Barbara Feil's Blog

God works little by little... ever want him to work faster? Deuteronomy 7:22

It's Saturday morning - cloudy - snow is forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning and it's March.  We "spring forward" tonight, what's with the snow?  But this morning I have my Quiet Time Playlist on my I-POD and I've had some great time to read and reflect, to write in my personal journal and to listen to the heart of God and ask him to speak to me.

Some of you who may read my blog or are part of the community who hear me teach know that I am struggling between journaling online and journaling with pen and paper.  I love the world where what God is speaking to me and what I am learning from his Word can be shared at the same time as I keep it for myself on my blog - but there are moments where I need to pour out deeper, more private and personal issues and insights that would not be appropriate for this public forum.  So, I've gone back to a paper and pen journal for those thoughts - kept between God and I - but am still committed to sharing what God is teaching me from the Word here.

So this morning I was journaling about an area in my life where there is so much potential for healing, wholeness and restoration.  There is just one problem.  IT'S NOT HAPPENING FAST ENOUGH.  Do you have an area of your life like that?  It could be a job hunt, a relationship where you long for healing.  It could be the natural "next step" in your life - marriage, parenthood, a home you actually own, the obvious career move.  You want it, you can taste it, God hasn't denied it...it seems in line with his will...it's just taking a long time. 

This morning I read Deuteronomy 7.  Moses communicated all this to the nation of Israel some almost 40 years earlier (see Exodux 23),the first time they were perched to enter the promised land, but they didn't get it - so now Moses pushes "re-send" to ensure that they hear God's words before they enter the land that God has promised them. 

Deuteronomy 7:21-22 says,

Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.  The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little.  You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.  But the LORD you God will deliver them over to you...

What struck me this morning were the word, little by little.  How often does God work in your life litte by little?  How often do you (and I) want him to work fast and faster?  It could be a result of a culture where we have so much instantly...we hate to wait while our computer re-boots, and we bemoan when it isn't fast enough.  We pop something in the microwave and wait impatiently as the seconds tick by.  We wish the person in front of us would move through the intersection faster so we can make the light.  Little by little doesn't sound very fun!! 

But God had his reasons for the little by little movement over immediate movement.  The nation of Israel simply wasn't large enough to be able to inhabit the land and it would have been over-run with wild animals and so God gave them the land little by little. 

As I said, there is an area in my life where God is trust working, but it is little by little.  Undoubtedly God has his GOOD reasons.  Something is being worked out me and in others.  Something is being prepared and something else is being restrained so that all is ready (no wild animals!?).  How about you?  In what area of your life are you watchinging God work little by little? 

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD...

 

Reminders from my past prepare me for the future

Every church I know is trying to figure out how to do ministry in these new and turbulent economic times.  I have been in Bend, Oregon speaking at a conference and over breakfast, lunch and dinner the conversation turns to the impact of economy that is not just slowed but stopped in one of the fast growing communities in the Northwest.  The church I am with is not large but they have cut staff hours, laid some off and are hoping to make it through without greater impact. 

I am reminded that my own church is also facing these same decisions.  I have spend much of this weekend in prayer - asking that God's will be done.  I confess I have also been anxious.  What will the impact on ministry be?  Can those who are left continue to move ministry forward with less staff, less resouces?  These days take us back to the core of ministry - that ministry is about people and the work of God in thier life - not just buildings and budgets.  But it is hard to switch gears. 

This morning, as our Elder board met to make difficult decisions, I was speaking here in Bend on Deborah's story from Judges 4-5.  I was sharing a "life message" that God spoke to me through this passage of scripture and my experience many years ago.  It was such a reminder that God calls and uniquely uses women in ministry. Women, especially one who was a wife and mother, weren't normally prophets and judges, but God is not outside demonstrating his power through anyone he chooses.  Barak, who makes the Hebrews 12 "Hall of Faith" for being willing to go to war, refuses to go unless Deborah, who was God's mouthpiece in Israel at that time, goes with him.  And the song of victory they wrote reveals some important insights about what women bring to the ministry leadership table:

1.  A woman in ministry leadership is used by God because she doesn't demand the spotlight! (See Judges 5)  When Deborah celebrates the victory she could well have done it alone.  But she composes and performs the victory song with Barak and together they honor the princes, the people, and Jael who takes out Sisera with a tent peg!

2.  A woman in ministry leadership can be especially used of God because she empowers others and gives ministry opportunities away.   Deborah could have led the army - after all Barak has no trouble saying he won't go unless she goes with him.  But she involves as many as she can.  In Judges 5:2 she praises God for, When the princes of Israel take the lead... and in 5:9 she says, "My heart is with Israel's princes..."  She is a leader in her own right with power and authority as a prophet and judge but she knows the GREATER POWER OF GIVING MINISTRY AWAY!

3.  A woman in leadership can be especially used of God when brings her ability to do ministry in team or community.  I believe that most women leaders are not loners.  They prefer to do ministry in team or in community.  I appreciate that more and more men see the value and the Biblical wisdom of this. After all, God himself exists in community.  God said it wasn't good for Adam to be alone.  Jesus could well have ministered alone but choose twelve unlikely men to share it with. In Judges 5:2 Deborah is grateful "When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves - praise the Lord."  And in 5:9 she says, "My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people!  Praise the Lord."

4.  A woman in ministry leadership can be especially used by God when she expressed her personal relationship or intimacy with God.  With the exception of a few prophets and David, few OT leaders expressed a personal "love" for God.  But in Judges 5:31 Deborah says, "So may all your enemies perish, O Lord!  But may they who love you be like the sun..."   John Eldrege in "Journey of Desire" says, "Many people have a hard time conceiving of this kind of intimacy with God.  For their entire lives they have related to him in distant, though reverent way...Men in particular have a hard time relating to the bridal imagery used in Scripture.  Do we (as men) take on femininity to relate to God?  What does it mean for (men) to know God as lover?"  Perhaps here is where women have a slight advantage in relating to Jesus as our bridegroom.  Here is where our expression of deeply personal, intimate love we can share with our Savior and husband can help the whole body of Christ experience the love that is meant for all. 

I don't think it was any coincidence that God asked me to resurrect this particular message this weekend.  Ministry has been full of discouragement and difficulty.  I needed to be reminded that God is not through with me yet...that God is not done using "this woman" - this "Deborah" in today's church - no matter what the odds!!