by Alesha Sinks | Jul 28, 2015 | Church Planting, God's Word, Just Me
We’d felt a restlessness, a desire for change. So we prayed and sought direction and been frustrated and prayed some more until God pointed us in a new direction. And suddenly it felt like we were pointed in a new direction and then left to drift. We saw what could happen if this new direction didn’t work out and it was scary…And nothing happened. It didn’t seem like God was going to come through. Maybe we had heard wrong…
ObeyFirst2
But for months, God said, “Wait.”
So we waited. And we felt crazy. And we looked unwise. And we were misunderstood, I’m sure.
And we doubted frequently. And we tried to head different directions. And we tried to plan ahead. And we tried to jump off the path God had laid before us. And we tried to “go” in any area we could while still technically waiting…
But God kept saying, “Wait”.
So each time we tried to abandon ship or turn the rudder in a different direction, within a day or two we had to repent and tie our rudder back down to the course God had set for us.
And simply wait…
And that was painful.
From our perspective, it looked like God was sending us straight into the rocks and to certain doom. But the more we prayed and tried different things, the more He confirmed the direction He had pointed us in…and the more sure we were that He was saying, “Wait.”
ObeyFirst1
We didn’t know how it would work out.
We needed a miracle.
We were scared of waiting and potentially crashing.
But we were more afraid of disobeying…
“We don’t have to know how it is going work out in order to obey God.”
Pastor Daniel Williams
So we waited and prayed and waited and prayed and kept working hard at the things God had set before us.
Then, about a month ago, we began to sense God telling us to “go” in one area. But it was an area that seemed to move us toward those looming rocks even faster, instead of steering us away from them.
So we prayed hard. And we talked about it often. And we prayed together and on our own and reminded each other to pray and set a timeline.
ObeyFirst3
Then we began to tell people. Just a few. And we prayed that if this step really was what God wanted that He would allow the authority in our lives to support it.
A week later God opened one door we didn’t think was possible, and another that we didn’t know existed. It was as if He began to open up a path in the middle of the rocks just big enough for our ship to squeeze through.
And the first thought I had when the opportunities were presented was, “Why did I have so little faith?”
“Why did I doubt God’s provision when He said to wait?”“Why didn’t I jump faster when He said to go and it made no sense?”“Why do I struggle to believe God when He’s proven Himself over and over?”
I’m so thankful that we obeyed even when it didn’t make sense. And although there are more rocks ahead, my faith is stronger and I’m trusting that the path will open when we get there.
He’s never let us crash before.
And whether God is telling you to “go” or telling you to “wait”, and no matter how crazy the direction He’s asking you to take…obey.
Because…“Obedience proceeds understanding.”
Pastor Daniel Williams
We didn’t understand. And I know we won’t understand again in the future…maybe even the very near future, but I’m more afraid of being outside God’s will then I am of “crashing” while inside of His will.
Be blessed
<3
by Alesha Sinks | Jul 28, 2015 | Church Planting, God's Word, Just Me
We’d felt a restlessness, a desire for change. So we prayed and sought direction and been frustrated and prayed some more until God pointed us in a new direction. And suddenly it felt like we were pointed in a new direction and then left to drift. We saw what could happen if this new direction didn’t work out and it was scary…And nothing happened. It didn’t seem like God was going to come through. Maybe we had heard wrong…
ObeyFirst2
But for months, God said, “Wait.”
So we waited. And we felt crazy. And we looked unwise. And we were misunderstood, I’m sure.
And we doubted frequently. And we tried to head different directions. And we tried to plan ahead. And we tried to jump off the path God had laid before us. And we tried to “go” in any area we could while still technically waiting…
But God kept saying, “Wait”.
So each time we tried to abandon ship or turn the rudder in a different direction, within a day or two we had to repent and tie our rudder back down to the course God had set for us.
And simply wait…
And that was painful.
From our perspective, it looked like God was sending us straight into the rocks and to certain doom. But the more we prayed and tried different things, the more He confirmed the direction He had pointed us in…and the more sure we were that He was saying, “Wait.”
ObeyFirst1
We didn’t know how it would work out.
We needed a miracle.
We were scared of waiting and potentially crashing.
But we were more afraid of disobeying…
“We don’t have to know how it is going work out in order to obey God.”
Pastor Daniel Williams
So we waited and prayed and waited and prayed and kept working hard at the things God had set before us.
Then, about a month ago, we began to sense God telling us to “go” in one area. But it was an area that seemed to move us toward those looming rocks even faster, instead of steering us away from them.
So we prayed hard. And we talked about it often. And we prayed together and on our own and reminded each other to pray and set a timeline.
ObeyFirst3
Then we began to tell people. Just a few. And we prayed that if this step really was what God wanted that He would allow the authority in our lives to support it.
A week later God opened one door we didn’t think was possible, and another that we didn’t know existed. It was as if He began to open up a path in the middle of the rocks just big enough for our ship to squeeze through.
And the first thought I had when the opportunities were presented was, “Why did I have so little faith?”
“Why did I doubt God’s provision when He said to wait?”“Why didn’t I jump faster when He said to go and it made no sense?”“Why do I struggle to believe God when He’s proven Himself over and over?”
