Stuck in the pain.

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 111 -

He left the 99 to go help 1.

I've always considered The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:4)  to be about God going after the Christian who has lost his way, but recently God showed me another perspective.

Some sheep aren't necessarily lost, 

they're just stuck in the pain of their past.  

This week I saw God go after one such lamb.

The other day after The Bonfire, I met up with my ministry friends for a little fellowship.  Usually we sit around and talk about what's happening in our individual ministries -- sharing prayer requests and praise reports.  This day, however, five of us hit the road for a little Holy Ghost excursion.  We took a ride out east to visit a new ministry friend.

When we arrived, we all sat down in her living room, chatting about this and that, listening to lovely music while sipping on something cool and refreshing.  I almost wondered what we were doing way out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the afternoon.  It was lovely, but mysterious all the same.  We asked our sister to tell us a little about herself, for we all had really just met her.  WOW!   What a powerful testimony!

Then suddenly, there was a shift. 
It became obvious that God had 
brought us here for a purpose.  

Part of this wonderful sister-in-Christ was stuck in the thorns.  There was healing that needed to take place. Ever so gently, we gathered around her and began to minister God's counsel and love.  Prayers went up to Heaven on her behalf right there in her living room.  It was a glorious time as the healing power of God moved through her heart.

As we traveled home that afternoon, it struck me that God had used this power team to go after this special sister and release her from the painful thorns of her past.   No one knew that pain existed.  Our new friend was a Woman of God, accustomed to ministering to the masses.  Have you ever wondered who ministers to them?  Sometimes, no one.  In such cases, however, God leaves the multitudes and finds the one.

By nightfall our sister was safe in His arms.

That's a comforting thought, because if He'll do it for her, 

He'll do it for you and for me.  If we ever get stuck in our

 pain, we can be assured that He'll come and release us.

Today, I considered it a privilege to be part of this power team.  As an individual, I may never  have extended myself into such places out of lack of experience and giftings for such a matter.  Perhaps none of us would, but together, we were all able to bring something... experience, counsel, prayer, a loving hug, a Word.  God used us all.  I took note of what the others with me were doing, appreciating their divine skills, how they handled things, what they said... it was on the job training at it's best.  To top it all off, God showed up and added His thumbprint.  It was a powerful day!

I'm glad I don't always have to step out in RED shoes, alone.  A team approach has it's benefits.  I don't have to rely on just what I bring to the table.  It's a combined effort of us all -- along with the Master's Touch!  That, my friend, extends my borders considerably!

"The LORD is my shepherd."

Psalm 23:1

Gail