Drea Wood

Category Archives: scripture

He gives the finest wheat….

Written on 12/21/2011 by Dreawood in COR, family, scripture

For those who don’t follow my blog on a regular basis (shame shame, hehe) – you may not realize that about 5 1/2 months ago my husband and I moved.

The circumstances weren’t easy.

We didn’t make the decision to move because we wanted to… although when we did finally decide to go, we did have a peace about it, as difficult as that may have been… With my husbands resignation at our former church, a lot of mixed emotions came to the surface…

I think I have done well keeping things pretty vague… not wanting to point fingers or judge… but at the same time speaking truth about what happened and why we are where we are.

One thing I know, after months living here…. is that despite the reasoning for us having to move. The Lord had such an incredible plan for us coming here.

For us to even be in the place we are is amazing.

100′s apply yet only a handful are even accepted in.

We are having the opportunity to connect with some of the most uplifting people we have ever met. People who challenge us… encourage us, love on us, support us…

We have had time and will continue to have time to work on our marriage, our family, our walk with the Lord, our finances & have guidance and time to decide where the Lord would have us go next in ministry.

What seemed like such a dim, hurtful and hopeless situation has turned out to be one of the best.

I read this scripture the other day, that just stood out to me so much. Maybe because I am now milling my own wheat ;-) – but really, it just spoke such truth!

“Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your children within you.
He makes peace in your borders,
And fills you with the finest wheat. “
- Psalm 147:12-14

I love how the Lord can take a situation like ours and turn it to good.

I love that he can take bitterness from us and turn it into grace.

I love when he provides mentors, leadership & Godly friendships to help guide us through the bumps in life and ministry.

I love it when the Lord can take sorrow… hardship, suffering & use it to refine… strengthen and grow us.

We serve an amazing God.

Who in His sovereignty has such a perfect plan for those who seek His face.

Even though it may not always seem perfect :)

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I yell

Written on 10/31/2011 by Dreawood in COR, scripture, struggles

I had some alone time today… rare it seems some weeks.
I write this with 2 little ones in the room watching an quick TV show… which btw, is very distracting :) – try writing with any sort of kid cartoon on. You never realize how many strange noises come from one cartoon, until you try to sit down and write :)

Owen is resting, so Im just using this time to sit… reflect… and relax. Kid cartoon and all :)

I read this today during some of my alone time and it stood out…

“I yell at my children, fester with bitterness, forget doctor appointments, lose library books, live selfishly, skip prayer, complain, go to bed too late, neglect cleaning the toilets. I live tired. Afraid. Anxious. Weary…. Would I ever be enough, find enough, do enough?…. It’s the inbetweens that drive us mad.”

“How does one live ready, always ready? Yes, ultimately, only Jesus. Yes, this premature dying to self, birthing into the cross-life, the grace cocoon before emerging into the life unending. Without this Jesus, no, no one can be ready.”

This was taken from a book called “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. It is a book I’ve had for some time now… but sadly have not completed. I will be the 1st to admit, I struggle with finding time to read books.. It in all honesty makes me sleepy! I think because as a mom of 3 little ones, I am often times doing 3-4 things at once… so when I just sit… my body must think “oooo its time to sleep!” – since when time does come to rest, it is usually at night, when I lay down to sleep. Oddly enough at night, I find myself wide awake with a million things running through my head… funny how that works.

I really have to discipline myself to read more than a few lines…

Sunday our Pastor spoke on Strong Holds… and wow, just an incredible sermon.
I cant even begin to touch on what he said… and for some time now I have debated sharing what church we are at right now… but I am to the point now that I am tired of secrets… and really just want to share the awesome things the Lord is teaching us during this time here. So if you’d like to watch our Pastor’s sermon, you can on the church website. Look under “Oct 30th” – 9:30am service. Skip to Minute 32:00 if you would like to skip all the music, and get right into the sermon.

One of the things that kept coming to me during this sermon was something I struggle with…

and that is time… and priorities. Figuring out how to manage life as a mother, home schooling, cooking, cleaning, managing a professional photography business (that oddly enough has picked up a lot this month!, thankfully), being a wife… and really just having time inbetween to take care of myself physically… and spiritually. It all is something I find overwhelming at times and wonder “Do I really have time to just sit and pray?”

I have often felt I could justify my lack of prayer time, because of where I am in life right now. I could use my children as an excuse to not having enough time to sit and pray…. or read a chapter(s) in my bible. TO really meditate on Gods word. I have been one to say it is ok to replace that time with prayers at the kitchen sink… or prayers while folding laundry… and while I think those times are great fellowship… and the Lord loves to hear his children talk to him throughout the day… it isn’t the same as sitting down with His Word… alone…

I struggle with that!

Our Pastor mentioned this scripture in his sermon…

“Proverbs 28:13, “He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

and… the 1st thing I thought was “I should just blog this… ” – that way everyone knows my struggle. So that those in my life who are close to me, can call me and ask “soooo did you have time alone today?” – its so easy to call up a friend and talk about everything but the Lord.. Im guilty of that…

Where is my focus?

