We've had a really busy season of ministry at our church so I haven't visited lately. I do have a prayer request.
Our church is hosting a seminar for parents of teens this Saturday and we've been planning, praying, and strategizing for weeks and months. It's with a known speaker in parenting(anyone heard of Tedd or Paul Tripp? "Shepherding a Child's Heart/Age of Opportunity"?) and the community and area churches have been invited...we've just done quite a bit of work for this to come through. Even so, our registration is not where the planning team or my husband and I thought it would be. We (my hubby and I ) are discouraged.
The church has put time, energy and $$$$$ into this project and really thought that this would have been something that would soar! I know we still have several days before it all takes place....but my faith that it will come together is struggling.
My request for prayer is that we would continue to trust God and see blessing instead of a potential FLOP! This may sound prideful (and you can let me know if it is), but all that we have prayerfully sought to do has been a success so far. I think that deep down I don't want to be embarassed by the whole thing!
Ever have those seasons of ministry when there is just tremendous success and growth???...well, that's where we've been! And I want it to continue. I really do want my heart to be focused on the message in the seminar reaching and encouraging parents...but right now my heart is focused on the number of people we need. I don't like feeling this way. Please pray that I can release the outcome to the Lord. We have done all that we can do as far as advertising, etc. and just need to pray. I would appreciate prayer for my attitude and heart to be on the right things.
If you have any reply...I would love to hear from you guys. Am I just nuts or what!?
NO...YOU ARE NOT NUTS!! Oh, we've been there before. It's frustrating. I do not worry about this as much for "in house" events but over the years I have worried about bringing speakers in when I thought I may not be able to meet the honorarium, etc. due to a lower sign up than expected. Or...you just get frustrated that "everybody" is not participating in such a great event that you have put sooooooo much work into. Then those same people have problems months later like...
Ever notice how couples who do not come to your couples retreat (or ladies who don't come to your ladies retreat) will moan months later about problems in their marriage, their life, etc. when the teachings presented at your retreat covered those very things, and God blessed so mightily at the altars. And you think, "if they were there, they would have been touched, and they would not be at this point..."
The thing is, you have to just focus on the people that are there and what God wants to do in THEIR lives. I know it's hard. My prayers are with you! Keep us posted.
I feel you on the whole wanting it to be great and I don't think that it is prideful to have great expectations of your ministry adventures. I also feel that it is vitally important that you remember that God can uniquely bless in a crowd as well as in a multitude, but he also does some things on a individual basis...
I have noticed what you are probably realizing, people have issues with raising their children and building their marriages but they don't want instruction... Oh they don't mind "advice" but "instruction" requires that they give thought and true godly attention to what they are doing.
