Sometimes God Says “No” by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

May 4, 2021 No comments Article

Have you ever prayed fervently for a situation, believing that God could turn it around, but that didn’t happen?

I have been praying for the past few months for a sweet little premature baby, the child of pastors, born at twenty-five weeks and weighing only about twelve ounces. At first, it seemed like an impossibility that she’d survive, but as time went on, I began to believe and pray that the God of the impossible would not only save this child but she would one day share her testimony.

On Wednesday night, at our POP Chat meeting on Zoom, the subject was “Why All Things are Possible with God” and knowing that God can move mountains through us, ten of us prayed for this little girl to live. We believed!

But two days ago our prayers fell to the floor with a thud. The little girl passed away and I subsequently had a faith crisis.

I prayed believing you could do this, LORD. Why did you say no?

Last night during an online prayer vigil for the family of this child, our pastor reminded us that bad things happen to good people. He took us to Job where he said the sin of Job’s friends was forgetting who God is. They thought Job had done something wrong to endure so much trouble even though he was considered “blameless and upright,” a man who “feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). But in the midst of all of his tragedy, Job was the one who never gave up on God. After his life was restored he concluded this about his Maker: “I know you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

So sometimes God says no, and who are we to question Him? While we are still mourning for this young family, we have to trust that this tragic loss is a part of a grand and glorious plan that we don’t understand at this time.

Perhaps you are still angry with God because He didn’t answer your prayer the way you wanted. Today will you let that go and remember your heavenly Father’s eternal attributes? He is a good God who loves deeply. Loss is painful, but we must continue to trust His decisions in the midst of the mourning. Don’t stop praying but understand that sometimes He says “no.”

An Unlikely Trio by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

May 1, 2021 1 comment Article

I am continually reminded that we cannot do this life alone. God created us for community.

Before I could start work on a Doctor of Ministry at the King’s University, I had to complete some graduate course bridgework this year. I looked around and saw students far younger than me and thought, I’ve already done this. I don’t want to interfere with their experience. I will just go to class, complete the required courses and move on.

But what I realized is that God knew I could not do this without the support of friends.

Early on in the first semester, one of my professors asked if any of us students would be willing to pray for him. That’s what I love to do, so I raised my hand. Another classmate, Judith, said she would pray with me for him, so we got together to lift our professor up and that was the forging of a new friendship. She then suggested that another classmate, Alexis, join us so she did.

Technically, I am old enough to be these two women’s mother, but that has not been the type of relationship we three have experienced. We are purely friends with no age gap. We have texted each other words of encouragement. We have prayed for each other, and have studied together. When things got tough toward the end of this semester, they allowed me to vent, and I don’t know if I could have made it without them. Last night we worshipped together, and were in tears when we received prophetic words at a school event. And on Monday, we have a plan for celebrating the end of the semester, complete with lunch and a pedicure.

God knew what I needed, and on the surface, we really look like an unlikely trio, but it’s clear the LORD put the right personalities together.

Who has the LORD provided in your life to help you through whatever you are facing?

We might think we are self-sufficient, but our loving heavenly Father knows we need friends who we can encourage, and who encourage us on the journey. As I move onto the next phase of this school experience, I said to Judith and Alexis, “I hope we’ll be able to keep this friendship alive next year even though we don’t have classes together.” Something tells me we will.

Nothing is Impossible by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

April 24, 2021 No comments Article

“For with God, nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37, NKJV).

What impossible situation has God brought you through?

This Wednesday on our Pearls of Promise POP Chat on Zoom, I will be sharing why “Nothing is impossible with God.” In my preparation I have been reflecting a lot about the “impossible” scenarios in my life. I’m in one now. Can I really finish a doctoral program at my age? But what I found after my last school experience (seminary) is that the LORD does not call you to anything where He does not give you supernatural assistance. 1 Corinthians 4:20 says “For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk, it is living by God’s power” (1 Corinthians 4:20, NLT).

I can think of countless situations where God overrode the “impossible” stamp. What about you?

Going to college. Growing up without a father and a emotionally challenged mom, I had no money for college but a benevolent aunt paid for my first year.

Landing a job as a sportscaster in the 80’s. There weren’t many opportunities for women back then, but the LORD opened up jobs over a nineteen year career.

Marrying the right husband. Growing up gawky with glasses, marriage was a dream of mine that seemed impossible but the LORD provided Jeff, who has supported me in all of my “impossible” dreams.

