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Raising up Single Moms

January 30, 2013 by pattiburris

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Because I am a single mom, I have a heart for the struggles of other single moms. God has given us as christians the awesome job of caring for the widow and the fatherless:

John 1:27

Deuteronomy 24:17

Exodus 22:22-24

Isaiah 1:17

Psalm 68:5

It doesn’t really matter how the single mom of today came to be a single mom. God does not look at how we got to where we are, He just looks at our present condition and our future. God is willing and able to step into a partnership with the single mom in parenting, finances, healing, etc. Why should christians care about the single mom and her children? Because God cares! The current statistics on the single mom family says that we are not doing the job God gave us to do. There are approximately 18 million single moms in the United States, with 95% of them being unchurched! This means that there are approximately 37 million children in the United States NOT hearing the word of God! I am urging you to put yourself in the shoes of a single mom. Most of us did not want this…the breakdown of a marriage…living in poverty…struggling with finances, work, parenting, along with our own emotional ups and downs…dealing with the turmoil of coming out of a domestic abuse situation…being left by the guy you thought you would share your life with, who runs off at the words, ” I’m pregnant”. Unless you are free from sin (and I assure you, none of us are) do not cast stones at the single mom. She does not deserve your disapproving looks at the grocery store, your whispers in the welfare office, and she does not deserve your looks and whispers when she walks into church. What she and her children do deserve is love, sincere warmth and compassion, a helping hand, and a community of believers who will surround her and her children with love and encouragement.

Our Gracious God has a plan and a purpose for every single mom and her children. God is raising up single moms and her children to serve in ministries and as missionaries proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is at work and God is opening doors to the mission field and ministry that up until now have been closed to the single mom. God is tearing down the barriers and is proclaiming the season of the single mom. You ARE worthy, single mom, and God wants to pour out His anointing and blessing on you and your children. He will use you and your children in ways you could never imagine!

This is a call to the faith-based community to raise up the single mom and position her to answer the call God has placed on her life.

This a call for missions agencies to rethink your policies to allow the single mom with a heart for missions to fulfill that call, even if she is divorced or has several dependent children. If God has called her, He will make a way for her! These women that you are limiting by your archaic policies will be able to reach more people because of their “brokenness” than you could ever imagine.

I am a single mom of 5 beautiful kids and I am ready to fulfill this call to missions that God has placed on my heart!

To God be the glory! Forever and ever, Amen!

Posted in Social Justice Issues | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Letting Go of the Past

January 22, 2013 by pattiburris

past-present-future

 

Philippians 3:13,14  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

As I step into this new season, I have felt the importance of letting go of the past. The past has a way of locking us into a prison of fear, worry, anger, confidence issues, addictions, and the list goes on. I don’t want to be trapped by the circumstances of the past. I want to be able to step into this new season washed clean, brand new. I have to completely surrender those issues that stem from the past. I need to give them to God for good. I need to let go of the fear I hold on to to protect myself from being hurt, it’s holding me back from realizing the call God has on my life. I need to let go of my lack of confidence in my abilities, and the not truly believing who I am in God. I need to embrace the fact that I am a beautiful woman of God, I am a princess, a daughter of the King of Kings, I have been adopted by the Lord of Lords (John 1:12), I am an heir with Jesus Christ (Galatians 4:6-7, Romans 8:15), I am a member of God’s household (Ephesians 2:19)! What’s even better is that I am not the only one! God loves you too! You are special to Him and He wants you to claim that special place as heir with Jesus. It’s not easy, believe me I know! It’s a day-by-day process for me, but here is an exercise I used to help in the process:

1. List every issue that you hold onto.

2. For every issue, write out why you hold onto that issue (ex: I hold onto my fear so I don’t have to do anything that I may be rejected or ridiculed for. It keeps me “safe”.)

3. For every issue, write why holding onto that issue is not working for you anymore. (ex: holding onto my fear is keeping me from pushing myself out of my comfort zone and answering the call God has placed on my life.)

4. Picture a life of freedom from this issue and what that would look like. Dream BIG and write out your vision of what life would look like without this issue in your life. What would you be pursuing if it weren’t for this issue? (ex: My dream is to be an intercessory missionary and to encourage women and children.)

5. For every issue, write out steps that you can take to let go of that issue. These are bite sized action steps, but they need to be pushing you into a life of freedom. (ex: to let go of my fear, I continue to pray 10-15 second prayers on the microphone during intercession sets and I gave a 1-2 minute testimony of my experiences in the Fall internship.)

6. Write each issue on a little piece of paper. Now, I want you to tear up the pieces one by one. As you let go of each piece, say a simple prayer of surrender (ex: “God, I surrender my fear to you, I know that you are in control. in Jesus name, I let go of my fear. Help me to focus on you as I take these steps to freedom, Amen.) Flush the pieces down the toilet or burn them if you want, as long as you let go!

7. Remember that letting go is a process, a journey. Don’t panic if you have a setback, because you probably will. Pick yourself up and keep moving forward, keeping your focus on Jesus.

I know, that as I trust God and seek to do his will, there will be many, many times when I will feel and will have to face my fears. Will I falter? Possibly, but I will keep my focus on Jesus and keep moving forward into a grace-filled, blessed season of life.

*I wanted to add that this is just an exercise to help you release an issue. With some issues we may need help from someone with experience in counseling, healing or a freedom ministry. I am not that person. There is no shame in seeking help to deal with things. I actually did go through a Freedom ministry to deal with my fear. So, seek help if you need to and you can use this as an added exercise in letting go.

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