Let me first say that I in no way mean any disrespect to anyone dealing with the pain of a loved one suffering from any form of dementia. However, God does have a reason for everything He does. This true story showed me how what we sometimes think of as a ‘curse’ can be a blessing in disguise for some.
Years ago I used to do nursing home ministry. I would visit two nursing homes, once each month. As I walked down through the halls I would see the same faces. There were some residents who had regular visits from family and friends, but unfortunately, there too many who never got a visitor…ever.
There were also varying levels of mental health. I would hear one lady in particular at one of the nursing homes say the same thing every time I visited. She would sit in her wheelchair in the entrance to her room as I walked by…she would smile and say,
“I’m going home today”.
No, she wasn’t going home. She was one of the residents who never had visitors, and her family had moved on with their lives. At first I felt sorry for her because her situation seemed so hopeless…but then God gave me an awesome revelation.
In her hopeless situation…her dementia was a blessing!
Blessing? How was her dementia a blessing?
In reality, she woke up every morning WITHOUT hope of going home.
But through her dementia, she woke up every morning WITH hope of going home.
God gave her a reason to smile EVERY DAY.
God gave her something to look forward to EVERY DAY.
God gave her HOPE in a HOPELESS situation.
She spent her last days with HOPE.
What many may think of as a CURSE, was actually a BLESSING to her.
God’s wisdom is amazing!
He can can pull HOPE out of HOPEless…
FORTUNE our of unFORTUNATE…
Stop and give God praise for His unfathomable wisdom. Paul was right in Romans 11…
Romans 11: 33-36 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
For those of you who don’t know, not only do I blog, but I write songs for my wife who is Gospel/Jazz artist, Mechelle Johnson. She also sings classic R&B covers of many of the songs that make up the soundtrack of our 30-plus year marriage with her group, Natural Elegance. It’s part of our marriage ministry (Google SONday Blessing videos) that encourages strong, healthy, joyous Godly marriages between a man and woman. Our motto is…
You minister to the soul with a Gospel song, but you minister to a marriage with a love song!
We are based in a suburb of Memphis TN, and I must say that except for our very supportive church family at Oak Spring Church and a few others, we have gotten very little support from the ‘church community’. However, we have gotten MUCH SUPPORT from the local non-church community, and on radio in different cities throughout the country. I like to call it Matthew’s House ministry, reaching people beyond the ‘four walls’ of the physical church building…
Matthew 9:10-12 (NKJV)
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Soooo, I said all that to say this…
I see so many Gospel artists and ministers, both locally and nationally either whining and complaining on social media about not getting support or begging for people to vote for them to receive awards.
Let me say this very lovingly…
STOP WHINING AND WORK YOUR MINISTRY
If you are faithful with your message, God will promote you in His timing.
He will make sure that the people He wants to receive your message…get it.
The apostles never whined about their message not being received. They never whined about not getting supported, and they definitely never begged for awards. On the contrary, they were blessed to get out of town alive sometimes. They often did not have a ‘captive’ audience. They even celebrated when they were beaten for the Gospel…
Acts 5:41 (NKJV)
41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His[a] name.
We must be honest with ourselves as artists, musicians, singers, preachers, teachers, ministers, writers, and yes bloggers…
Do we want influence for the sake of God’s kingdom or recognition and celebrity?
Do we want awards or do we want to inspire people and save souls?
Do we want to bring glory to our name or God’s name?
Of course, it’s natural to want recognition and to even be paid well for your efforts, but if it’s truly a ministry for you, then you can’t be disappointed and ready to quit if you don’t receive it.
And, you definitely don’t want to be caught whining and complaining. It weakens the cause of Christ.
Yes, I would love to sustain my family well and be recognized with my writing, our music and sharing what God has placed on my heart, and the bible supports that…
1 Corinthians 9:14 (NKJV)
14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
Galatians 6:6 (NKJV)
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Proverbs 18:16(NKJV)
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
But, if you don’t get the attention that you feel you deserve, God allows us to have our private human moments between ourselves and Him, just as the psalmists did in so many of the lamenting Psalms.
Please don’t publish your woes on social media and chastise the people who you feel are ignoring you.
Stop complaining and begging for support. When people value what God has placed inside you, you don’t have to beg them to listen to you, watch you, or read what you have to share.
I know it get’s frustrating sometimes. Of course, I’ve been guilty of whining and complaining sometimes myself.
Remember the sharp encouragement in Hebrews Chapter 12…
Hebrews 12:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
Have your private moment between you and God…
Thank God for trusting you with His word and your gift and…
Preach on!
Teach on!
Sing on!
Play on!
Write on!
Even if you think no one is listening.
If you bless just one person…that’s good fruit, and good seed in good soil.
STOP WHINING AND START WINNING SOULS!
Work your ministry.
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BE BLESSTIFIED! 