I’m so thankful that we obeyed even when it didn’t make sense. And although there are more rocks ahead, my faith is stronger and I’m trusting that the path will open when we get there.
He’s never let us crash before.
And whether God is telling you to “go” or telling you to “wait”, and no matter how crazy the direction He’s asking you to take…obey.
Because…“Obedience proceeds understanding.”
Pastor Daniel Williams
We didn’t understand. And I know we won’t understand again in the future…maybe even the very near future, but I’m more afraid of being outside God’s will then I am of “crashing” while inside of His will.
Be blessed
<3
by Alesha Sinks | Jul 28, 2015 | Church Planting, God's Word, Just Me
We’d felt a restlessness, a desire for change. So we prayed and sought direction and been frustrated and prayed some more until God pointed us in a new direction. And suddenly it felt like we were pointed in a new direction and then left to drift. We saw what could happen if this new direction didn’t work out and it was scary…And nothing happened. It didn’t seem like God was going to come through. Maybe we had heard wrong…
ObeyFirst2
But for months, God said, “Wait.”
So we waited. And we felt crazy. And we looked unwise. And we were misunderstood, I’m sure.
And we doubted frequently. And we tried to head different directions. And we tried to plan ahead. And we tried to jump off the path God had laid before us. And we tried to “go” in any area we could while still technically waiting…
But God kept saying, “Wait”.
So each time we tried to abandon ship or turn the rudder in a different direction, within a day or two we had to repent and tie our rudder back down to the course God had set for us.
And simply wait…
And that was painful.
From our perspective, it looked like God was sending us straight into the rocks and to certain doom. But the more we prayed and tried different things, the more He confirmed the direction He had pointed us in…and the more sure we were that He was saying, “Wait.”
ObeyFirst1
We didn’t know how it would work out.
We needed a miracle.
We were scared of waiting and potentially crashing.
But we were more afraid of disobeying…
“We don’t have to know how it is going work out in order to obey God.”
Pastor Daniel Williams
So we waited and prayed and waited and prayed and kept working hard at the things God had set before us.
Then, about a month ago, we began to sense God telling us to “go” in one area. But it was an area that seemed to move us toward those looming rocks even faster, instead of steering us away from them.
So we prayed hard. And we talked about it often. And we prayed together and on our own and reminded each other to pray and set a timeline.
ObeyFirst3
Then we began to tell people. Just a few. And we prayed that if this step really was what God wanted that He would allow the authority in our lives to support it.
A week later God opened one door we didn’t think was possible, and another that we didn’t know existed. It was as if He began to open up a path in the middle of the rocks just big enough for our ship to squeeze through.
And the first thought I had when the opportunities were presented was, “Why did I have so little faith?”
“Why did I doubt God’s provision when He said to wait?”“Why didn’t I jump faster when He said to go and it made no sense?”“Why do I struggle to believe God when He’s proven Himself over and over?”
I’m so thankful that we obeyed even when it didn’t make sense. And although there are more rocks ahead, my faith is stronger and I’m trusting that the path will open when we get there.
He’s never let us crash before.
And whether God is telling you to “go” or telling you to “wait”, and no matter how crazy the direction He’s asking you to take…obey.
Because…“Obedience proceeds understanding.”
Pastor Daniel Williams
We didn’t understand. And I know we won’t understand again in the future…maybe even the very near future, but I’m more afraid of being outside God’s will then I am of “crashing” while inside of His will.
Be blessed
<3
by Alesha Sinks | Jul 16, 2015 | Church Planting, God's Word
“In order for God to do miracles in our lives, we have to be in a place where we need a miracle.”Pastor Daniel Williams
Miracles1
We all want to live by faith, but no one wants to feel completely overwhelmed and unsure of how things could possibly work out.
We all want to step out for God and do whatever He asks, but no one wants to obey when God only shows them the first step down a long and scary path.
We all want a miracle, but no one wants to be in the place of desperate need that necessitates a miracle.
We all want to see miracles.But no one wants to be in the place that makes a miracle possible.
Because you can’t have a miracle without the need for one.
Because miracles aren’t normal or expected or natural or easy.
So if you are finding yourself in a hard place today, a desperate place, an overwhelmed place, or a seemingly hopeless place, remember…you are in a place where a miracle can happen.
And we serve a God of power.
We serve a God of miracles.
Miracles3
Miracles2
It won’t be easy.
It won’t be normal.
It won’t be expected.
It won’t be planned.
It won’t be on your time schedule.
It won’t be in your control.
It won’t be the way you thought it would be.
But God can work miracles in your hopeless situation.
Sometimes His miracles may look incredibly natural, like using people to help provide for you.
Sometimes His miracles may be very intangible, like giving you salvation.
Sometimes His miracles may not seem like miracles, like stripping away things you think you need.
Sometimes His miracles won’t come when you need them, because the real miracle is happening on the other side of the tragedy.
But I believe in a God of miracles.
So let’s not be afraid of the hard places, the scary places, the places where we don’t have control of what happens. But let’s begin to look at those places as opportunities for God to show His power…for Him to do a miracle.