I have realized I spend way to much time messing with my blog.
Browsing Pinterest, eeeee so guilty!
On occasion checking out the latest on facebook, why? I mean really? Does it have to be checked 3 times a day? do I check my heart that often?

Don’t worry.. this time was set apart, after my time with the Lord.

While blogging is an income for our family…
and something I truly do enjoy…
It should not replace my time with the Lord, by blogging and what not.

Balance…

Priorities…

I really am starting to see where this is a stronghold of mine.

Here are some steps our Pastor gave to help with working through strongholds:

1. Convicted that the stronghold is sin and you cannot defeat it in your strength (flesh).

1 Thess 1:9, “how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.”

(not from idols to God)

2. Confess to God and others.
Note: 1 John 1:9 and James 5:16

Isolation promotes bondage, but true spiritual community promotes freedom.

Proverbs 18:1-2
“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment.
A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart.”

3. Receive the gift of Godly sorrow (repentance).
Humbly invite the Lord to allow us to see our stronghold through His eyes, promoting the gift of
Godly sorrow that leads to a true repentance;
NOTE: II Cor 7:10.

4. Move from the fruit to the root.

Share with a trusted friend, allowing the roots of the pain to be exposed.

5. Receive God’s comfort.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able
to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are
comforted by God.”

6. Take your thoughts captive.

Examine your thoughts by holding them up to the truth of God’s Word. (II Cor 10:5).

7. Replace the lies with God’s truth.

Reject lies, receive truth, replace lies.

8. Cultivate a lifestyle of intimacy with God and with others in His family.

I realize that there are some seriously hard strongholds out there…. Mine seems so small when I compare it to what others may be struggling with… There are families whos husbands are addicted to pornography, hiding it from their wives… There are wives having affairs with men at the work place, online, or who knows where… justifying it as long as it doesnt go to far. These types of strongholds I cannot even imagine having to share with anyone… but scripture is so clear about making it known.. and while I DO NOT think you should blog that type of stuff… I think that is a type of situation that should only be shared with a trusted friend… of Pastor/counselor….

I guess the purpose of this blog post, that is becoming hard to write. With the crazy cartoon noises in the background.. my mind wandering… and my fear of writing something inappropriate or fears of people reading it wrong…

I think I just want to share my struggle.
It may not seem like much… but it is very real.
Add to those things self doubt, insecurities, and a bucket load of crap that weighs heavy on me, due to the lies of this world… and my flesh…

I know whatever the stronghold, we are all sinners… who need a Savior.
I in myself am not enough.

I will never defeat any of this without Christ.

I will end… with what I started…

- Ann Voskamp

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Dealing

Written on 10/10/2011 by Dreawood in COR, Owen, scripture, struggles

Today we dealt with a sick little baby, again.

We know the reason Owen has been battling so many colds, is due to the large amount of children he comes in contact with at our church. This church is 10x the size of our former church, so you can imagine the exposure of germs being up there. I could let it bother me, thinking about people bringing their sick kids to church, but I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, in hopes they just didn’t know their kids were sick… which I sure can happen. Or should I say, didn’t know their kids were contagious…

Either way, Owens been miserable today :(

He stayed at about 100.5 temp all day, so not to bad – but he was really stuffy. I don’t think he ate anything really, except for a bite or two of an apple, piece or two of a brownie (yes he even turned down sweets!), and a spoonful of yogurt. He basically lived off the bottle today. Which is fine.

It has been a long, yet productive day. I think? :)

Now that the kids are in bed, I really just want to lay in bed & watch Flash Point with Travis. Great show btw :)

Tomorrow Travis will be gone all day… for an interview.
Might mean a possible job??? We can only hope.
Our severance runs out the end of this month.

That in itself brings some emotion.

For some reason this weekend I was missing our home. Again. But in a different way.

I miss our big yard… while there, I hated the openness of it, here I miss it. Funny how that works. I miss my laundry line, our sweet neighbor Mrs. Madeline who our boys adored, I miss my friends, the small town feel, although I honestly do love being in a larger city… theres just parts of it you miss. I miss just our routine of how things were… but know what is to come is going to be amazing.

I fight feelings these days of bitterness towards those who were so hurtful. Who have NO CLUE. I often times want to defend myself, and make known so much. I have such a tugging in me to stay angry with those who did such wrong towards our family… especially towards my husband… and I would be lying if I told you I was never tempted to write a letter or two expressing my anger… but I know these feelings of hatred and wrath are so far from where Christ wants me!

“For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[b] if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” – 1 John 3:11-16

Does it upset me to think of what has happened?

Absolutely…

Would I have chosen this?

Probably not.

Even though there was so much about our former situation I did not like, I was very content and happy with our lives there… it was so sad to see it taken away.

But I know to be angry…

To hate.

To think evil against those who were supposed brothers and sisters in Christ (although it makes you wonder), is wrong of me.

It is just such evidence of my own sinful nature at work… but thank the Lord for his grace and mercy.

