I am an OVERCOMER...

Comment

Comment by Author Patricia Yarbrough on June 15, 2009 at 2:19pm

One day a young lady was driving along with her father. They came upon a storm.

The young lady asked her father what should she do, he said "keep driving".

Cars began to pull over to the side, the storm was getting worse.

What should I do the young lady asked, "keep driving" her father replied.

On up a few feet she noticed eighteen wheelers was pulling over also.

She told her dad, I must pull over I can barely see ahead.

It is terrible out here everyone is pulling over.

Her father told her not to give up just keep driving.

Now the storm was terrible but she never stopped driving and soon she could see a little clearer.

After a couple of miles she was on dry land and the sun was out.

Her father said now pull over and get out.

She said "but why now?"

He said "get out look back, at all the people that gave up and is still in the storm".

You never gave up and now your storm is over.

I thought this was a testimony for anyone of you that is going through something.

Just because everyone else, even the ones that appear to be the largest and strongest gives up.

You don't have to, because if you keep going, on up ahead your storm will soon be over and the sun will
shine upon your face again.

I hope this touched someone because it did me.

Pass it on to someone who you know is going through or all of your online friends.

Tell them to never give up, because GOD will never give up on them.

He has the last say so.

Comment by Tyora Moody, WelcomeSistah on March 10, 2009 at 9:23pm

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Struggling to recover from a broken marriage and disappointed dreams, Paulette Harper groped for meaning and understanding. She ultimately turned to God and found the answers she longed for – learning her real purpose through all the pain. Her mission now is to teach others how to deal with disappointment and shattered dreams.

By sharing her struggles with transparency, through her new book, That Was Then, This Is Now, This Broken Vessel Restored (Tate Publishing, May 2008, $11.99), Harper illustrates how restoration can come from revelation.

“I want to share the message of triumph over tragedy. I believe that if a person is mentored, taught and trained – their attitude will change and they’ll have success – this book will be a catalyst for change,” said Harper, who is the founder of Broken Vessel Ministry.

About the Author

A native of Pittsburg ,CA , Paulette Harper travels as an inspirational speaker, licensed minister, workshop facilitator, and founder of Broken Vessel Ministry. For more information about Paulette and her new release “That Was Then, This Is Now, This Broken Vessel Restored” visit bvministry.org.

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Tywebbin Creations was established in 1999. We offer Web Design, Graphic Design, Virtual Tours and Virtual Assistant services. We are committed to providing quality services without "breaking" our client's budgets.

Tywebbin Creations has coordinated a seven-day blog tour for Paulette Harper. The This Broken Vessel Restored Blog Tour starts Sunday, March 15, 2009 and ends Saturday, March 21, 2009. For details, visit tywebbin.com/blog-tours .

Comment by Author Patricia Yarbrough on February 8, 2009 at 11:35pm

A hug from me to you

Comment by Louisa A Dobbins on January 12, 2009 at 10:50am

I do believe God sends us Overcomers others to shepard. It seems we seldom get tried, but when we do take time out to rest and build up. Feed our spirit with God's word. There is so much work to do to build up the Kingdom of God. I can not think of another reason I have been kept by Him through so many trials and tribulations. I did not understand as a child why my mother was called away to pray for the sick. Now I know she was and Overcomer. Thank God for my role model!

Comment by Jay on January 11, 2009 at 11:59am

Our present church was planted about three years ago. During our first services our pastor preached on our new names from Revelation. At the end of the service he had keyrings in a pot, and invited us to take out our new name. I pulled out 'Overcomer.' That was so meaningful and true.

As I look over my life, I know the Lord has directed me to overcome obstacles that many of friends have lost the battle, either through physical death, or their minds being captives to drugs or imprisoned. When I am at that point, of my back being up against the wall, I often refer to that keyring, pray and know I am through Christ an overcomer.

Oh, the lessons we learn as we go through the trials of this life. I am glad to be a voice that can preach salvation by the Blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony.

