Our Moldy Mess

 

            Last month our home went through a health diagnostic test to discover if my lung disease “trigger” lived within our own walls. Yup, to our shock and dismay!

            MOLD! An icky, filthy, dirty 4-letter word!

            We suspected some hid beneath our kitchen sink, but we had no idea it lurked in the attic, crawl space, and every room of our small ranch home.

            We own quite a SICK HOUSE!

            As grateful as we are to those who’ve reached out in sympathy, expressing they can’t imagine what it’s like going through this; I’d like to clarify what our moldy mess is, what it could be, and what it’s not.

            Yes, it’s an ordeal, a rather large bump in the road, a big inconvenience. Things like that, but not the end of the world (although our world is heading in that direction).

            It might be testing from God to see if we stay faithful and trust Him, or it just may be mold in our house that must GO! It also might be an attack from the enemy. He's "about that creative," but he'd like to hit us harder than this (I think). He has in the past.

            One caring fellow said, “This must be the worst thing you’ve ever been through!”

            Um, no. And thank you for putting that into perspective, sir. It made us come center on evaluating the awfulness of our sick house.

            We’ve been through much, much, much worse! And THOSE events? Likely persecution and spiritual warfare. Mold in our house? Neither, we don’t think. After all, there are so many terrible things that could’ve befallen us and haven’t. And, in light of the real persecution going on—particularly with Christians worldwide—how could we even THINK this holds a candle to what those tortured souls go through day in and day out?

            We’re away from our home. Yes. We are weary and worn. Yes. We don’t know what we’ll face task-wise when we reenter our home. BUT this is still just a very large bump in the road and inconvenience.

            So, thank you for your expressions of care and sympathy, but please know God will help us through this, just as He does with bigger challenges and smaller ones too.

            God is good; He is God.

            Now, may I share how God is working in our moldy mess situation?

            After the home health diagnostic test, our wallets lightened significantly.

            Next step? Get a hefty clean-air machine medically approved to meet my lungs’ needs. Done. Check. At that point, our bank account was crying real tears. At least I know I was. (Maybe I was just hearing myself whah-whah and thought it was coming from the bank.)

            Next? Hire a mold remediation company, so we did. Done. Check. Now we’re talkin’ mega-bucks, folks! Not only emptying our wallets but digging for buried treasure too (a super tough task in our very rocky, hard, Ozark soil).

            Brian and I married in 1978. We were both full-time missionaries at that time (still are). One of the commitments we made to God after our pledges to each other was the George Müller Principle. Is there such a thing?

            Okay. It doesn’t have that formal of a title, but it’s this: As did George Müller in the establishing of orphanages in 19^th century Bristol, England, we would also—Ask God alone for our needs. No begging or pleading to others. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and His Holy Spirit would guide those who are able to give.

            Now, that’s a good principle, but here we were facing a bill that could be nearly as costly as buying one of our previous homes. Still, our belief—ask God alone. So, we did and shared in our missionary prayer letter that we’d be going through the mold abatement and God would supply. (That may have borderline broken the George Müller Principle as he didn’t even tell people the needs—just prayed.)

            God is able.

            It actually wouldn’t have mattered if the bill were $2K, $20K, or $200K because we had nothing. It was totally up to God to do this.

            We needed ½-down to set the date for mold abatement to begin. We didn’t have it yet. Unlike most contractors, the fellow said not to worry. He knew we’d have it in time.

            What a blessing to hear that!

            BUT, lo and behold, by the actual day the workmen showed up at our door, we had ½ —supplied by God through numerous people who sensed His leading! What a praise!

            As I write this, we’ve entered week 2 of this process, during which time we’re away from home. (No entry until it’s done and certified healthy!) God continues to send funds as we check our mail.

            Here’s the thing: God not only provides for our needs and always has, but He delights in doing so. Why? He so greatly loves us and, in this case, is concerned for my health as well as hubby’s and our son’s. I still cannot totally wrap my mind around the extent of His love and watch-care of His children.

            If you’re facing a huge need—or even a small one—and you’re one of God’s children, know without a doubt your Heavenly Father already has a plan for a good outcome. Sometimes His answers come quickly, sometimes slower, sometimes in a different way than we plan…

            …but GOD IS ALWAYS ON TIME. You can “take that to the bank!”

            Do you have a story to share how God met a need in your life? I’d love to hear it! And I have lots of time to read your replies while we wait in our home-away-from-home during this inconvenient bump in the road.

 

He Owns the Cattle on a Thousand Hills by John W. Peterson (1979)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z128eDJ6wo

 

He’s Able by Paul E. Paino (1958)

He's Able He's Able (youtube.com)

 

#mold #lungdisease #sickhouse #moldabatement #Godwillsupply #cattleonathousandhills

#tellGodyourneed #Heisable #GeorgeMüller #answeredprayer

Shepherd, Brother, Friend (Church Hurt~Church Healing)

            (I confess—I wrote this blog post quite some time ago but haven’t been brave enough to post it until now. Of late, though, I’ve learned of others going through horribly wounding church situations, nearly destroying them. Now it seems time to share. Perhaps this will offer hope to someone who’s hurting and let them know they can survive with God’s help.)

             Several decades ago, we went through a horrific time of family pain, resulting in false charges brought against my husband and I by our firstborn. We feared losing our other children as well, including our youngest son who we’d brought from overseas to be adopted by us.

