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It all started as a strategy for outreach. We sat around a table and began to dream out loud, trusting that the fire of shared passion and the wisdom of group process would yield creative ideas for communicating the love of Christ to our community.
I don’t mind confessing that I loved my dream. We would offer free oil changes to those in need: the poor, the elderly, single parents, come one, come all! Coffee and brownies would make the most of the waiting time as those of us less talented with a wrench would fill cups and keep the conversation flowing. We prepared colorful informational brochures about our church and its programs. We bought supplies, spread the word, and waited.
Not one person signed up.
Not one person called to inquire.
Rebounding from Disappointment
The spectacular crash and burn of my dream rang in my ears for a long time. In fact, it was all I could hear, and it was ages before my idea spigot found its way back to the on-position once again.
Reading through Jeremiah this year, I’m finding a soul mate in this life of perpetual rebound from disappointment. For 23 years, God’s Word came to Jeremiah. He rose early, and he burned the midnight oil. His words were the key note in a chorus of prophecy straight from the heart of God, urging Israel to back away from the abyss of their bad behavior.
They did not listen.
Yet, Jeremiah was persistent.
Looking back, there are plenty of reasons why my outreach brainstorm yielded not even a passing shower. In the nearly twenty years since, I’ve learned a lot about planning and about the unique ministry climate of my mid-coast Maine context. It was an idea that was doomed to fail before it even started, and yet . . .
Our story does not end with the death of one dream.
God’s new morning mercies jogged Jeremiah out of bed every day to share a message that burned like fire. Living in persistence requires showing up.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Our story does not end with the death of one dream. @MicheleDMorin shares her recovery from a crash and burn ministry experience at @GodsizeDreams.” quote=”Our story does not end with the death of one dream.”]
Showing Up with Fresh Creative Energy
Our little band of believers has gone on to host dinners and day camps. We’ve caroled in December and picnicked in July, always inviting our community to the party.
Sometimes they come.
We have great conversations.
They hear the Truth about a loving God who spread His arms wide to embrace the world.
Sometimes, though, on event day, we sound like Jeremiah:
“You never listened or paid the slightest attention.” (Jeremiah 25:3-4)
For Jeremiah to show up every day for 23 years with fresh creative energy for each day’s attempt took supernatural strength. I want to persevere in that same strength.
[clickToTweet tweet=”It takes holy persistence to press into a task when all around you wafts the stench of failure. Join us at today at @GodsizeDreams for words about the dream that doesn’t go as planned via @MicheleDMorin” quote=”It takes holy persistence to press into a task when all around you wafts the stench of failure. “]
It takes holy persistence to press into a task when all around you wafts the stench of failure. Holley Gerth, author of You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream, reminds me, however, that “success isn’t about outcome; it’s about obedience.” When the God-sized dream that we launch like a bottle rocket crashes onto the rocks below, we start over.
Committing the dream to God, we begin again with all the enthusiasm of an encore: “Lord, this is for you!”
The curtain rises.
By faith, we begin again.
Shared by: Michele Morin
littlebirdieblessings says
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I would have come for an oil change Michele! Yes, I too have experienced a big dream that crashed and burned about 25 years ago. I learned a lot from that experience. In my case, my ultimate lesson was to trust God and seek His wisdom in a plan. He knows my future and what’s best. He has proven that to me again and again. He can be so many things in our plans – CEO, Business Manager, Fundraising Chair (think George Muller), Marketing Director, Public Relations Liaison, and so forth – we just need to trust He knows what He’s doing and leave the decisions to Him. Thanks for sharing your story Michele. ~ Abby
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Michele Morin says
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It takes a sinewy faith to look at failure and discern that there is a greater wisdom behind it than I can see. My hope for my own heart–and for that of readers, too!–is that the little disappointments we experience in ministry, family, and all over the place can teach us the code for that trusting translation of events.
I really struggle with this, and I see in my struggle a completely wrong understanding of the word “success.”
Abby, you know how much I appreciate your showing up today.
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Shallow Reflections says
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We hosted a community breakfast at our church on a Sunday morning and no one came. I think it was because it was too early for a lot of people plus they may have feared we’d rope them in to stay for church – that did come up amongst us as we planned the event. You remind me to try again and now I must re-read Jeremiah. -Molly
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Michele Morin says
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Your experience with the breakfast is EXACTLY what I mean, Molly, and there are times when I want to pull out my hair and say, “What’s wrong with these Mainers, anyway??”
