of the miracles he has seen and done, and all the thousands of people he has led to Christ. He reminded us of those great ones who have gone before us. Those great evangelists who endured suffering and persecution to proclaim the name of Christ and lead others to Him. He told how much he has given up for the ‘call of Jesus’ on his life. Wow he has lived in a tree for Jesus He has given all he has to fulfill the will of God in his life. And I end up feeling “this guy is in another league,” “my life is a joke,” “the idea that my life can count for Jesus is just theoretical.”
And then I spend some time with Jesus. I read His word. I turn my attention from myself to His word. Have I answered the call of God on my life? I can honestly say yes. This call has been to be a wife, to remain in my marriage those early years (we were so young) and there I learned faithfulness. To be a mother both spiritually and physically to my threee children (they were not easy teenagers) and there I learned humility. I have answered the call to be involved in our congregation for the last 12 years, as I was in the congregation I was in for 12 years before this as a mentor and an example, and from this I learned fulfillment.
The secret of happiness in life is perspective. Some are called to be Elijah’s, some are called to be a leader like Moses, but all of us are called to be sheep and obey the one true Shepherd. love mare”
September 1st, 2007 at 11:33 am
Mary Anne has been a true blessing to me since I have been attending LOG. I have learned to trust & rely on her good judgment in working towards being a true believer. Thank you Mary Anne.
PS LOG has alot of good women who I feel priviledged to have been introduced to. Thank you for all those who support me in the LOG family.
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:36 am
Vicki, thanks for the good word, but I want to take a moment to clear something up. It is never God’s plan that we sin. Yes God wants our obedience, but it was always a choice. That was the first time they chose to be disobedient, but they were created with free will. And about Eve being the first to sin, not so fast. Adam sinned at the same moment Eve did but by omissiion. Adam was there with her and knew the same truths she knew, his was no less a sin then hers. Jesus draws us to himself by his loving kindness. Yes, he can use our sin to bring about His plan but it is never His plan. Everything we learn from our sin could have been learned another way. Keep sharing your thoughts, your openness is refreshing. love mare
September 2nd, 2007 at 5:51 pm
amen and amen.
September 3rd, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I think that part of having perspective for us as women is not expecting that we’ll be able to do everything we’d like to do right now–after all, the Proverbs 31 lady did all that stuff over the course of her life. We need to have peace with following Jesus in the circumstances we face now. Sometimes, that means we are caring for small children and can’t have the long prayer times we managed to fit in before we were married. That’s ok. There will be a time when we won’t be on call constantly and our prayer times will fit into our lives in a more regular pattern. I think it’s easy to beat ourselves up because we aren’t managing to do everything someone else is doing, and when we do that we let the lies and discouragement rob us of joyful, grateful life and service now.