At the end of day… as my kids are tucked safely in bed… and I look around at a beautiful home… despite all of whats happened… it could be so much worse, despite the hardship, the Lord is so good. He is faithful. He is providing our every need. Teaching us so much!! Through the amazing preaching from our Pastor, to the worship (wow, let me tell you, so freeing!!! The music and leadership makes you want to move, its probably the most free Ive ever felt in church), to the ladies bible study I just joined (thanks to this sweet friend), to the amazing neighbor the Lord has provided me with, who I see becoming very close to. A great network of other Pastors and their wives who are struggling as well, but through the groups the Lord provides healing. My continuing friendships in NC, despite the distance… for the ability to focus on our marriage and not the ministering of others, The Lord is doing a great work… and for that I am so humbled.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2

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Do not say.

Written on 09/21/2011 by Dreawood in COR, ministry, pastors wife, scripture, struggles

Let me warn you, this is one of those – thinking post… where I think and write as I go… so it may not make sense… it may be long and drawn out… but none the less, its here – and maybe through some odd form of communication it may help someone relate.

I was looking through my flickr photo stream last night, in attempts to find some images for my new header. Some of you may of noticed that ;-) – while in my flickr, lots of photos came up from our old home… I had moments of joy when I saw the photos, moments of sadness and then moments of anger.

The anger especially came when Id…

1) see a photo of our actual church… or
2) see a photo of our parsonage.

Since getting here I haven’t thought to much about what went on back in NC… I tried from the very beginning to realize the certain people in our church were blind… and honestly could not see the wrong in what they were doing. I am sure if they are reading this they would think WE were the blind ones… and they were right.

Our truth… and our guide does not come from what WE think thankfully, but from the Lord. We know our motives… we know what our hearts desire there was… and so much of what has gone on just reveals where they were.

Which makes me grieve and bite my tongue all at once.

Hearing some of the stories here in COR from other Pastors wrongly terminated… is heart breaking. To see church after church kick their Pastor and families out… because of the most petty, godless reasons. One family that just got here has 7 kids!! and an 8th on the way… and they are now in the same situation as us.

It really is no wonder that so many outside the church, detest and hate the thought of stepping foot into one. What a horrible witness churches are becoming when they do this to their Pastors…

Yet lies are created to cover tracks and make the Pastors and their families seem as enemies.

There have been moments where I wanted nothing more than to see the church we left to die. The Lord is working on me with these thoughts. There may be some bad apples (although only through Grace we are free from that sourness – see told you, off the top of my head, makes no sense)… however there are also some amazing sweet and dear members there that we miss greatly! There is a work that needs to be done in that town. It really is a mission field. Corrupted by tradition and false doctrine. Taking the good and leaving what they detest. Truth, discipline… conviction, God’s judgement and Godly correction.

You ruffle a feather… you are the judge. Not God, in so many eyes.

God is our Judge.
His Word is our guide.

I wish more could see that.

Although I struggle now with the thought of ever stepping foot into another traditional baptist church… I know that wherever God calls us, we will go. I am just so thankful for the direction of those here in COR… for the time the Lord is allowing us to have to figure things out, work on our marriage and be poured into by Godly Christian men and women.

This may not of been OUR CHOICE.

But we know without a doubt, THIS WAS GODS PLAN.

I love this song… and find myself clinging to the words daily.

Words: Kristyn Getty
Traditional Melody arranged Rob Mathes

What grace is mine that He who dwells in endless light
Called through the night to find my distant soul
And from his scars poured mercy that would plead for me
That I might live and in his name be known

So I will go wherever He is calling me
I lose my life to find my life in Him
I give my all to gain the hope that never dies
I bow my heart, take up my cross and follow Him

What grace is mine to know His breath alive in me
Beneath his wings my wakened soul may soar
All fear can flee for death’s dark night is overcome
My Saviour lives and reigns forevermore

So I will go…

I do not deserve God’s grace… none of us do…
But I am so thankful for it!

…despite the ugliness that was forced on our family… and the hardship of adjustment… and ripping our kids from their only known home… We know this is just a step the Lord had for us. To show us grace.. and mercy.

Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you. – Psalm 20:22

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Value of Pain

Written on 09/13/2011 by Dreawood in COR, scripture, struggles

You know…

One thing I am learning throughout this process here.

Is that no matter who the person…

What their story is…

How old they are.

Who they are.

How many kids they have…

Or how badly screwed up their life may be.

The value of pain should never be measured on the circumstance of individuals apart.

I’m not sure if that makes sense.

But have you ever had moments in your life, where you would think…

“That doesn’t compare to what I’ve gone through…”

Or “I can’t imagine going through that.”

I think most of us have.

We each live different lives.

And we each face trials… hurt… disappointment… and so on.

But the value of that pain is no less than anothers.

I am finding such truth in that.

It hurts, no matter what a person has been through.

This morning in group one of the ladies shared this piece of scripture with us…

1 When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,[a]
it was like a dream!
2 We were filled with laughter,
and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
“What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
What joy!

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
as streams renew the desert.
5 Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
6 They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Psalm 126

I loved how she put her thoughts into words.

Throughout her trails…
The river raft ride, as she put it :)

…she is now beginning to dream again…

It took tears…

weeping, walls… and time.

and I am sure more will come, throughout life.

But through the Lord there is joy & healing, no matter the circumstance.

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