Monday December 5

Our world had been shaken.  Our confidence was shattered. Our trust had been severely wounded.  We had more questions than there were answers.   All we did know was that nothing was like we thought it should be.  Everything looked like it had fallen apart.  Our heroes had proven they were not infallible.  

We were hurt, wounded - and worst of all, questioning our own callings.  If our heroes had not been infallible, then how could we succeed, how could we ever hope to attain any level of success?  If this is what being in the ministry was all about, then who wanted any part of it?

We continued to go through the motions, what what we had always done: singing in most every service, teaching our Sunday School classes.  We were hemorrhaging spiritually, mentally, emotionally -- but thank God, we were there.

That particular night we sat in a Church Business Meeting filled with hurting, wounded people.  And yes, there is truth in the statement that hurting people hurt people.  The room was tense.  Too many painful words had been exchanged.  Trust was pretty much non-existent.  I told Tammy that as soon as the meeting was dismissed I was going to slip across the platform and out the back door and as quickly as we could, get out of there.

It almost happened.  The door on the back of the platform was open, my foot was already through the door when I heard someone call my name.  I turned to find the Bishop, T.F. Tenney walking toward me.  He had left the crowd of people gathered around the front to speak to him - to catch me before I slipped out the door.  Honestly, I really didn't even know that he knew my name.

There on the platform -- with me just wanting to leave -- and with a large group wanting to speak to him -- the Bishop embraced me.  In true "Papa George Glass" fashion -- he took the time to began to speak words of healing into my gaping bleeding emotional, mental and spiritual wounds.

Tomorrow, December 6, is the Bishop's 78th birthday.   There are no words to express the tremendous impact that TF and Thetus Tenney have had upon Tammy and me - and our girls.  It is not an understatement to say that we would not be in the ministry if it had not been for their believing in us and being used of God to minister healing to us.   

Today, Father I thank You for the influence of Bishop & Sis. Tenney.  I thank You for using them that night so many years ago to embrace us and to speak healing words to us.  Today, Father, I am again overwhelmed at how much You have always and continue to care about us.  I thank You that the reason we can "cast our cares upon You" is because of how greatly You care for us.