Doug and Lisa Barber Text Box:  October-November 2020

 

Keep our focus on God, Eyes set toward Eternity, to be Kingdom minded through the mind of Christ.

 

 

“Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand... Jeremiah 18:6

 

Hello Everyone,

 

 I love autumn and all that it brings. The months of October and November are my favorites because they bring with them vibrant & beautiful colors, a crispness to the air and a newness to my senses, physical and spiritual. My very being comes alive with a fresh longing for time spent alone with God. It is in the fall of the year God supernaturally lengthens my days and slows my pace just for me. He prepares my heart to spend time with Him and it is He alone who renews me from the inside out. As He recharges me I get caught up on my reading. It is during this time of the year that I feel that I am completely and totally in “The Potter’s hand”.

 

I have just finished reading a true story of someone that I have had the privilege to meet briefly. The name of the book is Angel in Aisle 3 by Pastor Kevin West. In the book his friend was explaining to him “anytime we try to prove ourselves to others, we make others our potter, and we become the clay in their hands.” He went on to say “When people worry about the thoughts of others, they’re revering man and not the Lord. This is why people suffer with fear.”  I have never before seen this man’s perspective on this verse until I read his words. In an instant my mind began to think in hyper-mode about how what he said describes exactly where we are in the world we live in today! Think about this for a minute: Who is our potter?  Is it our boss, family, friends, illness, or money? Could it be our politicians, rioters and the evil we are exposed to on a daily basis? At any given time the potter could be any of these. The point is this:  Who and what we fear is where we place our clay and that is who becomes our potter.

 

I have been thinking, for a long while now, about where we are in this season of the Corona-virus, an election year, and how they are tied together.  The enemy is operating like he always does. When this first started it touched no one we knew and after the initial “fear” and lockdown things began to get back to something we resemble. Then this thing – this virus, started touching acquaintances and people we “knew of” but definitely at a distance. Now it is touching friends and family. You see the Modus Operandi (MO) of the enemy has not changed. It starts from the outside and when it cannot get our attention it moves in and applies a little more pressure and when that wears off, then it moves in closer – to a more personal proximity. When that doesn’t work it goes for the nucleus. In today’s season of unrest, this can be the nucleus of families and, in my opinion, the nucleus of the Church. How does the enemy do this?  It happens covertly through a spirit of fear.  How are this virus and the election connected? Through a spirit of fear! Now the debate for mail in ballots has begun because people are “afraid” to stand to close waiting their turn to vote because they don’t want to get sick. Fear!

 

There is a reason why scripture mentions “do not fear” and/or “do not be afraid” 365 times. The spirit of fear tears down the human immune system through the emotions of worry, anguish, angst, anxiety, negativity, criticalness and anxiousness. Emotions like these actually alter the human brain and become an open door for the enemy to weaken our immune systems and therefore make us vulnerable to sickness and disease. That is why it is very important for us to be aware of what we are thinking about. Take every thought captive and making it obedient to the Word of God: His promises for our lives. In doing so, that in turn heals our brain and restores our soul.  I say all of this to remind us not to become distracted by worldly things and allow your eyes to be taken off The Potter who holds us and is molding us from glory to glory  to be more like Him.

 

During this election year do not place your clay in the potter’s hand of fear. Step back for a moment. Take a look from a heaven to earth perspective: We are still seated in heavenly places. We are still God’s children. He does not change and our position in Him has not changed. His promises of protection are still true and He knows the end from the very beginning. Breathe a minute and remember whose hands you belong to. Get your eyes off of the world and its distractors and back on the one who has us in the palm of His hands.

 

 I want to encourage everyone who reads this letter to stay on The Potter’s Wheel and allow ourselves, during the election and the upcoming holiday season, to rest in Him. May His Peace and Comfort be upon you all.

 

  
    

 

  


Love and Blessings,

Pastors Doug & Lisa Barber

 

 

Partners and Prayer Warriors we want to extend our thankfulness to all of you. Your faithfulness is very humbling and we cannot and would not want to be on this Spirit-filled journey without you. We pray for you and yours and would love to hear what God is doing in each of your lives. Thank you for your continued support of Loving People Enough Ministries and for believing in us to minister God’s word one person at a time through counseling and everyday life.

We love you,

Doug & Lisa

Text Box:

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6203 76TH St.
Lubbock, Texas 79424
Doug 806-790-4757
Lisa 806-790-4756
doug@lpeministries.org
lisaann@lpeministries.org
 

 

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