Signatures....

Many years ago I found myself perplexed as to how to sign my name on things pertaining to ministry. When it came to personal things I have always signed my name with a "Love" in front of it or "Much love". Speaking of that, what is up with friends who can't sign their name with a "Love" in front of it? Dw and I will open Christmas cards from dear, sweet, wonderful friends that we have known for years and years and find just their name signed on it. We always look at each other and say, "What the heck?" We laugh because the Bible says we are to "love one another" but some of the dearest sweetest people we know just can't say the big "L" word. Maybe they think that people will think that they are madly in love with them and want to run away and get married, just cause they signed with the big "L"...LOL - yeah, not so much!

Anyway, so years ago I prayed and asked the Lord how I should sign my name on ministry stuff? After all, most of the time this would be for professional letters and things where people don't know me at all. So I prayed and waited. Finally a phrase came to my mind. "Delighted to Serve Him" - PERFECT!

You have to understand....I LOVE ministry. It is definitely what we have been called to do and we answer the calling with great, great, great joy!! So when the phrase came to mind I was excited! Yes, it would be telling the world that I am delighted to serve HIM! But as quick as the phrase came to mind, another thought immediately popped in. "Are you sure?" Hmmmm. I knew it was the Lord's voice. And I instantly knew that rough waters in ministry were a-coming.

Okay, so for those of you in full-time ministry, pastoring or missionaries to be exact, I do not know anyone who enjoys rough times, do you?? Ministry is all encompassing. The same people we minister to we fellowship with, we have relationship with, we commune with. So when there is a problem it just stinks. No pastor or missionary is exempt from rough waters or the refiners fire. UGH

Many of you might not know, but for the first 2 years we were married Dw was finishing up law school. Then he had a very blessed law practice for the next 11-1/2 years until we packed it all up (with three kids in tow) and went to seminary. When Dw was a lawyer we had his law practice and we had our private life. If someone at the law office wasn't all that happy with him it didn't affect anything else. BUT with ministry, it affects it all.

So when the Lord spoke that (Are you sure?) I said (with a big gulp), "Yup, I mean it." At that point you just grit your teeth and close your eyes and hold on tight. Sure enough rough waters were just around the corner. Eventually the smooth waters arrived. *sigh*

I used that phrase (Delighted to Serve Him) for years when signing ministry/professional stuff and then when Ch*na reversed their decision (if you haven't read the story, slip over to the sidebar, way at the bottom) and find "Special Places" and the link to Journey to Isaiah Samuel...you won't be disappointed - God showed up as our Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-Giving God!! Anyway, at that point I needed something different. I prayed again and soon started using "Feasting in His Faithfulness"....it just fit. God is so faithful.

Now since the fire, I have just needed something new. Something that reflects what God is doing, the whole fire thing has been HUGE in our lives and there is no doubt that we will never, ever be the same again.

Well a couple of weeks ago Dw was preaching. He was in Isaiah and this is the scripture that we studied:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61: 1-3 (NIV)

Although this was already one of my favorite passages it struck me hugely that morning and I have been meditating on ever since. All of a sudden the Lord seemed to speak to me, "Linny, all of this is being used to display my splendor". The Lord knows my heart, I want every fiber of my being to be used to show people His faithfulness, His good plans for them, His love, His mercy, His deep care, His comfort. Yes, I want only to display His splendor.

And then it hit me....my new signature....

Displaying His Splendor,