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02 August 2015

Christian Ministry - AKA "Being a Target"











Are you involved in Christian ministry?  If you are clergy, like Reverend Larry Jones, of Northside Christian Church, that's easy to determine and the same for his steadfast wife, Jane. I congratulate them on TWENTY years serving our church!
Reverent Larry Jones Preaching at Northside Christian Church

Pastor Larry Jones
Others of us, who write Christian fiction or serve in some other capacity, may not realize that like ministers we, too, are what I call a moving target for satan (and no, I won't capitalize his name.)  Apparently, Larry likes to be a double target because he is also a writer. (Please don't roll your eyes at me and ask "Don't all preachers HAVE to write sermons?") Larry writes Christian fiction, too. His pastor's picture makes a pretty good author headshot, too.

I've been thinking about the moving target analogy for quite some time, because with this blog, I've seen Christian authors, in their writing ministry, go through some awful times. And from having friends who are a pastor or a pastor's wife, we've come to learn how the enemy is constantly after them in one way or another. So we try to pray faithfully for our ministers and the other preachers out there.

The Fruitcake Challenge by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Then late last summer, when I came on board with a multi-author Christian collection, spearheaded by Gina Welborn and I wrote and published The Fruitcake Challenge, I really saw how when you are collectively doing something for the Lord, you tick satan off. We've learned that here on OWG blog, too, with our blog contributors having some great travails, and I ask that you keep all us bloggers in your prayers. So I shouldn't have been too surprised, but I'll admit that I was, when as I prepared to release The Fruitcake Challenge, the third novella in The Christmas Traditions Series, that bad things started happening. My son went to camp and his asthma got out of control. Then we went on vacation and he seemed to have a seizure, cutting short our activities on Mackinac Island, where some of my stories are set. When we went home, his juvenile arthritis acted up. We had other issues, too, like a sleep disturbance. We ended up home schooling him, to get his medical issues under control. Just when we were making progress with him, our daughter had emergency gall bladder surgery. And although I'd had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, I could barely walk.




At the same time I was a big target, with my family, other Christmas Traditions' authors lost their parents and went through other trials. Seven of the novellas have been combined into an All-In-One Christmas Traditions release, with the eighth due to be added soon. This fall, I'll be sharing some of the other authors' testimonies here on OWG. I hope you will keep us all in prayer.

And I got a surprise yesterday when our Christmas Traditions collection released on Amazon (on sale right now only 99 cents through Sunday!) and the gorgeous new cover by Cynthia Hickey was revealed!  I have a Cover Release Party on Wednesday on Facebook (click here to join Carrie's party, also hosted by Cynthia Hickey, Teresa Ives Lilly, and Gina Welborn and wonderful reader/reviewer Gracie Yost). Please come over to the party and see the covers for our upcoming Christmas Town Collection and the third book in my Christy Lumber Camp Series - Lilacs for Juliana!

Question: How about you? Have you ever felt like a moving target? Leave a comment to enter for a $10 Target store gift card and an ebook copy of Christmas Traditions.

22 comments:

  1. HI Carrie! As I read this, it reminded me of what happened the night of our Tea Party.A whole days worth of comments, pictures of the beautiful gowns that everyone was wearing, and the wonderful recipe's that were shared, all vanishing. Then we started having problems with the blog. What this shows me is that satan is angry and afraid! There was such a sweet spirit of fellowship going on, and he just didn't like it! We didn't give up, we just kept right on! Bless you Carrie for all that you do to help further the Kingdom of God!

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    1. You're right, Gracie! I felt SO badly for all those who had signed up for the original event page and POOF the posts were all gone! But those who came back to the second party page were such great guests and got to engage with the gracious authors there! God bless you, too, Gracie! Thanks for all your help with the party!

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  2. CARRIE, I love the gift card to Target for being one. haha! Yes, at times I definitely have been a moving target (especially after ministering on OWG), but we have our shield of faith and our sword which is the Word of God to deflect the enemy's power. I'm just waiting for the Lord to say ENOUGH! and watch satan go whimpering away. Diana will once again enjoy the life more abundantly that God promised her. I can't get away from that scripture today in John 10:10, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." I believe God told me today to keep saying it over and over (especially when the enemy comes and tells me it will never get better with my health) and it will come to pass! Am believing it for my OWG angel sisters as well.

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    1. Yes, we were scare out of our wits last year even as we were trusting in God for you, Angel Diana! PTL your tumor was benign! Love that verse! Thanks for sharing. Hugs!

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    2. Amen, Carrie! Thank the Lord for what He has already done! Hugs back!

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  3. Sometimes you just feel like everything is happening to you all at once and you don't know if you can take it all on and handle it. But, with the love of God, we can get through anything. Thanks for this great post! :)

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    1. So true, Sydney--God helps us overcome and get through things! Thanks for coming by.

