Please pray for the crazy lady...

[FireFeet]

Ok...let me preface this by saying that I HATE to request prayer for myself...even when I am in the direst of need. And I know this is gonna sound like a pity party. But I'm just really desperately in need of some prayer covering right now. I'm encountering so many closed doors that I just want to scream in frustration. (Um, well, actually, I HAVE screamed...and thrown a few things as well. :o ) I'm emotionally and spiritually exhausted.

I can't find a job...and it's been a month. Even though God is being faithful to take care of me, it's stressful. Very stressful.
My insurance company denied the claim to repair my car for damage done by a hit-and-run driver in the supermarket parking lot.
I tried to contact my doctor about my test results last week and even though the receptionist said the info was in my file, she said I had to talk to the doctor directly. He never returned my calls, and this week he's on vacation.
I made plans to attend a writer's conference next month, and now I'm having problems with the registration.
I've received three rejections for poems I submitted.

And on Sunday I'm supposed to preach a message about trust. I feel like a walking sermon on that topic. And I wonder how I can possibly have any authority to preach on a topic that I am struggling with every single second of every day. And I wonder how I can possibly have any anointing to encourage others when I barely have enough strength to encourage myself to struggle through every day.

I love y'all...and I appreciate any prayers you could fling heavenward on my behalf. :)

[Merry]

I'll pray for you!!! I know how nuts that can make you when everything just piles on ! It's like just one more thing and you'll do a Mt. Vesuvius imitation! You're one tough lady, though and I know the God of all glory is going to carry you through!

[BrotherDave]

Best time to preach about a subject is when you are struggling with it.
You can reach out to other strugglers, given them hope in your struggle.

brotherdave

[Hisart]

Do you trust Him?
Are you?
Then as you said...
FireFeet said I feel like a walking sermon on that topic.
You are, so preach it sister! :D
Prayers going up!
God Bless!
Hisart :cool:

[kilohertz]

Been there- Well, don't preach, but often lead music, and sometimes I feel like a hypocrite leading songs of praise when inside I don't feel like it. Will pray for you now...

God's blessings on you,

kilohertz

[writegirl1949]

I agree with Bro Dave. The most realistic testimony we have -- either in living it or preaching it -- is what we learn when we're walking in the midst of the issue. Sometimes our hardest lessons turn into our strongest strengths.

I've been blessed with the inability to work a full-time job and I've seen God do some awesome things -- like provide every need. I had to seek Him constantly and so now, when I get in those "crazy" times (yeah, I often refer to myself as the crazy lady so I can really identify), it seems to be God's way of speaking very LOUDLY for me to depend on Him and not myself. About a month ago I came across a verse that spoke to me so loudly I typed it up in BIG, colorful letters and it sits on my bookcase where I constantly see it:

Do not fret, it only causes harm. Psalm 37:8 (The Message). Beneath that I typed: My purpose is to fulfill God's plans, not mine.

Between those two, it kept me focused.

It's not the easiest thing to do but now, when I worry about something, I just think, "God's handling it." And I cannot tell you how relieved I am that He is. After all, He knows me best and knows what's best for me.

I pray you'll find the sweetness of trusting and enjoy that over the bitterness of "fretting."

Blessings, Francine

[DrRita]

Firefeet, my dear chosen-for-a-blessed-walk, firefeet.
Well, as one ladypreacher to another . . . what did you expect? God is answering every prayer in His way and setting your feet to walk with him. How can you learn to trust if you are never challenenged to trust. Just the fact that all of this is driving you crazy and making your life tough is perfect evidence that you need to learn to trust. And the sermon? Well, now you can really preach from your vault of experience instead of the treasure of knowledge. All those scriptures on trust are being tested in your fire of trial. Wow. What a sermon you will have and what a testimony that no matter what comes your way your trust in the Lord is steadfast and strong. Learning to trust God in every area of our life is a tough lesson. Read Hebrews 11:1-2 again and imagine the unseen part in your trial. Everything is comes from God's direct or permissive will and like Job, Satan can do NOTHING without God's permission. So you and God, hand in hand, prayer to prayer are going to have such victory in the area of trust no matter what the outcome!!! "Come all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in hear and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.(Matt. 11:28-29) If we are truly "yoked" to Jesus, though concern may brush our brow, worry and frustation will not.

http://bestsmileys.com/religous/3.gif Hallejuah, I feel a sermon coming on. So......I'll close.

My prayer for you is to don the yoke of Christ and trust him as he trusted his father.

[FireFeet]

What beautiful replies and what a treasure of wisdom. Thank you so so so much. I'm feeling strengthened...there is power in prayer! !thumbsup!

[edmmom]

Firefeet,
I wish I could hear your sermon on trust. I know without a doubt that it will be very powerful!! I know that you have a lot on your plate right now, so I though I'd share a passage that helped me out through some tough times.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

[whitehawke]

FireFeet,
I love the name you chose. !thumbsup!
Sister in the Lord----Blaze a trail for Jesus.

[edmmom]

Firefeet,
Please excuse me for being nosy, but, I love to hear good news! I'm sure you have some for us, so-oo how'd the sermon go?

[FireFeet]

FireFeet,
I love the name you chose. !thumbsup!
Sister in the Lord----Blaze a trail for Jesus.

...so-oo how'd the sermon go?

Not long after I got saved, God called me a "fire walker." This was confirmed in that it was spoken over me and to me by many different people in many different ways. The "fire walker" scripture that God gave me was Acts 26:16, "But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you." Fire walker...to be willing to walk through the fires of refining and affliction in order to become all that He has called me to be. And to be willing to walk in those fires over and over...my own fires as well as those of others...in order to bring forth the Kingdom. May my feet be always aflame in witness and worship!

And that is how my sermon was. For over a year, I have been in the flames of refining and affliction. I was able to stand in the pulpit and say that like Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, THIS is what it is like to dance in the fiery furnace with Jesus. That we can trust God is all things and in all ways...because He is good and He is faithful...and He always...ALWAYS...is working for our good! We can RELY on Him...have certainty based on past experience. We can put our reliance into action through FAITH...have complete unquestioning confidence in a person or plan. And we can BELIEVE....have confidence despite all evidence to the contrary.

Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and encouragment! You blessed me more than I can even begin to express! :)

[whitehawke]

FireFeet,
wow, that is awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Our God is mighty to the bringing down of strongholds. May He break down the strongholds in the lives of people you meet.
All the best sister. Spread the Holy flame.
Rulan

[DrRita]

God is awesome when we just walk in faith. I'm blessed by your "firewalking" Dale and know God is truly going to use you. Thanks for sharing, it builds my faith too.

[edmmom]

Firefeet,
Thank you for sharing. That was an awesome, powerful message you delivered! I'm at a lost for words! I know without a doubt that God will continue to use you in mighty ways! You are definitely a blessing to us all!! Thank you again.