And, of course, being a Mainer, I know exactly what’s wrong:
We build our walls safe and high.
We mind our own business.
We make our own breakfast and change our own oil, by gum.
And so we persevere, because we have more than just bacon and eggs to offer.
Thanks be to God that He is in the business of sharing the bread of life with crusty people.
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Shallow Reflections says
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Yes, indeed, Michele. This is all so true. Love this: ‘Thanks be to God He is in the business of sharing the bread of life with crusty people.’ Perfect!
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Liz Giertz says
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I need to dig into Jeremiah again, now! Beautiful encouragement to stay the course! Blessings, friend!
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Michele Morin says
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I’m getting so much out of this slow journey through Jeremiah. Right now I’m in the chapter where he buys a field and sits under house arrest, unable to even look at the field he bought–while Babylon presses siege ramps against the walls of Jerusalem.
Let’s trust for that kind of faithful obedience, Liz!
Thanks for reading and always always always encouraging!
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staceypardoe says
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Straight to the heart again on this one, Michele! I’ve been wading through the murky waters of a couple of big dreams that have crashed and burned in the past year. Oh how it hurts! I really appreciate this truth today! Bless you bless you!
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Michele Morin says
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This is definitely one of my toughest challenges as well, partly because of the disappointment, but maybe more because it reveals my own inability to predict outcomes. We sit in the ashes and think, “How did I not see this coming??”
Sometimes it takes everything I have just to begin again. Part of that re-building is letting our trust in God translate into a renewed trust in our ability to hear His voice and to lean into our gifting.
Thanks, Stacey, for the many ways in which you share your heart with your words.
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Kathy Cheek, Devotions from the Heart says
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In the ebb and flow of our deepest dreams there is a stirring of our heart that keeps us going even when we feel like giving up because it didn’t go as planned. That stirring of our heart says keep trying, God is in this, but this might look different than we first dreamed.
Thank you for this great encouragement today!
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Michele Morin says
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Kathy, I love this reminder that God is not just sitting on the sidelines observing the wreckage. He is intimately involved in the whole process from start to finish, and He offers hope.
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bev murrill says
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You are such a cool friend, Michele… this is so wise. Many of my amazing wonderful fantastic dreams have crashed and burned … and I haven’t understood why, but God… He is always there. Love to you
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Michele Morin says
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I’m tempted to print this out and show it to my teen sons. They’re not used to seeing my name in the same sentence with the word “cool.” 🙂
What I love about your story is that you’ve pursued so many dreams that, to me, seem incredible: continent-leaping, ministry-starting; underdog-rescuing kinds of dreams that had to have been put in your mind by the Spirit of God.
Therefore, I think you’re pretty cool as well.
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bev murrill says
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You n me, Babe!
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Patti Gardner says
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I left a comment on your personal blog. What I learned through the death of a God-sized dream is that I must trust even when I’m disappointed and don’t understand. Not always an easy thing to do.
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Michele Morin says
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Wow, Patti, you sure did, and I’m so glad to get a glimpse of your story.
Thank you for trusting through the disappointment and all the questions. and for admitting right here in this space that it was not an easy thing to do.
Blessings to you as you persevere in that trust and encourage others to do the same.
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nylse says
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I know this feeling. It’s why I love the Bible and its characters as they embody the down side of life – the trials and disappointments. But then they also highlight Christian hope, a living hope found only in Christ and we know for sure that we can get back up again. Dreams come to fruition in God’s time in the way He determines which may never line up with our expectations.
I love your writing and the way you think. Thanks for sharing.
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Michele Morin says
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Yes, anyone who reads the Bible with understanding would never come up with the idea that all the plans go as expected and life proceeds without a hitch. He is a God who makes all things beautiful in His time, and there are times when He seems to be in the slowest hurry I’ve ever seen. But then, He has eternity in mind, and I’m mired in the here and now.
And, Nylse, I feel the same way about your writing. So good to hear from you!
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Barbara H. says
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I just read through Jeremiah and then Lamentations not long ago. How hard it must have been for Jeremiah to reach out to people every day who spurned him. Yet his words and example keep speaking to people today.
I know you love Elisabeth Elliot as much as I do. I don’t remember what book or program this came from, but I remember her getting a question from someone whose ministry went up in flames – literally, if I remember correctly. She thought everything was lost in many way, yet EE reminded her that if it was done for God, it wasn’t lost. You’re so right about obedience being more important than success, but we’re still so prone to think an endeavor is successful only if it has a measurable payoff.