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  4. Great post Carrie! When we were born again, we were born on a battlefield with an very real enemy. I am grateful the Lord has assigned angels to me. Although, we do get battle weary, He is there to strengthen us. I am grateful for His Grace to finish well.

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    1. Wow that is a GREAT quote, Caryl! Going to share that. Love it!
      hugs!

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    2. Ditto, Carrie, I love that quote too Caryl!! So true, and so powerful! Very thankful for the Lord's grace in helping me to run this race also, no matter how many times I stumble over those hurdles!

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  5. Thanks for sharing, Carrie. I appreciate the reminder to pray for all involved in furthering the gospel! We spent 12 years in Christian ministry, and certainly understand how the devil likes to discourage and attack! Unfortunately, the devil still had a foothold when we are no longer in ministry - perhaps because we are trying to live in a manner that glorifies the Lord.

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    1. You totally understand, then, Betti! Bless you for your ministry!

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  6. Yes, It seems like whenever one of our children have problems it just spreads on out though the whole family! Oh well... at least it's all at once and we all join in and get us all on our feet together in short order :) PTL! !

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    1. Wow, that is an interesting way to look at it, Deanna! I like that reframing!

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  7. Yes, anyone who is serving God in any capacity is targeted, but thank God for His grace, shelter, and strength in bringing us through the fire, refined, and in time stronger and wiser than before! Thank you for your awesome article Carrie!!!

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  8. Such a great post Carrie and so timely!
    Your post brings to mind years ago when I had a car accident (in 1985). Briefly, I was very involved in the church I was attending...a car ran a stop sign and hit my car...(won't go into all the details here except to say I had a filled propane tank in the back seat)...I cried out to God when I saw the car coming and felt His arms wrap around me (and the neighbor's 5 year old daughter with me). I was injured, broke 4 front bottom teeth off when they went through my lower lip, broke my jaw and badly bruised my breastplate, totaled the car...but, the propane tank did not explode!!! I knew it was satan coming at me trying to stop me. Later, I received a card from my pastors wife who also felt the same. Over the years satan has put obstacles in my path--just as he does those who follow God and live for Him--but, God is faithful and I have learned early on to trust Him.
    Blessings, Tina

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    1. WOW, Tina, that is some testimony. I wonder what the title of that would be--Propane in the seat beside me--or something like that. Sounds like a Guidepost article to me!

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  9. Hello ladies. I have enjoyed reading all of your testimonies here. GOD's word says we will have trials and tribulations tho after becoming a child of GOD. But, it is also true that HE says he will not let us go through something that we can't depend on HIM to get us through. But HE does let us go through trials like Job did. I have missed church so much in the past few years when I had hardly missed through the years. But, those times I would feel better and get dressed to go, just before time to leave, I would get a nauseous and a woozy headache and not be able to go. I won't drive when I feel like that. I told my church friends that satan was attacking me to keep me from attending church. I have been blessed the past couple of months to go more regularly again and thank GOD each time I can go. I still have lots of problems but the doctors never seem to find an answer, and I get so frustrated going to doctors that I just don't go. My girls fuss at me, but I told them I can't go every time I'm sick because they never do anything except put me thru all kinds of test to find nothing. The thing that has bothered me a lot for the past year and half, is that I started losing weight and went from 170s and a size 16 down to 120, a size 8 and now some of those are getting loose. I have the name of a new doctor from a friend and will see if he can figure why. I have a hard time making myself eat enough because I quit getting hungry many years ago. But am eating about the same as last 5 or so years. Trying to eat better. People don't usually start losing weight when you aren't trying to. I don't want them to find something bad but just need some answers. But, when I am hurting I do complain, but tell GOD that I'm thankful that I know it could be worse as some people are.But satan will never stop doing his best to put us down. Sorry I was having a lot of computer problems at the last two parties. Think it is getting worn out like me. LOL Love all of you ladies. Take care and continue to put satan in his place. Take care and GOD bless you all. Maxie
    > mac26(at)me(dot)com <

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    1. Well now you have me really concerned, Maxie! That is a large weight loss especially when it was unplanned. Praying the doctors figure out what is going on. Big hugs!!! God bless you, too, sweet Maxie!!!

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  10. I definitely feel that my family and I are being targeted right now. I need to place my husband in a nursing home because I can no longer care for him. I have needed my daughters over the past year and they haven't been there for me. This has created a huge rift between us and now one daughter isn't even speaking to me. I've apologized for things I've said but she's said she'll never forgive me. Praying for a miracle

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    1. Praying with you for a miracle, Glenda. That is so sad about your husband and your children! So sad! May God surround you with ministering angels!

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