Comment by Pastor Natalie A. Francisco, Ed. D. on January 10, 2009 at 11:30pm

One Lady Pastor’s Perspective
by Pastor Natalie A. Francisco, Ed. D.
Co-Pastor/Minister of Music, Calvary Community Church, Hampton, VA.
Founder/Executive Director, Women of Worth & Worship Institute, LLC
Author, Wisdom for Women of Worth & Worship: Lessons for a Life of Virtue, Value & Victory
(Available Online and in Bookstores March 1, 2009)

What are the implications of being a female pastor in the 21st century? To be quite honest, both the best and the worst prevail, all at the same time. Incredible joys juxtaposed by the incredulous jeers of others (who even in this day and time maintain that women are to be silent in the church, thus prohibiting them from preaching or teaching behind the sacred desk), cause both delight and despair in the minds and hearts of some handmaidens of the Lord who only desire to display obedience in heeding the call of God upon their lives. Such is my dilemma as a co-pastor who happens to be a woman.

I have been involved in full-time ministry since I was twelve years old. It was then that I would be blessed with the gift to play the piano by ear as a result of being prayed for and having my hands anointed with oil by my former pastor (who would be my father-in-law years later unbeknownst to me). I loved the Lord with all my heart, and promised Him that if He would bestow upon me that gift, that I would always use it for His glory. I accompanied four choirs, organized a worship team, taught harmony and directed various groups within the music ministry, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, all during my teenage years. Little did I know that God was preparing me to be used greatly at a young age, not only in the music and Christian Education departments, but later as a pastor’s wife (or first lady), co-founder of a Christian school and Bible College, an ordained minister, and the first female pastor in the history of our local church. Those who are “the first” in anything also serve as “the trailblazer” or pioneer who is called to greatness at the expense of great suffering and sacrifice.

Many first ladies and lady pastors in particular have expressed to me how they too have experienced both ends of the spectrum – finding fulfillment in their God-given gift of teaching or preaching but yet being ostracized by those who take Paul’s statement made to a few women who were causing dissension in the city of Corinth as a doctrinal license to silence women of the past, present and future, thereby forbidding them to serve in any spiritual leadership role. The horrendous mistake of taking I Corinthians 14:34 out of context in order to suppress the gifts of women, has caused many to become angry, antagonized, bewildered and bitter, perhaps rightfully and certainly regrettably so. No woman or man for that matter can truly minister effectively with integrity if such heart issues are not yielded to and healed by God.

I have been to several churches where I was only allowed to speak from a podium placed on the floor because women were not allowed in the pulpit. I have also gone to several churches with my husband to support him as the preacher of the hour, and although both of us are ordained and have celebrated (and sometimes lamented over) 23 years of pastoral ministry, he was ushered to the pulpit to sit with other licensed and ordained men while I was escorted to the pew to sit where I (allegedly) belonged – with the women. I cannot say that experiencing such dichotomy in doctrinal and denominational dissonance has not taken its toll upon my mind and heart, for I would be disingenuous in expressing the truth of my journey. I can say, however, that I have learned over the years to sing, teach and preach wherever God allows, and the platform, whether on the floor or in the pulpit has taken a back seat to the Spirit of God that has been poured out upon me as the prophet Joel proclaimed. I no longer focus on the double standards that do indeed exist throughout Christendom, but my eyes are fixed upon God the Father who created me, Jesus Christ who has called, anointed and appointed me (as He did His disciples and the women who followed Him), and the Holy Spirit who has equipped and empowered me to proclaim the good news of the Gospel to a lost and dying world consisting of men, women, boys and girls who need a Savior.

What is it like to be a female minister or pastor in the 21st century? It is both a blessing and a burden at times, but it is truly rewarding as I embody and expect the fulfillment of Joel 2:28-29 and Galatians 3:28-29 in my own life as well as in the lives of others. Hence, I encourage everyone to embrace God’s Word in its entirety and to dismantle discrimination and doctrinal dogmas by celebrating the call of God upon the lives of His servants, irrespective of gender (and that, my brothers and sisters, is a daily choice).