Birthing a Baby by Dr. Lisa Burkhardt Worley

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

I’ve been reading Robert J. Morgan’s book, God Hasn’t Forgotten You: 24 Remarkable Ways God is Working In You and Through You. It’s based on the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth who conceived John the Baptist, at an old age. This book could not come at a better time, as I, along with a newly-formed ministry team, am birthing a new church called Messiah’s Hope Congregation.

Led by Dr. Greg Stone, formerly of Gateway Church, Messiah’s Hope will have a “Jewish” feel with liturgy and Parsha readings, but it will also look like a church service with worship, a message, prayer, and communion. So I would not be resistant, for the past year, the LORD has been showing me through dreams and prophetic words that this was coming. He is good like that and prepares us for the next calling.

So why this in the last quarter of my life? Isn’t it time to scale back? To wind down? Someone once told me that we don’t retire, we re-tire. We put on a new tire—a new job, a new ministry or a new volunteer position. We don’t age out when serving God.

When we are fully surrendered to the LORD, instead of questioning, we must go with the flow. In Isaiah 55:8-9, the WORD says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We are never too old to birth a new baby! God loves to lead us into new territory, the impossible, and to the realization of dreams. That way, He receives the glory, and we are just the conduits He uses. As the newly appointed Executive Pastor of Messiah’s Hope, I have had many prophetic words spoken over me since we began this process about a week ago. However, this is the passage that might inspire you as you feel the LORD leading you into a new place: See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:19, NIV).

For those of you worried about Pearls of Promise, through a dream I was shown that I’m riding in two different vehicles up a hill. That means the LORD is not discontinuing this ministry. He is capable of managing both as He works through me to minister to His people. It’s time to hold the baby!

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Our latest devotional book, Treasure, just won the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) Golden Scroll Award for “Devotional book of the Year!” It was also named the “Best Christian Non-Fiction Book” by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. If you have not purchased Treasure, it is not too late. Lane Jordan Burday and Lisa Burkhardt Worley, along with the POP Team, combined their talents to write the book, which is full of wonderful inspiration. You will be inspired by the messages, and receive daily treasure as God will speak to you through His Holy Spirit. To buy Treasure just click on the Amazon link that takes you directly to the page and check out our new e-book. https://tinyurl.com/2uj9sn5x.