Archive for December, 2008

I Got Shoes

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
—1 Thessalonians 5:18

A trip to a school in the Kenya slums reminded me to always be grateful.

The slums in Kenya, Africa are indescribable. The stench in the slums hits your face like a rushing wind. Since there are no public sewers, people simply toss their waste outside or, as I witnessed, relieve themselves wherever they so desire. Walking through the slums was no fun. Our mission team walked through mud and filth, hopping back and forth over trenches filled with flowing waste water. Finally we arrived at the school where we would minister to hundreds of children and their adult teachers.

As they sang a song, I decided to take pictures of the children dressed in tattered clothing. That’s when I noticed the shoes. Some were too small, some too big and some were breaking fashion laws. Some had holes in the soles and some were missing fasteners. All were muddied, torn, and in poor condition. However, the children and adults were sincerely singing praises to God

I was reminded of old song that the African slaves in America would sing:
I got shoes
You got shoes
All God’s chil’ren got shoes

Slaves didn’t have decent shoes. This song was sung at a time when the children of slaves did not have shoes to wear, but walked barefoot. The slaves knew in spite of their present condition, they were blessed to have a Father who provides for them. The slaves sang the affirmation that all God’s children would have shoes and they looked forward to that time when the Lord would change their circumstances. They were singing the song in faith, claiming what they knew God could do.

The adults and children we encountered in the slums remind me of the slaves. In my natural eye, I saw what they did not have. However, through my spiritual eye I understood why they were singing. They were praising our God who is able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all we could ever ask or think.

The inward attitude of gratefulness of the slaves and the Kenyans was manifested outwardly in spite of their condition and their circumstances. What hinders you from being grateful at all time?

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I’m Still Pastor Thomas’ Wife!

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

Although I have been preaching for the last 9 years, a month ago I officially received my license to preach the Gospel. Although for seven years, I fled from the call, my lifestyle and walk has reflected the call for well over a decade.

Rewind back 7 months–In May 2007, twelve women were selected by my Pastor, Bishop S. Arnold, to begin a special training course for women called to preach. For the next 10 months, we would meet weekly and be trained in our area of ministry through classes where we were not only instructed by also given homework assignments. Then, in March 2008, the nine of us that remained were presented to the church and from that day forward we sat with the other ministers in the designated area and were allowed to serve just as the other male ministers of the church.

Since March, I have sat with the ministers, and sometimes I would sit where I always sat prior to my “coming out”—in the pew designated for Associate Pastors Wives. After all, I’m still Pastor Thomas’ wife.

On a Sunday after receiving my license, I went to sit in the area reserved for the Associate Pastors wives. When I got to my seat, a member said to me “I was surprised that you came here to sit.” She was making reference to the fact that I am now a minister, and from her tone, she led me to believe that I had changed. My response to the woman was “I may be a minister but I’m still Pastor Thomas’ wife!”

Years ago, when I began walking in my call, I inwardly changed. The licensing certified publicly what had already taken place privately. The woman’s comment made me ponder two self-evaluating question, “What has changed between now and my acknowledgement of the call?” and “What has not changed between now and my acknowledgement of my call?”

The latter of the two was easier to answer. What HAS NOT changed:

    I’m still Roline Thomas
    I’m still married to Pastor Thomas.
    I’m still a mother.
    I’m still a grandmother.
    I’m still a friend.
    I still love the Lord.
    I still love to preach.
    I still love serving others.
    I’m still actively involved with several ministry of my church.
    I still love gumbo.

So, what HAS changed? That’s tough, because the license came years after the call. Has my attitude change? Has my relationships changed? Certainly each day my relationship with God has changed—I’m closer to Him today than I was yesterday. But really what has changed? Perhaps those closest to me can help me with that answer. Ahhhh, the lightbulb goes off—-It’s not me that has changed it’s the people around me that has change. Why?—their perception of me has changed. The way others view me has changed. With the call becomes change—perhaps a change in you, but watch out for the change in others. They are the ones who begin to look at you differently and treat you differently. Be careful that their changed view of you doesn’t change you.

Posted in Minister's Wife, Ministry Woes, Preacher | 6 Comments »

Who’s Your Guide?

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
—Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)

Five months into my daughter’s lengthy illness, I had to make a telephone call to my parents who lived in another state. It was difficult to tell them that their precious granddaughter’s surgery did not go well, and she was about to have a third surgery, all within one month’s time. Hearing the urgency and uncertainty in my voice, they immediately traveled to visit her. It was late in the evening when they arrived at my home, and upon their insistence, I loaded them up in my car, carefully leading my mother, who is blind. We were off to the hospital.

My parents waited in the hospital’s lobby while I parked the car. Once I entered the hospital I grabbed my mother by the hand to lead her to the elevator. Immediately, my dad grabbed my mom and said it was his job to lead her. So, we got into the elevator headed to my daughter’s floor. While riding in the elevator, I began to warn my parent’s of my daughter’s appearance. Her body was very weak and she had lost a great deal of weight. The news was very unsettling for my father and caused him to become even more anxious to see his granddaughter.

When the elevator door opened, I exited followed by my father. As I turned to remind my father to get my mother, the elevator doors began to close. In the excitement, my dad had forgotten about leading my mom. We did manage to retrieve my mom, who was a little shaken up by the whole ordeal. After all, she was in an unfamiliar place. My mom trusted my Dad to lead her safely to her destination. My mom failed to realize that Daddy could not lead her in a place that he had never been, and his emotional state made him even more unreliable.

Faith in God requires dependency on the One who has seen your destination. Only God can guide you to a place you’ve never been. Whether it’s a new business venture, teaching a Bible Study, or purchasing a new home, God wants you to trust in and depend on Him. God wants you to become his dependent child. In other words, don’t place your faith in man’s leading (as in mom’s case, who would leave you alone in an elevator), but totally lean to God for direction. God is a reliable guide. Sometimes we may not understand the route God is taking us on, but remember, we must walk by faith and not by sight. In other words, we are blind and can’t see the pathway to our destination, but, with God as our reliable guide, He will lead us if we allow him to order our every step.

Something to think about:
1. Has there ever been a time when you did not totally depend on God’s direction? What was the outcome?
2. What hinders Christians from trusting God?
3. Think of a time where you trusted God completely? What could have happened if you had tried to “assist” God?

Posted in Living, Trust | 2 Comments »