Partners Assisting the Lords Servants

Mountain Woman
Jean Beachum

The other morning as I was traveling across the mountain (everywhere you go in West Virginia there's a mountain, I observed an interesting phenomenon. The sky was gray with large dark storm clouds looming. Then it appeared, one lone fay of light seemingly stretching from the heavens to the ground. As we all watched, the storm clouds kept trying t0 close in on the light, but try as they might. They failed. Gradually color by color, a beautiful rainbow appeared. Each color became bright and clear as the storm clouds moved away. My heart jumped for joy. I began to praise God for the beauty of His creation and the promises He has given us. Psalm 96:1, "0 sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth" (KJV), came to mind. My heart just wanted to sing praises.

Later in the day. I began to apply the moming's events In my family's life this past summer. There are many struggles in a Christian's life. For a bivocational minister and his family, struggles sometime seem to magnify. Not only do we deal with the day to day activities of family and secu1ar work. We also must minister to those individuals of our church.

Vernon and I have had an especially frustrating summer. We completed a two year interim position. However, we had not heard from God where we were to serve. Vernon did pulpit supply during the summer while we sought God's direction for our ministry.

During this time our Associational Council decided to go through EXPERIENClNG GOD by Dr. Henry Blackaby, to see where God wanted the association to be. One of the most important lessons I learned was not to just do busywork, but to stand and wait. Stand and wait on God was like the ray of light in the clouds. Christians have always been taught to keep busy. Yet, God just wanted us to stop and waiit on Him. Sometimes we need to rest and prepare for God's next assignment. This is especially hard for bivocationals since we are geared to doing "double duty," serving whenever and wherever needed.

As I sit writing this. Vernon and I have been praying about some possibilities to join God where He is at work. And yes, they are God-sized and can only be accomplished through willing vessels. What seemed to be a frutrating summer has turned into an exciting time in our lives as we see God working. In closing, I remember back t0 the sight of that beautiful rainbow. Sure there will be struggles and frustrations, but there is always the promise God is with us and will prevail. ...

-Jean Beachum P.O. Box 1180,Fort Ashby, WV 26719

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