Sunday, March 21, 2010

Speaking Of Calls




As always, the streets are dark and vacant as I make my way home from work this morning.


It is Sunday, the Lords day and I find myself thinking well maybe I can at least make it to Sunday School. My heart says yes, my body says no. The embarrassment of falling asleep at church is, as always, enough to convince me to not try it. Congregations are not kind to preacher's wives who fall asleep at church.


We had an unusually easy night on the detox unit last night. Small group, easy going and serious about getting well. A pleasure to take care of.


Much unlike last weeks group. What can I say about last weeks group? Without a doubt demon possessed. Twelve solid hours of doing hand to hand combat with the enemy. Night after night. Kind of sucks the life right out of you. Took me a full two days to recuperate. If it were not for Jesus I could not do this.


There are days I long to be normal. Work normal hours, and work with normal people. It would be nice to be able to play the piano like normal preacher's wives, teach, organize, bake cookies. I possess none of these gifts.


There are callings, and then there are callings.


I've quit my job a million times.


But only in my head.


Not once in my heart.

22 comments:

Mimi said...

HI Debra!!!!!
OH MY GOODNESS SWEET FRIEND!!!!
You are a Saint among Saints!!!!
GOD BLESS YOU SWEETIE!!!!!
Yes, most of the churches we have attended the wife of the preacher plays the piano, cooks well or very well, but you my dear have the HIGHEST BEST ROLE ever!!!!!
WHEN you said some of those drug/alcohol patients were demon possessed, I had to say a BIG AMEN to that, I know first hand from a few relatives, that yes I do believe they are, some you can just feel it when around them, I told my Mom this recently, at first I think she completely denied it, then after a short conversation about a few of these people, she said well maybe --yes, but she said maybe they are just so oppressed of the devil, and I said for sure that too. I Pray and Pray for these people to be set free from this, but they must not want to change or they do need some Major Prayer and demons delivered out of them.It is so difficult I am sure to work with these people year after year, but if everyone gave up on them what would they do???
I love that you give of your self like this for such a difficult job.
If I knew you worked all night in a stressful job like this --I would let you sleep on my lap at church!!!!!
Have a Blessed Sunday my dear
hugs,
jamie

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

I had no idea about where you worked. This was such a compelling posting Debra. I can imagine that emotionally you must feel spent many times. Oh I am so sure that God has given you to such a job, and the job to you. You would be so excellent with these hurting people.

And... playing the piano at church and teaching a Bible study are just other ways God uses us. Frankly, those seem much easier to me than what you are doing.

Whatever it is God gives us to do, we are to do it with our whole heart, and I've visited you on these pages long enough to know that is exactly what you are doing!

You get my vote this morning... for 'woman after God's own heart!'.

Love,

Sonja

Anonymous said...

Debra, What an interesting post! I love getting to know people by what they feel they can share. I'm certain the people you touch can sense that you've never quit your job in your heart. Hope you get some time to rest.

Finding Pam said...

Debra, I can't imagine how you do your job with out some sort of extra prayers. I did not know you worked in a detox unit.

This is your calling to help people in great need. I hope you always have the strength and courage to continue this work.

I also did not know that you are a pastor's wife. So nice to find out more interesting facts about you.

Keeping you in prayers,
Pam

Kathryn Magendie said...

What difficult work you do . . . my father is an alcohol/drug counselor - or he was up until the last few years ...now he works in/with a hospice. But I remember some of his patients, not their names or faces necessarily, just their tremors, their calls in the night, their DT's, their tortured faces and voices... it wasn't easy seeing/hearing these things as a child, but, I think of all those people my dad helped . . . him and the staff of the units.

You are needed...

Grayquill said...

I am not sure why but I am crying. I saw you walking home in the dark, then I was shocked to find you are a pastors wife. I read how differnt your life would be. I thought about how non-traditioanl your work is but yet, I so admire you for doing it. Your words, I quit a thousand times only in my mind - rang true. When I read you wanted to work with normal people I thought...these are normal people - sad. "When you have done it unto the least of these...you have done it unto me"
May God bless you, keep you safe, give you wisdom and supply the needed strength.

Susan said...

The calling of God are HIS callings and there is no question you have been called by HIM to the work and place you are. It is a joy, even when the labor is weary, to know we are where God wants us to be. You are and the Lord will say, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

Patrinas Pencil said...

"I've quit my job a million times.
But only in my head. Not once in my heart."

I like that last line!! I hear you...I worked in a homeless shelter for a year... I did quit because I saw how the goverment kept them in bondage with their programs. I couldn't offer them real help - I couldn't even share Jesus! It was a tring position but I learned alot about people - and alot about me. Everyone should do something of service like this - it is a thankless job but very needed.

