Monday, December 31, 2007

There Is Nothing So Sweet

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

There is a peace that God gives when we trust Christ in salvation. That peace is a sweet peace. It's a peace that cannot be explained or understood. It is one of those things that is "better felt than telt" is how I've heard someone put it. I knew it when that peace flooded my soul.

There is another peace that comes after salvation. That peace is something I've gotten to experience many times. Most recently was Wednesday night. I'm going to take this opportunity to testify of what God is doing in our family and in our church. I will also share my heart and what I've been going through for the last several months and weeks.

I'm not exactly sure when this all began. I know it was earlier this year (2007) when my husband mentioned that something was missing in our church. He began to feel God was done with him at Eagles View Baptist Church. I was the encouraging wife that I've always tried to be at first. I told him he was reading something into it that wasn't there. It began with me encouraging him and turned to me trying to convince myself that God wasn't done with him here. Deep down in my heart I felt the same way my husband did. But I didn't want to leave and see our family go through another change. Afterall...why couldn't we be like other pastors' families and stay at the same church all our lives till Jesus comes back? I was not willing to let myself believe God was done with us here. But deep down I knew He was. My husband called me when I was in NC taking care of my sister-in-law and told me he knew that God is done with him here and he shared with me the direction he felt God was leading him. He asked me to pray and see what God showed me. Well....I knew he was right but I wasn't liking it at all.

You see...we have no home to move to. We live in a house on the church property. My husband has been full-time at the church and our income has been just enough to make it each month. We have no savings to use to get a house. All of these things kept flooding my mind. The devil played on me over these things. He kept telling me that we would have to move in with my husband's parents. We love them...but that would not work for many reasons. These things contributed to my not letting God give me peace.

In God's Word I've been reading and reminded of God's faithfulness. He has also taken my mind back to the times (many times) that He has proven faithful to me and my family. That was the beginning of God giving me peace.

Peace finally came Wednesday night after our service when my husband met with the men of the church to discuss everything. They were all in agreement that they have sensed that something was not right and that God was going to be moving my husband out. My husband also shared with them that God was changing his direction in the ministry. Every man in the meeting already felt that direction was the same as my husband expressed to them. Once my husband shared with me what the men all said and how they responded...that peace came. I guess I just needed to hear that everything was going to be okay with the men of the church. Why...I don't know.

What is the direction God is leading us in you ask? My husband has been an awesome pastor. God has used him mightily. Now he will be a missionary. God is taking us from pastoring to being a missionary family. My husband is going with the Highways and Hedges Prison Ministry. You may have heard of Rock of Ages Prison Ministry...this ministry is the same. Much time is spent going into the prisons to share the gospel with inmates. They hold revival meetings in the prisons and also go in to go cell by cell to have one on one witnessing opportunities.

My husband will continue to pastor (with the encouragement of the church) for a few more months at which time we will go out on deputation to get support from local churches.

I ask that you please pray for us. This is all new to us but we all...as a family....feel we are doing God's will. I'm scared...I'm nervous...and I'm anxious. This is a new journey for us that we've not taken before....but God is faithful to those who are in the center of His will.

My husband told the church yesterday evening of what is happening. There were tears shed by some but all said they knew this was going to happen. God is going to bless us and God is going to bless Eagles View Baptist Church. Please also remember our church as they will be praying for God's direction in who to call to pastor.

I don't know what the future holds for any of us...but I know Who holds the future. And I know that His peace is oh so sweet!!!

32 comments:

Jimena said...

We have been praying for you and will continue to do so. Thank you for sharing what the Lord is doing in your lives. He is faithful and will provide for all your needs and you will enjoy each step as you rest in Him. God bless you and a Happy New Year in the Lord...

Sis. Julie said...

sis. jimena....Thank you so much for your prayers!! It means so much to me!! Love you!!

Ski's Lady said...

What a blessing your blog is! I have been following Kate-Anne's blog and I, too, am quite disappointed in her *again*!! I do not think your comment was inappropriate at all. Praying for your family as you embark on a new journey for the Lord!!

Anonymous said...

Mrs Julie I am glad that the Lord gave you the peace that you needed. I know that the Lord will bless you and Preacher and your family during these next several months I pray that God will give you the support you need quickly. I also pray that Eagles View makes the right decision with the church. You are right Preacher was a great Preacher, and you were a great Preachers wife and I wouldn't trade my time at Eagles View for anything, nor our friendship that we have. Our prayers are with you during this new journey. Remember the gift you all gave me last year. THe sail boat The Will of God will never lead you where the Grace of God will not keep you. We love you all very much and can't wait till you are able to come down and be with us in March.

Bro Tim

Sis. Julie said...

bro. tim....Thank you so much for being our friend!! We love y'all very much too and are very thankful that the Lord allowed us to be y'alls pastor and pastor's wife. We pray for y'all too!! Thank you for your prayers!!

PamelaK said...

Dear Sister Julie -
Even though I don't know you "personally" like many other of your blog readers, I want to tell you that I am so happy for you and your family and will be praying for you all also. We have had to live in 3 states and 4 houses/apts in the last 4 years, but we see that God has had a reason for everything and it is so good to trust Him and leave it in His hands! (But it is not always easy, is it? You are not the only wife who at one time said "Why can't we just be like" ....Here's another one!) Wishing you and your family a very blessed 2008!
PamelaK

Sis. Julie said...

sis. pamela....thank you so much!!

~~Deby said...

