Like Trees

Many years ago at a youth camp where we were student leaders, Tommy and I received a prophecy that has kept coming back to us over the years: "don't become discouraged because your ministry will begin as only a few trees but God says to tell you that He will multiply those trees and there will be too many to count." We have gone years at a time without thinking of that night and then something will happen and that moment will flash into our minds. We have filled many roles in ministry, children's pastors, student leaders, Sunday school teachers, and pastor (and pw)... and in small ways we have seen that prophecy happen. Tommy's first charge was small in number but it grew to a larger number before we left... growth. Our second appointment doubled in the two years we were there and at that appointment we saw God do amazing work in the lives of the people there... growth. Our current appointment has been similar, double attendance and lives changing... growth. While serving our current appointment we also have the opportunity to be a part of Harvest Church which is the largest church in the south GA annual conference, it's amazing there, lives change weekly and they have a lot of "trees"... they have experienced a lot of growth. Their pastors have incredible vision and a great anointing from God... it's a blessing to experience people with a passion to see lives change for the glory of God.

Tonight a friend of Harvest, Louis Bashimba from the Congo gave a message to the students of Harvest. He told them to be like Joshua, to stand and go. It was inspiring. Then the pastors invited the youth to the altar to pray and encouraged those who God might be calling to ministry. Maybe it was the music, maybe it was the passion of the students or Louis or the pastors, maybe it was just being still in His presence, but all of a sudden, just for a moment I was 16 again, pouring my heart out to the Lord, feeling the call to ministry once again... and then, there I sat, 30 years old, realizing that somewhere along the way, I had lost my zeal.

You would have to have known me as a child or a teenager to know the zeal I am speaking of... I was the kid who lined up her stuffed animals and preached to them about Adam and Eve when her parents didn't go to church that Sunday. I was the teenager who lived for Sunday and Wednesday evening worship, looked forward to youth camp all year, and studied my Bible daily. I was on fire for Jesus. I wanted to turn the world upside down for the glory of His name. I wanted to fulfill the call on my life. I felt that the call was to do more, to be more... I felt called to a life of passionate surrender and that He would use me in a mighty way. I didn't know why God would choose me, and I still don't. I don't feel worthy of His call... but I know He called. I've always known but somehow, somewhere my passion faded.

Life happened. Bills happened. Work happened. Hurt happened. Change happened. Growth happened. I have a beautiful life... I have a husband who is by all definitions a good man, I have been blessed with three beautiful and healthy children, and I laugh everyday. But somewhere in the busyness, bills, diapers, and daily living... my passion faded. I began to believe a lie, a lie that went something like this, "you were called, Katie but you missed the boat, God chose someone else because you failed." But then, I started working at Harvest and something in my spirit started to stir again... "made for more, Katie... you were made for more". I still don't know exactly what that means but tonight as God moved in the hearts of so many students, I too felt Him speak. My prayer is that He will show me more... that as I continue to study His word and seek Him with my whole heart, He will guide my steps.

Have you heard Him call? Have you lost your passion? Do you need Him to refresh your soul? Friends, it's not too late. God is faithful... even when we are not... The video below is a beautiful reminder of God's faithfulness; "there has never been a day where he wasn't by my side"... He has never left me and He hasn't left you. Be encouraged... follow where He leads.

I pray that I see our ministry flourish into a forest of trees through everything we do... I pray that our lives inspire change... we fail and stumble but I pray that through the transparency of our lives and the vulnerability of our story that people see two people who love Christ with everything we are and seek to live the way He has called us to. We are nothing special... we are messy humans... but we serve an unwavering, unfailing, mighty, powerful, awe-inspiring God who never gives up on us!

https://vimeo.com/158682751