Going Beyond Ministries blogs

The Gift of Transparency

Wed, 23 May 2012 05:30:00 +0000

A note from Priscilla: The post you are about to read has profoundly impacted me. When I first read it, I was shocked not only because I didn't know this about my sweet friend Antrenette but because I was challenged to be more vulnerable and open because of what she wrote.

If you've been a part of our blog family for any length of time then you are familiar with Antrenette. She has been a gift to our ministry and to my life and I am extremely proud of her for sharing herself with you and me in the way she has chosen to today. I trust her to share this in-depth portion of her life with you on this blog.

I know that you, and many others, will be blessed by her transparency.

Read. . . and be blessed. Priscilla

Antrenette:

I recently had a conversation with a young unmarried lady who shared with me that she was pregnant and at a crossroad. She told me how scared she was and how she was experiencing a range of expected emotions...shame...numbness...fear...confusion...sadness. She talked about her plans and her goals and about how being pregnant would severely thwart those.

There were two things that awakened my heart as this young lady was speaking. The first was when I noticed the sadness in her eyes as she talked about how disappointed her parents would be if they were to find out and the other was when she told me that she had an appointment the very next morning at 8am to get an abortion.

She probably was not sure why tears formed in my eyes as I listened to her. She had no way of knowing that her comments stirred the most intimate and tender place in my own heart.

Her story was my own.

Just with a different name. A different face.

.....a different baby.

Ten years ago, I was sitting in her exact shoes. All the emotions that I experienced back then started overflowing the depths of my heart. I felt what she felt. I feared what she feared. And at that moment, while listening to her story and wrestling emotionally with my own past, I arrived at a crossroad. I had a decision to make......keep my little secret to myself or share it with her in the hope that it might help.

In a moment, I had a decision.

I knew what I needed to do.

So, I prayed; asked for strength and then pushed my fear and shame aside and shared my store with her.

I told her the hasty decision that I was never able to reverse. A decision that I still have to live with today. By the end of the conversation we were both in tears. We exchanged contact information and I prayed with her and encouraged her. I walked away unsure of what her final decision would be but grateful that I had given her the whole story and hopeful that God's Spirit could use it in ways I could never imagine.

The next day, I received a text message from her that stated, “I cancelled my appointment!” A few days after that, she shared with me that she mustered up enough courage to tell her parents and that she was shocked by how supportive they were.

At that moment, miraculously, all the shame and guilt that I had tucked away within the crevices of my heart, were lifted! I had intended to help her but somehow... I ended up being helped - set free. ONLY GOD!!!!

Through this situation the Lord has taught me how important it is for us to become transparent with one another. We all have a story and chapters within them we are not so proud of. The enemy wants us to hide and conceal the very portions that can greatly impact someone else’s life. I’m not saying that we need to spill our guts to every person we come in contact with. We definitely need to exercise wisdom and only share when we feel led by the Holy Spirit to do so.

But one thing is clear: your testimony is unique and powerful my friend and someone is waiting on you to give them the beautiful gift of transparency.

The young lady I encountered was waiting on me. . . who might be waiting on you?

He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:4

Praying for you,

Antrenette

The Pastor

priscilla — Tue, 22 May 2012 05:30:00 +0000

The church is the living breathing mechanism through which God works in us, to spur us on to victorious Christian living, and through us to edify and encourage each other. The profound beauty of the body of Christ in it's breadth is staggering when you think about it.

It's so much bigger than your local church or mine. It's THE CHURCH - the global gathering of all who have placed faith in Christ.
Those whom the Lord has given us as pastors - shepherds to disciple us, encourage us, comfort us and, yes, correct us, have a big job on their hands. No church is perfect - with all of us and our junk crowding the pews every week. These courageous folks who have answered the call of God to walk beside us, as our souls are conformed into the image of Christ, have huge jobs and we should never take them lightly.