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Michele Morin says
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The book Elisabeth wrote about her own ministry disappointments early in her career is my favorite of all her writings: These Strange Ashes.
The title is taken from a poem by Amy Carmichael. The first four lines:
“But these strange ashes, Lord, this nothingness,
This baffling sense of loss?
Son, was the anguish of my stripping less
Upon the torturing cross?”
Even the Great Rescue Plan of God ended up looking like a crash and burn on the day of the crucifixion. Christ was obedient and he was successful, but this was not readily apparent to most people of his day.
Barbara, thank you for reading. It’s always good to get your input.
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Jennifer says
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We take it to the people, where they congregate now, ie. A bbq or a “sausage sizzle” in the front of the local supermarket & this really works!
People are wary of entering “churches” these days. But taking the low key outreach to where they are opens opportunity for connection & then invitation later!
Proverbs 19:21 “man may plan all things but God’s will will be done”… Comes to mind when our great plans flop…
Jennifer
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Michele Morin says
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That’s such a good point, Jennifer! We DO have to take the message to them sometimes in order for them to know we are carrying the love of God to them.
I think I need to write Proverbs 19:21 in my planner on the page for the week of our upcoming summer outreach!
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Boma says
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Thank you, Michele. As I’m currently in the throes of pursuing something everyone believes should have happened sooner, it’s been more than a few times I’ve been really tempted to hide under my bed until Jesus comes back, because… Well, you know how things don’t always go like you’ve imagined! Thanks so much for this reminder. Blessings to you.
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Michele Morin says
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I’m really glad that this post is coming at a good time for you, Boma.
It’s such a mercy when the right words find our hearts at just the right moment!
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Lesley says
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I’ve definitely been there too with plans that seem great in theory and seem to be from God but just don’t work out. Jeremiah is a great example of persevering, and it’s so true that just because one dream fails that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story. Thanks for your encouragement, Michele!
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Michele Morin says
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It’s been so good to hear from others who have experienced the disappointment of a dream that doesn’t go as planned. And it’s true that God has a different definition of “success” than I do almost all the time.
Thanks for your good thoughts here, Lesley.
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Aletha Cress Oglesby, M.D. says
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I believe some wise person said that if we don’t fail sometimes, we aren’t trying enough. The baseball player Babe Ruth is often cited as an example- he set the record for home runs because he swung at everything. What we do for God’s kingdom is certainly more important than hitting home runs.
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Michele Morin says
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Oh, Aletha, I’m not even a baseball fan, but I love this imagery! (Maybe because I did my time sitting on bleachers and cheering for my sons’ as they swung hard at a fast-moving ball!)
And yes to the message of trying and staying in the game in spite of failures!
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Theresa Boedeker says
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What encouragement. Not all our ideas are good ones, but the important thing is our obedience and trying again and again.
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Michele Morin says
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Yes, and I think we honor God mightily when we pry our tired fingers off that idea that didn’t fly and accept the truth that He has greater purposes in mind than our momentary successes.
So much of our obedience involves just showing up and being faithful — as you said, “trying again and again.”
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Carol says
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I would have love to come to an oil change and chat. Your message is so inspiring!
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Michele Morin says
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Thanks, Carol! I can imagine that we would have found plenty to discuss!
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Bev @ Walking Well With God says
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Michele,
I’ve had some dreams and big ideas that have crashed and burned. I’ve also had some things that I never thought would fly, soar?? Sometimes the timing of my dream isn’t God’s timing….there are so many mysterious factors. All I know is that He calls us to not give up on doing good. Sometimes it will be well received and others times….not so much. Failure builds our character and isn’t that what God is in the business of doing? Great thought provoking and encouraging post.
Blessings,
Bev xx
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Michele Morin says
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I love that scriptural reminder: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we don’t lose heart.”
Also, I appreciate your thoughts on the mystery of God, for if He is small enough for my brain to comprehend, is He really big enough to be worshiped? And it’s entirely true that our character building is of more value to Him than our definition of “success.”
Always thankful, Bev, for your insights–and for the sharing of your own God-sized dreams.
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Charlie White says
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Thank you so much for this post because I know I have been there, wondering where I went wrong when obedience didn’t play out exactly how I expected.
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Michele Morin says
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Thanks for fine tuning the thinking here, Charlie, because it does boil down to that, doesn’t it! Even our obedience does not extract an outcome from God or obligate Him to do things in a certain way in order to make us feel good about the outcome! This thinking dovetails with Amy Simpson’s book Blessed Are the Unsatisfied because many Christians labor under the incorrect assumption that following Jesus means that we should be living a life of full satisfaction. Letting go of that assumption may just be the best thing we can do for our spiritual health and vitality!