This I know...
There is no better place to be...
than in the WILL OF GOD...and it sure seems like that is where you are headed....or even are as you prepare for this new direction....God does not make mistakes...and your story is awesome of how HE has worked through many to show you which way to go.
Deby
praying for you and yours.

Anonymous said...

Your comments about peace are great!

Please keep posting and let us know how it's going.

God bless you and your family.

Marsheila said...

what a sweet post sis Julie,
I am gonna miss ya'll so much you was not only my pastors wife you are my dear friend who I love very much and I hope we never part. even though you are moving on I felt like this was gonna happend sooner or later. I want you to know I really have peace about it now sure it's a sad time for us but I am thankful God allowed us to meet and become such good friends of all the pastors we have had at our church Bro. Ron is and was the Best. ya'll made us feel welcome at our church I am gonna miss Ronnie Michelle and Kristina I feel like they are my kids too I love them. I pray that God Blesses ya'll in a mighty way cause I know ya'll are in the Lords will.
p.s. I want you to keep in touch
with me please don't forget me.


I love ya'll very much

your friend forever
Sis.Marsheila

Sis. Julie said...

sis. deby....Thank you so much!!

Sis. Julie said...

sis. marsheila...You are so sweet!! We love y'all too!! We will never stop praying for you and your children either. A friendship has been established with us and that cannot be broken. We will definitely stay in touch!!

Love you!!

Sarah Joy said...

I promise to pray for you and your family and your church during this time of change! Isn't it amazing how sweet the peace is when we stop fighting and let it flow on in! He is faithful! Grace to serve always follows the peace. Blessings to you!

Sis. Julie said...

sis. sarah joy...Thank you so very much!!

Christopher Cline said...

We will be praying for you all.
It is a new journey but the Lord will provide for those in His will.
Happy New Year And Lord Bless...

Sis. Julie said...

bro. christopher....thank you so much!! We really appreciate that.

Unknown said...

Sis Julie, I am so excited at what God is doing in your life. God will not lead you where his grace will not keep you. I am praying for you and your family in this new ministry. It is wonderful to see and hear of God's children doing what he has called them to do. God Bless You!!
Sis Becky

Sis. Julie said...

sis. becky...Thank you and God bless you as well!!

Sis. Julie said...

skislady...Thank you so much for your comment. I'm glad you have found a blessing here at Julie's Jewels. Please come back anytime!!!

Sis. Julie said...

jendisjournal....Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. Happy New year!!

Dave said...

WOW, Do Highways and Hedges Prison Ministry has a web site? Where were you live at? Will you will traving lots or how do or work?

Dave

Sis. Julie said...

dave...I'm not sure if they have a website. I'll have to find out about that. I'll give the address in a post when I find out. We are living at the church my husband has been pastoring for now. He is looking for a job so he can work and we'll save money till we get enough to get a house for us to move to. He will pastor here until we get that set up...we will also go to churches around our area to start part-time deputation until he leaves the church then we will go more full-time on deputation. It will take a while to get to all the churches in our area. Please pray for us!! This is a whole different thing than pastoring.

Dave said...

Ok, I will be praying. When Bro. Brown start with Highways and Hedges Prison Ministry will he work in Prisons around Ga or will he be in Prisons around the USA?

Thank,
Dave

Sis. Julie said...

dave....he will go to prisons wherever Highways and Hedges schedules revivals. A lot of them are held in Florida but I'm sure there are others as well. He will also be busy going into the prisons doing some one-on-one soul winning and witnessing for the Lord. He is very excited about this. He was a police officer for 12 years and had a lot of interaction with criminals and even had the privilege of leading many to the Lord. So he knows what to expect out of the places he'll be going. We are excited about this new change about what God is going to do with and through my husband and our family.

Karen said...

How exciting, Julie! What an awesome and much-needed ministry!!! We have a friend who has been in prison ministry for 20years. What a testimony he has! He was saved in prison, was eventually fully pardoned by the state, and went back to work in the prisons full time.
I'm sure the Lord will provide the finances you will need since He is obviously directing your family to take this step.

What an adventure!

Paula said...

This year will certainly be bringing big changes your way. You will be in my prayers as your family continues to seek God's plan for your ministry.

Blessings,
Mrs. C

Sis. Julie said...

sis. karen...thank you so much for your prayers. This will be a definite change for us. But we are looking forward to it.

Unknown said...

We sure will be praying for you all. We thank the Lord for your friendship through the years.

Pray God will bless you in a specail way.

In Christ,
The Tooley Family
Missionaries in England

Sis. Julie said...

bro. roger...Wow!! What a blessing to find you here at my blog. Thank you for leaving a comment. Y'all are a true blessing to us as well. Thank you for your prayers...you and your family as well as your dad are in our prayers!!

May God continue to bless you there in England!!

Unknown said...

We shall be praying for you all. We praise the Lord for your faithfulness there at Eagles View.

We thank the Lord for your friendship through the years.

If we can be a help getting into churches please let us know

Have a good day

In Christ,
The Tooley Family
Missionaires in England

Jerry Bouey said...

Wow, looks like a lot of changes coming up in your lives! But the best place to be is always in the center of God's will!

"To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge.
To find the will of God is the greatest discovery.
To do the will of God is the greatest achievement!"
- George W. Truett

God bless.

Sis. Julie said...

bro. jerry....Yes sir!! There are a lot of changes taking place. And they are major ones too. But you are right...it is such a blessing to be doing the will of God.

VERY IMPORTANT!

Are you a good person? Take this test and find out.

Swidget 1.0 6

Audioministries.org