I was reminded of the importance of covering our church leaders in prayer this past weekend. I watched proudly from the front row of a crowded auditorium as a seminary colleague of mine, Ikki Soma, was installed as the pastor of City Of Refuge Church in Houston, Texas. Ikki, originally from Japan, has been like a "big brother" of mine for 15 years now and tears formed in my eyes as the men of his denomination surrounded his kneeling body, laid hands on him and spoke to the Lord on his behalf.
I was very profoundly impacted when the elder hosting the proceedings asked the congregation to stand and then asked if they would commit to pray for Ikki and his family, submit to his authority and encourage him as he serves them as pastor.
They enthusiastically responded "Yes"!

How beautiful - a congregation making a commitment to pray for their leader.

May this be a reminder for all of us to keep our pastors and their families covered and never take for granted the load that they carry.
It's a broad burden for which they have willing volunteered their own shoulders.
Bless them Jesus.

I'm praying for my pastor, Dr. Tony Evans, today. Tell me about yours.
Priscilla

Connect

abox — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:30:00 +0000

I get so jazzed about relationships. There's this energy that comes from 2 people meeting and forming a new relationship. There are things that happen in the Kingdom that would never have happened had 2 people not met. Think about it. How many married couples would say, "Oh so-and-so introduced us and that was the rest of the story."

I think God is the Great Connector. When I've needed (like REALLY needed, not just WANTED) a connection He has seemlessly connected me. I'm still waiting for Him to connect me to the cute lead singer of that band I heard a few months ago. :) There's this synergy in a connection...the connection is about MORE than me and that person. I can do something that I couldn't do before I met that person. There is something they deposit IN me and something I deposit IN them through our conversation, respect, care of each other...even in the first meeting.

Sometimes this deposit is negative.

Sometimes, it's positive.

I recently heard John Maxwell talking about "imparting value" in people. He was sitting on a stage, weeping because God had allowed him to pray over a group of rag-tag ministers. He loved them. Reminds me of another "brother" who wept and prayed and imparted value into US a long time ago...Jesus loved and respected people simply because they were God's creation. I wonder what would happen if all of our random connections held that same value-giving...that same love and respect that Jesus had for us. Do I GIVE in relationships or only take? Do I strive to place value on the people God places in my path?

I sometimes act like giving in relationships is a one-time deal. I give or place value on a person and then am done, not really thinking about it. But Jesus discipled the disciples time and time again, with conversation after conversation. And with the patience only found in the Son of God. Don't we all hypocritically wanna smack Peter sometimes, feeling like he'll "never get it" and always makes the wrong decisions? Gosh, I feel like his story is mine...

Today. For me. Discipleship is about imparting value, having conversations and connecting people...time and time and time again. Proactively and intentionally. Maybe discipleship is really a matter of imparting value on folks. Hmmm...what do YOU think? He called us to make disciples. In the middle of His own crisis, about to hit the most PAINFUL and TRYING time of His life, He made disciples. No matter where you are today, let's try an experiment...let's impart value on someone. And then tell us what you did so we can try!!

You are dearly loved this day...He is nuts about you. And so are we.

Annetta

Tired?

priscilla — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:30:00 +0000

Don't know if you can tell or not, but my boys were exhausted yesterday. A late night baseball tournament (who plans those anyway?) and an early morning were enough to put all of them into a deep coma by mid-afternoon. I just couldn't resist their sweet little angelic sleeping faces and the all-too-rare moment of car-quietness so I snapped this picture before they had enough consciousnesses to stop me.

This is the kind of thing a future daughter-in-law would love to see.

It's interesting that this episode of exhaustion came the very day that my doctor called to tell me that I was anemic. The test results from the blood work she'd done the day before showed low levels of iron in my blood. Certainly wasn't new news. I've been anemic for a while and, admittedly, I haven't done well keeping up with my iron supplements. My sweet doctor told me to get on it immediately and added, "If you don't, you'll be so tired."

OH!! Is that what my problem has been?

Whether from low iron, packed schedules or just a mattress too tough to induce a good night's sleep, it seems like tiredness is an epidemic. Our kids are overwhelmed, our own bodies are fatigued and our stress is mounting under the pressure of it all.

