I would like to share with you about God separating me from my family. As I said
before in a previous writing, I had a fairly large family who spent much time
together. We all lived close so we saw each other pretty much daily. If you
would have told me my family was an idol in my heart, it would have made me mad,
or I would have thought you were crazy. There were times in my marriage where I
could not make a decision until I spoke with one or both parents. To consult my
husband on an issue was my last option. You can imagine that this did not go
over well in our house. This went on for about six years. Then one summer things
began to change. As I shared before I was not familiar with being baptized.
Actually to consider it was kind of scary or silly. I had just never been taught
anything about Jesus, just the law. I one day asked Anthony what it was all
about. He began to share things with me, however I would just keep putting it
off. I have realized these days that God knows how to get your attention.
An
incident happened one day involving my sister. It disturbed me greatly! I
humbled myself quickly and submitted myself to God. I was baptized outside in an
apartment complex pool in November. I had put things off so long, I was not
about to put things off any longer. However this was only the beginning. The
following summer a really nice walking park had just been completed just down
the street from our home in Stigler. Anthony walked on it and prayed often. That
summer I decided I would start walking with him. Again, I was new to this new
way of life. Yes, I had been listening to Doyle, but you can set and listen and
NEVER hear. Yes, you can go to every meeting and NEVER believe. I am sure that
was me, although God was pounding on my heart over the years even though I was
unaware. Anyway, I began praying something that I was not sure about and in fact
just kept it to myself. Finally, one day I asked Anthony what sanctification
meant. He explained it to me that it meant being set apart unto God. He asked
why, and I told him that I had been praying “I thank you for the sanctification
of my spirit unto God.” I prayed this often during that summer. This was the
beginning of realizing if God gives you a prayer, He will surely perform it!
That October following summer break my dad wanted to speak to me pretty much
privately. My dad and I were extremely close so I was concerned that something
had happened and was wrong. We met and he explained his concern about me being
involved with the ministry. He is not a religious man by any means, but he had
grown up in the same large family where all you heard about was be good and
don’t break any of the ten commandments. That was one thing he believed was wrong with what I was involved in. Again, I thank God for my dad and I know
God is with him. I will tell you I broke my dad’s heart that day. My own heart
was broken. Sometime later after that occurred, I was setting at the church
waiting for the service to start. The Lord directed me to read Psalm 27. I had
no clue what it said, and I was just learning to hear. I turned over and began
reading. I finally got to verse 10. When my father and my mother forsake me,
then the LORD will take me up. I thank God for his grace. That was all I needed
to hear. It settled my heart and I knew I would be okay. Did it hurt being
separated, absolutely! It has been a couple of years now, and it has only been
recent since my dad and I have began to speak again. It has only been recent
that I returned to my parents’ home and spent time with him and my mom and spoke
to him. Does it still hurt at times…yes. But I know God is with me, and if he is
with me, and I believe him, he has to take care of my family. A couple of weeks
ago, I was overcoming and being set free of some things still regarding this
very situation. What I heard in my heart was, “Misty, it had to be this way.”
And I thought, I know Lord. It was all about God being first and no one else. I
look forward though for what God has for my family and for all of us who will
follow him and believe. God bless all of us.
Love Misty – December 21, 2009