Sparkie Inspires

Proverbs 4:23-27

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

My story:

Church hurts brought me to a separation with God and people. All I could think about was the negative words that leadership spoke during my brother’s dying time. It was a few people but those few people were the head of the church. This was 1987 and I was done. I’m not going into things that were said. It just hurt and wasn’t how Jesus would act. I was 32 years old and confused. So I spot going to church.

My husband says there is a tool that carpenter’s used called a wedge. The dictionary says: a block of solid material, esp wood or metal, that is shaped like a narrow V in cross section and can be pushed or driven between two objects or parts of an object in order to split or secure them.

This wedge is a good example of how the devil wants to divide us from God’s will. Words hurt and words divide. I made up my mind not to attend church. Little did I know this tool that divided me from my family too. My kids didn’t want to go with their dad go church, they wanted to stay with me. This made an argument and I saw the divide.

I needed God’s help, my husband’s help and my own help. I needed to guard my heart and let God back into my life. But how do you trust leadership when you have been hurt? You need to realize not everyone is the same. There are pastors who live what they teach. There are people who attend church who give their all. Stop comparing and expecting hurt again. Release the past and let new beginnings happen. It’s so worth it to start again.

I’ve been at my current church for over 21 years. Solid in God and yes I’ve been hurt. Yet, I’m deeper in God now and also 68 years old. I’ve learned how to release what I can’t change and change the things I can. I pray daily and work on me in becoming a positive leader of God. I hope this has blessed you and know that your life matters.

Cover your mind ~

with God’s word and promises.

Blessings, Sparkie