Something's gotta give, don't you think?

What are you doing to keep a balanced life?

I'll admit, Jerry and I are going to have to spend some time reconsidering how our spring and fall months are going to operate. With three growing boys who all want to play sports, the full load of school they have to keep up with and our ministry travel together as a family, it will be easy for the simple pleasures I WILL NOT LIVE WITHOUT to get lost in the shuffle.

Family dinner around an actual table with home cooked food.
Basketball in the backyard; parents against kids.
Enough energy in the evening to spend time with my husband instead of collapsing into bed - unconscious before my head hits the pillow.

I want to have time for those things and I know it is going to take deliberate strategy to make it happen.

Let's help each other.

Go!

Priscilla

Too Much

priscilla — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:30:00 +0000

I enjoy jogging . . . But I'm not a serious jogger. I'd like to think that I am but I become very certain I am not when I pass people on the road who are. They are swift, lean and don't stop to walk (like I do) when there is an incline in the road. Unlike me, they don’t wear a huge gray sweatshirt or long, heavy sweat pants when its a little chilly outside. The serious runners have on light shoes, ankle socks, running shorts and a thin t-shirt. If there is any extra attire it’s only the sweat-band across their forehead to catch their perfect beads of sweat or the iPod-Nano attached to their distinctly chiseled arms.

Yup, serious runners aren’t bogged down with too much weight or too many gadgets. They know that the secret to their short-term success and long term endurance is to take as little as possible on the journey.

I often wonder if I'm carrying too much to run the Christian race effectively. Im certain there are some internal voices or external attachments that are weighing me down and slowing my pace. Im being prayerful about what those might be. And while i do want God's Spirit to reveal to me what i should shed in order to run well, I'll admit that I'm a bit unsure of how I'll respond if the very thing He wants me to lay down is something I enjoy.

The thing is - even good things can be hindrances sometimes. Just because something is acceptable doesn't mean that it is profitable.

I'd like to think that I'll be swiftly obedient and courageously compliant to His instruction, but knowing me and my less than stellar track record, I'll balk, hesitate, question and then, hopefully sooner than later, submit. (Pray for me, friend :)

In any case, I know that whatever he asks me to release will make me quicker on my spiritual feet and better able to cover the ground He lays out before me.

That makes it worth it.

Is He asking you to lay down anything lately?

Priscilla

The Snake

lhoppe — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:30:00 +0000

I couldn't help but let you all in on the happenings at our office yesterday. As you know, there is never a dull moment around here.

I was sitting at my desk tackling through my to-do list with Jerry yesterday morning when all of the sudden Annetta comes running into the office from outside in total dissarray. I couldn't tell if she was about to cry or be completely grossed out. I knew immediately there had to be some kind of large creature outside our little ole' barn. When you work out in "the country" like we do, you kind of learn expect these things.

Sure enough, Annetta's face was well deserved. Right outside our office in a garden bed was this guy . . .

CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW HUGE THAT THING IS?? We have yet to exactly identify what this is. If you have any insight, please let us know. Actually, I'm not sure that we really want to know what kind of snake this is. We are pretty sure this was a poisenous one! YIKES!!

What is also hilarious is that by the time I left the office for the evening, Jerry had some guys come and knock down all the bushes that are outside our office. We don't want to give those things any reason to be hanging out around these parts.

You guys have a great Wednesday. Stay away from the bushes today =)

Answered Prayer

Tue, 15 May 2012 05:30:00 +0000

For the past couple of months I have been really seeking the Lord about something that I desperately needed His guidance on.....a direction that I felt I needed to go in, but before making a move I wanted to receive the green light from the Lord. So, I’ve been praying and praying and asking Him to reveal to me His will for my life and if this “thing” was a part of His will.

Well, recently I got my answer by finding out that the door I was trying to walk through has been completely shut. As I have shared with y’all in previous posts, I don’t always initially respond in the best spiritual way. My emotions tend to respond first and then the Lord has to graciously pull me back in and unfortunately, this time was no different. I’m a work in progress y’all:)

Despite how consistently I had been seeking the Lord about this and asking Him specifically to close the door if this wasn’t a direction that He wanted me to take, I failed to recognize that His response was an answer to my prayer.