            What struck us hardest, after the above mentioned, was the backlash we faced by fellow believers with whom we worshipped and had for numerous years. Not only did bad times hit us inside the church walls; news travelled to other churches in our area and much further.

            I will never understand, in the horrific situation we were in, why the church leadership didn’t address the issues—for good or ill.

            When we’d gone through more than enough time, thinking the storm would die down, we addressed our secondary accusers face-to-face.

            I remember us admonishing, “If you thought we were guilty of these things, you had a scriptural obligation. 1) If you thought us innocent, to walk along with us and help us through. 2) If you believed in our guilt, which obviously you did or we wouldn’t be sitting here right now, confront us with our sin. You did neither.

            They were mostly silent.

            At that point there wasn’t much else to say, so my husband and I walked out.

            We quit church.

            And very nearly quit life.

            But God brought us to our senses, and we decided to live. After all, we had 4 boys to care for—one who wasn’t even legally ours yet. During that time, we read through the Psalms repeatedly with our family, and Brian absorbed wisdom from A.W. Tozer’s Attributes of God.

            We were not totally alone. A small number of people held up our arms* when we felt we couldn’t. And, believe it or not, some of our greatest support and understanding came from non-believers.

            That shocked me! Not that they stood with us, but that those who should have didn’t.

            Months passed. Then Brian called a family meeting and said, “It’s not good that we aren’t in church.”

            I spewed, “I don’t trust churches anymore.”

            But my husband presented a “let’s just visit one” plan that meet with a family vote win.

            So, the next Sunday we traveled to a church he’d heard about—where victims of the same church as we’d been in found family.

            That morning, we met the man who would become our beloved pastor—who’d offer hope. He came to visit us that same week.

            We shared some with him and then explained we had a disabled son who was extremely difficult to handle and had been put out of Sunday School at the former church, Pastor Bruce assured us this church would welcome our son, address his needs, and told us, “My wife will be his teacher, and she will love your son.”

            And she did! Mrs. Kathy was a God-send!

           I think, had we not met Pastor Bruce and Kathy, we may not have healed from the traumas brought on by life and all the rest. At best, it would’ve taken much, much longer, but…

            Praise God!

            And, when our accusers hit again and again (long after we’d left the former church), Pastor Bruce showed up at our door, sat at our table with us, and reminded us, “I’m your shepherd, your brother, and your friend. I’ll do all I can to help you.”

            He was all 3 and did as he said.

            To this day, more than a score of years later, we’re grateful to God for gifting us with this precious couple.

            This healing church not only helped us parents, but our whole family—teen sons were guided toward the Savior by awesome youth leaders. And another son grew in his faith and love of the Savior under his teacher’s instruction and TLC. And our (then) little whirlwind? Loved and adored by Mrs. Kathy and others!

 

Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Thomas Andrew Dorsey 1938—protected by copyright

Precious Lord Take My Hand | Angie Sutherland - YouTube

 

            Pastor Bruce “took our hands” when we needed help so badly. He and his bride continued a thriving ministry spanning 30 years at the church. Then God placed another call on his heart.

            Now Pastor Bruce is pastor to pastors, and dear Mrs. Kathy is by his side. How blessed are these called-to-preach men to have this beloved man help them grow, disciple them, and encourage them as they honor their commitment!

             Here's some advice I wish to share with you. No, I am not a certified counselor ~ just one who’s been hurt and passing on her thoughts:

1) If you’ve endured church-hurt, it’s okay to take a break. Go to the Savior about it. After all, Jesus understands. Remember, His home synagogue leaders wanted to push Him over a cliff!***

2) Seek godly counsel.

3) Find a place where you’ll be loved, cared for, treated like functional-family, and befriended. Not all churches are alike, but no church is meant to harm you. If your church attacks you, realize this is neither what God intended for them to do nor for you to accept.

            It’s not pleasing to God or healthy for you to stay in an abusive church situation. What to do?

1) Address the difficulties/sins in the manner laid out by God’s Word. If the church doesn’t respond, I suggest you get out!

2) Run, then rest. All wounds need time to heal, and (as mentioned above)…

3) Find a church family who will be like Jesus to you and nurse you back to health. Ask God to direct you to the church that’s best for you. He knows you need good “family.”

 

            To you who’ve been hurt, this post is for you ~ to let you know you’re not alone. And, although you feel like you’ve been slain, you can heal and will when you find the right place of worship. It may take a very long time and additional support.

            Remember: Jesus Christ knows what you are going through and experienced it Himself. So, in a very real sense, wounded soldiers, you’re in good company!

 

#churchhurt #churchhealing #churchfamily #pastorshepherd #brotherfriend #wounds

#Psalms #AWTozer #scriputralconfrontation #holdinguparms

 

*referencing Moses’ help in battle found in Exodus 17:8-16

**as laid out in Matthew 18:15-19

***Luke 4:14-30

 IMAGES—1^st from blogspot.com, 2^nd from freeBibleimages.org. (artist: Paula Nash Giltner), 3^rd = photo used w/ permission.

 From the Internet: “Pastor Bruce Aubrey was born in New York and raised in the countryside. His father was a farmer. Bruce trusted in Jesus at the age of 14 and was called to ministry at the age of 17. He has served on staff in churches for more than 45 years…”