Thumbs up, I think but I need your prayers, please!

Wow, God amazes me. On Tuesday sometime after 2 pm Mountain Standard Time, I will stand in my old pulpit and share a poem in honour of a godly man who was one of our parishioners and who I know prayed for me throughout his lifetime.

The pastoral couple who replaced us--well, he is fine with us but she despises me. Pray that I might be gracious and stand in the forgiveness God has mercifully extended to me. Pray that I don't stand in that pulpit and bawl like a baby as I attempt to minister to a family that is almost an extension of both H and I's family. And most of all, pray that I can hold my head high when I have to face Mrs. Pastor.

I don't want to be her best friend but God has restored me and to be honest, the unrefined part of me still hurts that she deems herself superior to God's authority--we have never caused them one iota of trouble and I was repentant after my A and worked hard with God's help and the love of the awesome people in my life to become a FWS..not a fake..a transparent and transformed woman of God. I don't aspire to be a minister again myself but as a believer, I want to minister God's grace as He allows opportunity.

More than all my selfish requests, please pray for our precious friends that God will comfort them and that the adult children will enter into a vibrant living relationship with Jesus. I pray the funeral service will be a time of ministry and comfort and they will rejoice in the heritage of a very godly father who faithfully prayed for them.

Thanks! Hope this makes sense..it's late at night and I have a lot of pressures going on.

By the way, thanks for your prayers for the job sitch. I got my "Dear Applicant" letter but I think that's OK--I feel more at peace again with my current job, although the BIG FIGHT thing still seems to have a little bit of fallout...God is good and He helped me to stand up for what I needed which doesn't come easy for me.

My prayers are with you, too. I miss having time to hang out here more often but appreciate that I can pop in on occasion!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by freshstart:
<strong> Pray that I might be gracious and stand in the forgiveness God has mercifully extended to me. Pray that I can hold my head high when I have to face Mrs. Pastor.

I don't want to be her best friend but God has restored me.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">FS,

I just popped in to let you know I will be praying for you Tuesday....

Secondly, girlfriend, YOU'D BETTER hold your head high!! You HAVE been forgiven.....and you know it.

STAND in front of her knowing you are forgiven, and she has NO "dirt" on you.... (I know you know this). STAND before that congregation knowing GOD IS IN THE RESTORATION BUSINESS!! and you've been restored to HIM, and He's restored your life back to you, and that is the most important thing in your life!!!

If you walk in His footsteps (with HIS redemption) and blood bathing you, there is NO CHOICE but to walk in grace and humility.

We are all washed in His blood, OR we are all guilty as charged, and black with the filth and stench of our sin.

God Bless you, my dear sister.

(((Lupo)))): Thank you.

The funeral went well. Mrs. Pastor and I worked hard to avoid eye contact. I thought she might have even been trying to approach me to be kind but I chickened out of having any interaction with her.

It felt really good to be with beloved friends. There were lots of hugs. I don't know if you used to read when I posted about "Crusty"--a needy family "friend" that made me uncomfortable. He was there and told me I looked "really good" (with a glance at my body which is no prize!) I immediately asked him where his gf was and that worked very well to divert his attention thankfully.

I was teary when I read my poem--which H helped me write and it turned out beautifully if I do say so myself <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> but I concentrated on the family and that helped so much.

The widow made me feel so wonderful a few days before the service. I was saying how I wished Mrs. Pastor could forgive me and Widow said, "Forgive you? For what?" It made me realized how incredibly blessed I am to have people in my life who live just the way Jesus does--forgiving and forgetting...

I don't deserve all the blessings that come my way but I am so grateful.

Take care and so good to hear from you, ((((Lupo)))).