You see, in my mind I had unknowingly set up a category titled Answered Prayer and underneath that category were responses from the Lord that consisted of, Yes, Move forward, Open door, and You have my blessing, and as we all know, those responses usually result in us being happy, excited and thankful!

But what we also know is that the Lord doesn’t always respond that way. He sometimes says, No and Not Yet and Not Ever.....and those responses are sometimes characterized by a closed door!

The Lord has been teaching me that anytime He responds, despite the answer, I should respond with a heart of gratefulness and excitement because all He does is just and good (Psalm 111). So I am happy to report to y’all that my category titled Answered Prayer has been expanded and it now includes, YES and NO responses from the Lord!

So what about you...How do you respond when you receive a No or Not Yet from the Lord? Do you always view it as answered prayer? Do you find it challenging to respond positively when His answer doesn’t match your immediate want or desire?

I look forward to reading your responses,

Antrenette

Going Beyond went...BEYOND!

abox — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:57:56 +0000

Y'all! Last week I was in Orlando with our team for my FIRST Going Beyond event. WOW!!!! Can I say, GOD SHOWED UP! I could talk ALL DAY (and believe you me, our team is SICK of hearing me talk about it!) about all that we saw God do at the event of women (80,000 sisters!) coming together. But, I'll spare you ALL the details and tell you my fav highlights...

1. MEET-N-GREET: We got to meet SO many of the people we talk to on a daily basis, whether it was someone in the crowd or a LifeWay person (shoutout to amazing navigator Michelle and host/woman-w-a-million-talents Paige!)

2. PRAYER TIME: The Prayer time on Saturday morning was POWERFUL. I wholeheartedly believe lives and situations and hearts were shifted as we stormed the gates of heaven...1000s of women strong!

3. BACKSTAGE: Backstage was humbling and hilarity. It was humbling as I was a part of these godly folks who were praying with all their hearts for God to move in the hearts of all the women outside the curtains. It was obvious God was listening...

It was hilarity because, can you just imagine a brother and sister, and all their creative friends?!? 'Nuf said.

4. WORSHIP: There was a moment during the 3rd session, right after that sweet video and Anthony was singing "Oh, How He loves us" and I just started weeping...how true! He loves US! Were you "there"? Do you remember this moment? Wow..so powerful...

5. 5+2=12: Because I work for her, I sometimes forgot how powerfully God uses Priscilla. Needless to say, my favorite parts of the weekend were the teaching parts of the sessions...I am going home FULL of gems that have already changed my life. So very grateful for her authenticity and willingness for God to use her however He sees fit...

6. PUERTO-RICAN-LOVE!: Last, a ton of sweet friends came from Puerto Rico and they were AWESOME! So much so that they wanted to "welcome" you to our blog. :)

(Click HERE)

SO. Those were MY highlights. Have YOU been to a GB event? If so, what are some of your favorite highlights? If you HAVEN'T been to a GB event, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?!?? Check out our upcoming ones...and get yourself there! YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!!!!!

Grateful for the story Jesus is weaving today...

annetta

Left Behind

priscilla — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:30:00 +0000

Spring has ushered life into the Texas countryside. The beauty is staggering and lush. The pastures seem to be bulging with life in every way - from the intense, colorful flowers to the squeaky chorus of newly hatched birds under their mother's wings.

Indeed, birds are everywhere.

In the last several weeks, I've taken note of quite a few nests either stocked with little eggs already or being intentionally constructed by a mother bird in anticipation of a new brood.

One is above the door still of the office, another right underneath the hood of our propane tank and a third one in the tray atop my sons' jogging stroller.

I took my son for a walk in this stroller on Monday. By Wednesday this nest was securely in place. That's fast work!