Saving our second child. Bret was born a month premature, blew a lung as he fought to breathe, but now he’s twenty-four, a strapping 6’5” and owns his own business.

Financial downturns. We have had them, but we are tithers and God always restored us after some spiritual refining.

Writing books. I really thought I’d only produce a few, but after writing, or being a part of ten books and a Bible study, it seems God overrode what appeared impossible to me.

Then there were the near-death experiences over the years: getting hit by a car in middle school, crashing in a helicopter as a television news intern in my early twenties, and then there was the the shot heard round the world after a someone’s golf drive found my head, just above the temple. The doctor said if the ball had connected with my skull two inches lower, it would have been a different story. Impossible to escape? Only the LORD protected me from those mishaps.

So as I close with these thoughts: I hope you are thinking about the impossible scenarios that God has brought you through as well, and that before you take another breath you will thank Him for His save. I also hope you will also consider joining us this Wednesday night on POP Chat at 6:30 p.m. CST. We’ll have a time of discussion where you can share your stories. The details are below.

I’d love for you to sign up for this Wednesday’s POP Chat, the LORD has provided me with a fabulous message about “Why Nothing is Impossible with God.” Join us for a time of Worship, Teaching and Discussion with the entire Pearls of Promise Team. Wednesday, April 28th at 6:30 p.m. CST. Our worship leader this month is Singer/Songwriter Renee Rollins. Here’s the link to join us.
https://share.hsforms.com/15bHBupdrTBugXxD9Y8Q_MQ3jo4z?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=122205188&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_XAKZE84ydwMsi9OKJJGtmb1ihIZzkIWCa2VveSqUjYX9N4orTaG17XhnTll_sRE1uHoI8zq3F7Qa_Oy-s_NXBRR_U4l1acGmvpBLUAkBoYHMFZiWEZN7P2Bp5xmq3jZN1VSm_&utm_content=122205188&utm_source=hs_email

If You Can’t Say Something Nice… by Dr. Lynnette Simm

April 20, 2021 No comments Article

I remember my grandmother, Mary, saying, “If you can say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Why? I would ask myself. They were mean to me. They hurt me. They judged me. They, they, they. I was solely focused on everyone else.

Scripture tells us to first examine ourselves before we judge others. How can we stop the overflowing of hurtful words and painful actions? Proverbs 15:4 says, “Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 16:24 reminds us that “Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Others may hurt you, but you have the power to change that hurt into compassion, for no happy, loving person would want to hurt another. Hurt people hurt. When we are hurt, what can we do to show compassion? Maybe we can send kind words out—in a prayer, in a whisper, or out loud.

Yes, I know this isn’t as easy as it sounds, but it’s worth the effort. Each time an individual takes the time to show kindness where there is hurt, we move toward a better community. And it starts with us.

How to Have a Helping Heart by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

April 17, 2021 1 comment Article

I want to help people.

This basic thought occurred to me yesterday as I joyously agreed to assist a new friend in learning how to create and edit a podcast on Garageband. I immediately thought about the written tutorial I would put together for her, what she would need for this training session and the type of lunch I would provide when she came over to the house.

That’s when I thought about my heart’s desire to help others. We do it through our POP Talk media by advancing powerful ministries and messages that encourage others. We facilitate it through our books, blogs and conferences. Pearls of Promise is all about helping people—in particular women.

In 1 Thessalonians 5, the Apostle Paul said we should “comfort the fainthearted, help the weak and be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14, TLV). Earlier in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, Paul prayed that the Lord would cause the Thessalonians “to increase and overflow in love for one another and for all people…” (TLV)

You might think, That’s easy with the people I like, or who like me, but what about those people who get under my skin, or the ones who I know don’t care for me?

The good news is you do not have to do this in your own power.

Paul goes on to pray for the Thessalonians “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way…” then he says, “Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 28 NLT). He said to greet all brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss. What? Even the ones who I don’t feel like kissing?

To do this, we just have to pray for the God of peace—the Holy Spirit (our helper)—to show us how to help and love those who we might deem “unhelpable“ or “unloveable” and to give us what we need to be a helper, like Him, to the ones where extra grace is needed. We accomplish this in His power, not our own.

So maybe someone is coming to mind. Let God pour His love into and through you, then helping them will become natural. I am currently praying to love a person who I feel does not care for me. I am asking God to give me favor in this situation and to reveal to her my heart—my helping heart.