I admire you for your gift - your tenacity and your big heart. God is pleased with you. Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

God's blessings upon you, neighbor. I joined your place this morning. So, I'll see you again soon.

Patrina <")>><
His watchman on the wall

Anonymous said...

"There are days I long to be normal. Work normal hours, and work with normal people."
Debra,
I'm not sure that 'normalcy' exists anymore today. (lol)
I learned a long time ago that utilizing our true 'gifts', even if it's playing the piano or teaching Sunday School or leading ladies groups - does suck the life right out of us. Because if we're really using the gifts given to us by God, we completely 'work as unto the Lord' and we give it all. So like you experience, we become depleted and tired and dry - so that HE can fill us anew.
As non-traditional as it seems, you are on the front lines, touching lives that 'tradition' can't touch!
Now that I understand what you do, I am blessed to lift you to our Lord for protection, discernment, power, and blessed PEACE.
Hugs,
Deb

Mimi said...

Hi Debra!!!!
Oh sweetie, glad I touched your heart in some way.
I am so Proud of the work you do and the commitment to these people.
You are so inspirational to them by you having a commitment to them, hopefully they stay sober and you have an opportunity to witness God's plan for them and he has so much to offer them.
I hope you are rested up today, I would be happy to give those tired shoulders and neck a nice massage, a nice massage is so healing and soothing!!!!
I will send it through syber ville to you!!!!
Peace and joy to you today
hugs sweetie,
jamie

Rose said...

Debra, oh my goodness, my heart went out to you in this. I cannot for the life of me imagine what you deal with in your job each day but you so touched my heart with this statement:"I've quit my job a million times.But only in my head.Not once in my heart." God bless you for the amazing work that you do! HUGS!

Jen said...

I love you................................

Alleluiabelle said...

Hi Dear Friend,

I'm happy that you visited my blog and so appreciate your kind loving words left there. I am honored that you became a follower.

Your blog is beautiful and I so appreciate the work that you are doing to help those in such great need. Yes, it must be exhausting but God is using you there in a mighty way. I love your heart and your spirit as I have read through a few of your postings...you are genuine and beautiful.

I became a follower of yours this morning and look forward to coming back and visiting you more and reading through more of your past postings.

Love & Blessings,
Alleluiabelle

LibbyLibbyLibbyLibbyLibby said...

HI Debra!

Very super nice to make your acquaintance!
As I read your post I was trying to figure out what your job is...at first I was thinking.... do you do deliverance ministry but thats not really a job job ...job... so you work in a hospital or drug rehab or something? I didn't really see that in your profile. Would love to hear more about it.
I hope you catch up on rest.
;)

Sarah said...

Oh I love your blog already and I've only read one entry and the "about me" section! So glad you visited my blog. :) I am an instant follower of yours!

Brenda said...

Obedience is the highest calling. Sounds like your smack dab in the will of God and he is blessing you and equipping you to fulfill what He has called you to do.
Hugs.

Anonymous said...

As an EX drunk saved by the GRACE of God back in 1980, I want to thank your ministry.
Don't grow weary in well doing. Keep up the good work for Jesus.

God bless you, Ron

j said...

Praise God for people like you who are willing to battle. I am stopping to pray for you right now.

Hugs my friend.

Marilyn in Mississippi said...

Oh Debra, how I admire you for the work you do! You may never know how you have helped these people you take care of as I'm sure they can see Jesus in you! And I also admire you for trying to go to church after working all night! I remember years ago when my....now retired....husband would carry clothes to work on Sat. night and shower and change and come straight to church on Sunday mornings. MANY a time he would fall asleep. But most people understood.
And I can understand ...to some degree...about you quitting in your head a million times but never in real life. I was the same way when I was homeschooling our 3 children. Almost every year I would say I could not do it anymore! But always by time for us to start back in the fall I was refreshed and ready to start teaching again.

Hope you have a good Sunday!
Marilyn...in Mississippi

Carol Murdock said...

Hi Deb,
I'm trying to visit around after being sick for awhile. Your post brings to my mind the scripture:

" Many are they that will walk the way;but few are they that are chosen"

Sounds like you are "a chosen one"

XOXO :)

Maxine said...

I didn't know that's what you do, Debra. What a wonderful calling! Jesus will help you and you are doing it FOR Him. I didn't know you were a preacher's wife either. Wow. That was most interesting to read. How fulfilling it must be to help others during dark times in their lives.

I hope that your Lord's Day today was restful and full of praise for the Savior.

Anonymous said...

Debra,
So glad to hear from you...caught up with your posts...Glad you are feeling better... Beautiful sunsets...Love all your posts ideas...very clever! We need to get together one day when the weather is warmer...Miss you! Hope you have a wonderful week..(((HUGS)))Katherinellen