It's another nest that is in the flowerpot by the back door that's bothering me, though. Several weeks ago there were no less than 5 speckled eggs in this pot, freshly laid and nearly hidden by strategically placed twigs and branches. Once my husband and sons spotted them, they called me out for a peek. We marveled and tried not to touch them for fear the mother would catch our scent and abandon her chicks.

So, we left them alone and all but forgot about them.

Until one day last week when I peeked in and moved a branch back just enough to get a glance inside the wooded haven.

Where did the others go? Did the mother take her eggs away to another location? (Can they even do that?) Did they all hatch and mature enough to fly away already? Had this egg been left by it's mother or did it just not hatch because of some genetic mishap?

I've left the egg there for over a week now wondering and hoping if one day I'll return and see it surrounded by its family - safely connected and loved.

It doesn't look like it's going to happen, though.

Somehow, someway - he's been left behind.

I've been left behind before. You?

I've got a few memories involving rejection from the varsity cheerleading squad in middle school, the "in" crowd in high school, my boyfriend in college and some ministry colleagues in my early thirties just to name a few. No matter how difficult it is for me to come by an explanation for why some of these instances happened, this I know for sure, it hurt and it hurt bad.

But somehow, I recovered . . . . and so will you . . . . because I was never left alone even when I was left behind.

I don't think the momma bird is coming back for this abandoned egg but I can say with all assurance that Someone is coming - has already come - for you.

You may be left behind but you'll never be left alone.

Never abandoned.

Never rejected.

. . . . never.

Priscilla

. . . . under His wings you may seek refuge . . . . - Psalm 91:4

Looking Ahead

lhoppe — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:30:00 +0000

Yesterday I went on a run for my lunch break (Yes, I have the incredible ability to do that with my job - Thank you Lord!). I must admit that my runs are not always my most brilliant thinking times like most "prefessional" runners. Many times running is a de-stressing mechanism for me and I just stare at the road, soaking in the sound of the wind blowing by and chirping birds in the trees.

But yesterday for some reason was different. As I was about half-way through my run I realized that I was staring down at the road right in front me. This has always been a habit of mine. I hardly ever look up when I run - instead my eyes gaze straight down onto the pavement, not paying attention to any of my surroundings or the things that are passing by my side.

I started to wonder why it is that this is such a habit of mine. Am I the only one who does this? Why is it so comfortable for me and why wouldn't I want to see the scenery ahead of and around me?

As I start to move my gaze to about 50 feet ahead of me, I hear these words in my head:

Linnae, this is how you are operating in life right now..You are so focused on all that is happening to you and all the changes that are taking place, that it is inhibiting you from seeing where it is that I am taking you.

Whoa! The beauty and life those few words have brought me these past few days in unexplainable. It's true - life has felt a bit uncertain and somewhat heavy these days - it's not been easy. It seems like every place I thought I was headed and all the things I was pouring into were suddently swiped out from under my feet. I've tried to deal with the circumstances that have come my way with as much grace and peace as I can. But I've definitely been focused on the here and now - and I definitely haven't done much to take my eyes off each situation.

As I finished the latter part of my run I made sure that I took in all the things that were passing to my left and to my right sides; I held my gaze way ahead of me, occasionally looking down to make sure I wasn't going to trip on any big holes or rocks. And guess what? I discovered things I've never even seen before. Horses, cows, ponds... you name it, I saw it (Remember, we work way out in the middle of nowhere =) ). It's odd to think that I've missed out on so much just because I wouldn't take the time to look around.

I realize how important this is for my life right now. I've got to take my eyes off the momentary troubles and I must gaze on the truth of who God has called me to be and the promises that He has for my life!

And you do too, my friend. Are you stuck in the momentary troubles of life, all the while losing focus of why we are here and what we are called to? Just because life looks hard or odd or not how you think it should, remember that we are not in control. God has a destiny and plan for your life! A plan to prosper you.

So pull that chin up, hold that head up high and gaze into the sweet adventure that God has ahead for you. It's going to be worth it!

one of the beautiful fields I saw when I actually decided to look around yesterday =)