28 februari 2016

Standing at life's viewpoint

When we walk with Jesus we don't always have a clear vision of the whole purpose of this journey.
Often we just obey and walk and do what He leads us to and serve faithfully.
Then at times we stop and take a look at the path we have covered and sometimes that view is breathtakingly beautiful.
Was it that beautiful when you walked it? No it was tough, blood, sweat and tears, it took so much of prayers knowing where to put down your foot next. Many times we questioned: God what are we doing or God where are you taking us?

Today I had a little time to stand at that life's viewpoint, overlooking the paths of the last 3 years.
What He showed me today was a timeline of a people group, person after person, woman after woman whom the Lord had allowed me to encounter. All sizes, ages and colours. But they all had one thing in common. They had all come under the cloud of belief that it is only meant for man to be in ministry. Their hearts were burning with passion for the lost. They thrive on sharing the gospel with the poor or the hungry. Or bringing healing to the brokenhearted and setting the captives free. But they were made to understand it is not really for them to do '' it belongs to the man'' You are God's second best. Or ...
 
                                    
 

Here in Isaan, the villages mostly consists of older women and children. You might find a man here and there most probably they are too sick to work or have been looking to deep into the bottle. I love to see women carrying the gospel to the villages. 

  
I love to tell them: If God has given you a passion for evangelism, or just a great joy to do ministry to the Isaan people then I believe it might be God calling you.

I find so many who have a calling, who have a passion or a zeal, they love Jesus and they love people but have come to believe that they are not good enough because they are not a man. Some felt they were dying inside because they could not do what the heart was burning for.

I suddenly saw that I have been here for a purpose: to see these women released to do what they love to do, and bring joy to Father's heart too, because they obey and so abide and bear fruit, much fruit (John 15) .

When I lift my vision a little higher and further into the past, I rejoice over many women who have been restored and found their purpose and are now church planters. I did not plan that, but Father did.

I am not a feminist, or maybe I am, but in my heart is no rebellion, because I never had to fight against man to serve in my calling or giftings. Praise God for my man who believed and stood by me all these years when I was sharing with him my dreams and visions for ministry.
Love Anna