Let’s reset our perspectives with the truth that God can show up in the midst of our desperate situations. Let’s remind ourselves that He is powerful and that He desires to show Himself strong in our weaknesses. Let’s preach the power of the Almighty God to our frightened and anxious hearts remembering that He is a God of miracles.
Be blessed
<3
by Alesha Sinks | Jul 14, 2015 | Church Planting
IMG_0923
The air conditioning is broken at the community center we rent for church on Sundays and after a sticky, sweaty hour and a half service two Sundays ago, we relocated to a living room for this past Sunday.
And while we’ll hopefully be back in our normal brown folding chairs with the dated laminate floors by this coming Sunday, it was such a sweet time of worship two days ago. About twenty five of us packed into the living room and kitchen to sit on an odd assortment couches, patio furniture, kitchen chairs, and bar stools in order to worship and pray together and to hear the Word of God taught.
What a special service it was, in all its simplicity. And our hearts might have been tempted to say, “Isn’t this better? Just the core group worshiping together in a more intimate space…”
But our Pastor reminded us over and over that we aren’t called to simply worship and be fed for ourselves. We have a mission from God in our city. And while the times of pulling back and refreshing ourselves in God are important, the weekly and daily presences we have in our city through our regular service times and regular lives lived out are essential too.
Church planting isn’t just about being fed and gathering intimately and worshiping privately.
Church planting is…
…serving.
…giving.
…opening wide.
…reaching out.
…being consistent.
…living love out to those around you.
And while our little group of twenty-five might seem like it’s too small to make a real impact, it’s really not. Because even one person living their life open and reaching out in love can make a world of difference.
So each Sunday we’re called to meet in a little community center every Sunday and to sit on familiar chairs and to put out the same signs and to preach the Word of God every single week, so that people know that we will be there when they need us.
And each week day we’re called to go about our lives in a way that’s seeking opportunities to serve and give and even speak the love of Jesus that has set us free, so that people will know that we will be there when they need us.
Church planting takes consistency.
Sacrificial consistency.
Loving consistency.
Open armed consistency.
May we find the strength in Jesus to be consistent in loving and serving and being where He has called us to be.
Be blessed
<3
by Alesha Sinks | Jul 7, 2015 | Church Planting, Just Me, Missions
Today I’m sharing my testimony at our weekly community group, and I found this post buried deep in the archives of writing I’d begun and never finished. So I thought that in light of tonight, it would be fitting for me to share a piece of my testimony with you. This is just a piece, but it is an important one and I pray that you are challenged and blessed by it.
….
It was my first missions trip and I was so excited. Truth was washing my soul and opening my eyes to what it truly means to follow Jesus. And it was sometime during the long bus ride home that I made the list…
Serving2
Serving1
My heart had been opened and changed and somehow my 15-year-old self knew that my actions must follow if the change was to be real. So I wrote the list…things to do, habits to change, new ways to live.
And we couldn’t have been home for more than an hour before I had my list out and was showing it to my Mama. I knew I was rushing but I felt that I somehow had to, that I had to let someone know and start forward on my list before it got piled under a dusty stack of books on my nightstand and forgotten.
I know that there were almost ten things on the list, but the first few, the only ones that I knew I absolutely needed to do and the only ones I remember, were about service.
I had grown up in the church. I’d co-run the tiny nursery as a middle school girl and I’d helped my mom in Sunday school classes and I’d volunteered at Vacation Bible School, but this time it was me choosing to serve because I wanted to. Because I had seen the power of serving and I knew I needed to be doing it regularly.
I needed to be humbled and stretched and changed in the way that only serving others can do. And so those first few things on my list…
Join the youth group worship team.
Join the youth group student leadership team.
Join the youth group outreach team.
And I’ve never been the same…
Because taking the step to put Jesus as a priority changes and challenges you. And taking the step to pour back out from what is being poured into you by God changes and challenges you to an even greater level.
In my young and passionate heart, a desire had been ignited. I had seen the power of pouring out all that had been poured into me, of loving the way Jesus loved me, of serving the way Jesus served me…and I knew I needed to keep at it. I could not have put it in those terms at the time, but I felt a difference in my desire for God when I was serving, and I knew I needed to keep that desire burning.
I’ve never looked back.
The steps of faith have gotten larger. With each step the need for Jesus grows, and I’ve learned that you can’t grow your faith unless you first step into a place where you can’t do it on your own.
And that is why I need to continue to serve. Because in a place of serving, I encounter obstacles I can’t face well on my own…people I will be unloving towards, projects I will give up on, physical strength that I won’t have when I need it. And so serving is intentionally placing myself in situations that I will need God’s strength and His Spirit in order to make it through well.
I will never reach a place where I no longer need to serve.
My heart needs the wake up call that it’s not about me. My soul needs the tangible reminder that in need God’s strength in order to serve Him. My character needs to be built in the way that only self-sacrifice can provide. And my walk with God needs the intimacy that only obedience can bring.
Serving3
Service is obedience, because we are commanded by God to serve one another. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was choosing obedience and that is why I saw the blessings pouring out as I served.
Be blessed
<3
