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| Carl, Jennie & Jonathan Heberg May 2010 |
This has been resonating in my heart of late. As you continue on to verses 34-35 we see one particular man, who had been reading the Scriptures and really didn't understand their meaning. Amazingly, Philip came up just at the time he needed direction and explanation. When Philip asked him if he knew what the writing meant, his response amazes me, 'how can I know if someone doesn't explain it to me?' Philip then had an opportunity to lead him through 'what we in our society call' the plan of salvation and upon coming upon a body of water desired to be baptised.
What a great intro to what God is doing in our lives today. We have lived the theme "Don't Limit God" throughout this year. At the beginning of each year my husband is given a specific theme for the year. This theme runs throughout the messages he preaches, passages he teaches on, and everything that occurs during that year. Our family adopts this as a constant part of our daily lives. At the beginning of this year, 2010, we had no idea how real it would resound in our daily living. As having been a pastoral family in a particular denomination for several years, he felt that God had specifically instructed him to take 'a little time off' in that area. However, that being said, we ARE NOT AT ALL to step out of the ministry He placed in our lives. We walk daily in the reality of walking in ministry He places before us. Having lived in the Henleyfield area for 4 years, going south for us is to Picayune, MS. We sought the Lord and He truly spoke to us to make Picayune, MS our home on this earth. I had told Carl that I'd be willing to go wherever he heard from God we were to go and even Jonathan wrote in his birthday card this year that no matter what we do for the Lord, or where the Lord leads us as a family he would be there for him and would encourage him and pray for him. Jonathan, being a twelve year old and very close to his Dad, really touched his heart. We are in full support of all that God calls Carl to do and we'll be with him and minister side by side with him, be at home when he has open doors to travel or can travel with him. The Lord will do the leading and we'll all do the following.
My husband has been in some sort of jail/prison ministry for over 20 years but within a week from actually relocating to Picayune the Lord opened wide a door for him to weekly lead a Bible study for Federal prisoners, those no one else would go see. For various reasons these prisoners, even if they really want to attend a Bible study, were not willing to attend services out of their block. The door has been opened wide for him to go into their block. It began because 1 (ONE) person was interested in a deeper relationship with the Lord, however since then nearly a dozen men have joined in the study, although as in these type situations, they are not always allowed to continue in this group simply due to the fact that they are relocated in various facilities in the nation.
There are also other areas of ministry Carl continues to walk in, (ie. Nursing/Assisted Living Homes, etc.)
As we've begun to attend church we have been able to plug into various areas of leadership and God is opening many doors for him in ministry as well as opening things for me to walk in also.
So my reason for saying that 'Jesus Is Lord Over Picayune, MS' is that simply He, our Lord and Savior, called us here to Picayune, MS, minister to everyone He places in our lives. We are to work on our own lives, keep ourselves ready always to be Jesus for others, and see just what 'Great and Wonderful things God will do', as Carl always says to end his prayers of benediction and blessings spoken over congregations.
We look for God to begin to open doors for us to minister in local and distant churches, retreat situations, revivals, etc. When God opens a door we will know it, and will see Him walk us through that door. We know that as God has promised He will allow us to only walk through those doors He opens and will close all doors that are not His. What a great encouragement to know our Lord and Savior is so interested in our lives to the extent that He will keep us as we seek His face and direction in all areas of our lives. This is true for everyone who will do so.
I'm probably the greatest advocate and supporter for the call of God on Carl's life and love his teachings as he has a great gift of teaching and administration on his life. A variety of teachings have been developed over the past 21 years since God spoke the call to him. Here is just a small list of topics God has developed in his spirit:
- New Life in Christ (a concise yet expanded explanation and teaching of walking out our faith in Christ, including discipleship)
- The Blessing (the importance of the blessing of the parents/especially the father over the children)
- You Have Not Many Fathers (mentors, fathers in the faith, etc. for men who really are not walking in their proper place because they are not confident in God's leading due to the fact that they don't have a Father view of God as there are no Fathers of the Faith they can pinpoint in their lives)
- Prayer Walking (taking the city/community for Jesus by walking, riding or coming together with others to pray, encourage and minister with a purpose to see Jesus' love permeate their lives)
- and a host of other teachings
In His Love and Service,
Jennie
Eph. 3:20