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Brenda says
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Awe, I love your first dream, Michele. Guess it was before its time. Maybe it’s not gone forever, maybe another time, it’ll come to pass. 🙂 — Love the connection to Jeremiah. Persistence and obedience…those are what bring about God’s dreams, and ultimately, His dreams are our own as well, aren’t they? Good word, friend. — I just realized this site must be one of the ones that I had another email address on for the subscription and I’ve since let that domain name lapse. Who knew I had so many things on that email address?? Hadn’t seen this post until now. Going to go resub now—with my personal email address so I don’t have to worry about it being attached to a domain name that I might one day decide to let go of! 🙂 xoxo
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Michele Morin says
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Ugh, keeping track of more than one email account is definitely outside my pay grade!
I’ve learned some things about ministry and about my beloved Mainers since the days of this colossal crash and burn. Another factor in all this that has contributed to more than one disappointing outcome is our location as a church. We are in a beautiful little village out at the end of a peninsula–not exactly on the way to anywhere, so we have to factor that into everything we do.
So much to learn, and so much to let go of whenever we take the risk of serving.
Thanks, Brenda, for taking time to let me know you’ve been reading!
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Carri says
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Sounds like a wonderful dream you had. I can’t beleve no one showed up for a free oil change! Lol If our dreams remain in our heart, with God’s help we can begin again. #GraceMoments
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Michele Morin says
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Yes, and I’m thankful for all the ways our little church has learned to begin again in the area of outreach. It’s amazing to live in company with other believers and to learn alongside others.
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mareedee2016 says
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Michele, I lover your dream. Thank you for sharing. All we usually hear about are the dreams that come to fruition. However, each experience we can take lessons from it and turn it into the next dream. Loved reading this here today. Thank you for sharing with Grace and Truth.
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Michele Morin says
April 19, 2018 at 7:19 pmDeprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /home/godsized/public_html/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4826
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Hi, Maree! Sorry to be so long in responding. I’ve been away all week on vacation with family. (Wonderful!)
I so appreciate your agreement here with the positive aspect of our dream deflations: we learn and grow as a result of every set back.
Blessings to you and thanks for all you do to foster community on-line.
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vickicottingham14 says
April 17, 2018 at 4:04 amDeprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /home/godsized/public_html/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4826
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Thank you for the encouragement and for reminding me of Jeremiah and his perseverance in doing what God had called him to.
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Michele Morin says
April 19, 2018 at 7:22 pmDeprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /home/godsized/public_html/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4826
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I don’t think I’ve ever tackled a chapter from the Bible that has yielded more life lessons for me than this trip through the book of Jeremiah. He is an icon of the phrase “just show up,” because he faithfully brings the message of God to the people of God (for 23 years!), and his only reward is the approval of God.
May we find encouragement in this and trust for grace to live it out!
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Lori Schumaker of Seaching for Moments says
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Sigh … the God-sized dreams that crash and burn. How they hurt! Yet as I look back at them, I see how God used them to push me forward stronger, deeper, and more in need of my Jesus. ♥ Love this post, Michele. Beautiful! (And honestly, I don’t understand why no one would come for the oil changes either! I think it was a great idea!!!)
Hugs,
Lori
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Michele Morin says
April 19, 2018 at 7:23 pmDeprecated: Function get_magic_quotes_gpc() is deprecated in /home/godsized/public_html/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 4826
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Thanks, Lori, for taking time to be present here and for your encouraging words. Yes, stronger, deeper, and ever more convinced to that neediness: “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . .” We’re rich in the kingdom!
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Aimee Imbeau says
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Oh…one of my biggest fears – OK, my biggest fear as director of WM at my church is organizing an event and then no one shows up! Thank you for sharing your story, Michele. It helps to ease my fear – there is life after such a ‘failure’. And thank the Lord for Jeremiah’s story, too. Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth.
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Michele Morin says
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I will be truthful as well, Aimee, (what else have I got to lose after sharing this post??), and confess that this is also one of my big fears, and I do struggle with the idea that an event has to be well attended in order to be successful. We get so hung up on numbers in ministry, and we feel like a failure when the numbers don’t seem to “justify our existence.”
Thanks for opening your heart about this very prevalent weight that we carry whenever we are the girl who invites. Let’s just keep taking the risk for Jesus’ sake!
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