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I was walking into my house one day, and my wife was reading a
Scripture and suggested I listen to her read it. I'm not sure if every marriage
is like this, but in my house Christine is often the convicting voice
of the Holy Spirit. I was very busy that day as I basically have workaholic
tendencies. Never enough time to do the things that demand attention,
much less the things I would like to do. Finally after some looking
around the house for the thing I couldn't find, I stopped for a minute
and said with a half-interested sigh, "OK, read me the Scripture."
"'He
also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great
waster,' Proverbs 18:9," she cheerfully said.
I stared up at the ceiling and then at the floor for a second and thought,
"Why would she read me this Scripture? Does she think I'm lazy?" I answered
and said, "That's nice. I'll be back later."
The rest of the day was consumed with many things for me to do but I
couldn't get this Scripture out of my mind. When I got done and settled
down, I opened my Greek-Hebrew Study Bible. I started to study this
Scripture. After a bit of time I was taken back with conviction. Let
me show you what I found in these words written so long ago.
WHAT DO THESE WORDS REALLY MEAN?
Slothful means to be slack or idle, which I knew I was not. But then
it went on to say, "to be despondent, or to withdraw, to desert or quit."
That got my attention because I had just been through a bout of pulling
back from places and people I felt wounded or offended by. When I get
rejected, I usually just disappear, if not in the natural then for sure
in the spirit. Many times I've prayed for thicker skin, but the Lord
keeps telling me that "thicker skin means less responsive." Where music
and praise are concerned, being responsive is vital.
The Lord reminded me that "offense" means "stumbling block" or "an occasion
to fall." Jesus was a stumbling block for many (Isaiah 8:14), so if I'm
offended by someone it might just be Jesus (the truth) I'm stumbling
over.
"WHY DO YOU FLEE FROM YOUR
POSITION WHEN CHALLENGED?"
Work -- this is my favorite subject as I feel myself a hard worker. Turns
out that the Proverb writer was not talking about labor. "Work" means
"duty-ship" or "ministry." It can mean the activity of work or the fruit
of your labor. It basically means someone's call. So now Proverbs 18:9
starts with, "He that quits his call or ministry..." I'm really starting
to sweat some because I was not ready to believe that reacting to rejection
is really quitting a call or a ministry duty.
The Lord reminded me of King David fleeing his call when his son Absalom
made an advance for the throne (see 2 Sam.15:13-29). I've often wondered
why David gave up something he had been anointed to do. He was clearly
a warrior so he wasn't afraid. Possibly he was afraid of confrontation,
but there are many Scriptures showing him confronting and challenging
his men. I asked the Lord, and He answered with a question: "Why do you
flee from your position when challenged?"
There is only one answer to
a question the Lord asks and that is the truth. The truth is I flee
because I never believed in my heart I was competent enough to do the
job. David felt the same as do many truly called people in ministry.
So this is the obvious answer: God does not call people to a place or
position because they are competent or capable, but because He wills
it. If He has called me, then He will equip me (Hebrews13:20-21). I continued
to study this very short verse.
DON'T GIVE UP
The "great waster" seemed like an interesting thing to say so I looked
it up. It means to destroy or to ruin by pulling down. It goes on to
say this pulling down can kill others and eventually pull down an entire
community. The word "wicked" popped up in there too. Now this simple
Scripture could be paraphrased as, "He that quits his call is brother
to one who pulls down others to the extent of destroying an entire community."
All my rejection issues started passing before my eyes when I knew I
was brother to one who could destroy a community. If one soldier leaves
his post during war time, the enemy will most assuredly come in that
open door. It doesn't matter if he has a legitimate reason for leaving
or not.
I know I could be spreading a lot of condemnation right now with this,
but if this is happening to you and you feel convicted by what this
is saying, turn around somehow. Get in touch with God and find out what
you are called to and find out if you are running from it. Even if there
are great hindrances in the way of getting right with someone who has
wounded you, don't give up the call on your life. Being accepted or
rejected has nothing to do with the call God has placed on any life.
Since the gifts and callings are without repentance (Romans 11:29),
how then can any of us make a decision to quit based on the rejection
of others?
WILL THE CALLED RESPOND?
Once, while I was with the Lord, I asked Him to give me a prayer to
pray. He said, "Pray that those I've called will respond to Me."
I said,
"I know all kinds of people who want to be in ministry. What do You mean
by this?"
He just repeated the statement.
I personally believe there are many who are in ministry or were in ministry
and have backed way off from the first call on their lives. There are
a host of reasons for quitting, but I trust none of these reasons are
good enough to stop an anointed, called, and released person from doing
everything the Lord has made them to do.
--Don Potter
http://www.donpottermusic.com
info@donpottermusic.com
Copyright © Don Potter Music 2002 All Rights Reserved
 |
While I Wait
(Instrumental CD)
By Don Potter
$15.00 Instrumental Music CD |
 "I
have to admit to you all (my secret) that Don Potter is probably
my favorite musician...or should I call him a 'prophetic minstrel'?
With prophetic clarity and allegorical poetry, Don Potter brings
the Word of God to life in a musical way and in a spiritual way
like none other I've heard. Often in parable form, sometimes in
instrumental-only form.
"In this new release, in instrumental form, is where you will get
a mix of mellow and blue-grass-type music, to something that sounds
like you're at an Irish festival.
"I go to bed at night and often place a (my other secret) $300 noise-canceling
BOSE speakerphone set over my ears and fall to sleep in a 'spiritual
place' listening to Don Potter music. I eagerly await it, each time
Don is about to release his next CD. This one will not disappoint
you, I promise you that!
"Some may be interested to know that Don Potter was the one who
originally produced 'The Judd's' - the mother-daughter duo who became
famous worldwide. A highly gifted musician placed 'in high places'
by God for such a time as this, Don Potter continues to inspire
others with his new releases. I hope you'll get this new CD." - Steve
Shultz, THE ELIJAH LIST
Listen to Samples!
Close to Home
mp3
wma
rm
While I Wait
mp3
wma
rmFeel free to
order
online OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=1317
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Facing the Wall
By Don Potter
$15.00 Music CD |
 "I've
spent many years trying to entertain people and later lead them
into the praise of the Lord Jesus. In the middle of leading praise
one day, I believe I heard the Lord say, 'Go home and play until
you discern My presence.' I did this by facing the wall and playing
the guitar. At first, I could only play a few minutes before the
desire to entertain crept back in. After a year, I could play for
hours and never realize it happened. The pleasure of the Lord was
better than any reward I had ever received. The music you will hear
is the result of facing the wall." - Don Potter
Listen to Samples!
String Dance
mp3
wma
rm
Facing the Wall
mp3
wma
rmFeel free to
order
online OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=660
|
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Facing the Wall
A Book for Praise Leaders and
those who Love to Worship
By Don Potter
$12.00 Book |
A Book for Praise Leaders and
those who Love to Worship
"This
book is a collection of studies and stories on praise and
reactions to leading it, accumulated over the past twenty years.
Finding salvation later in life and spending many years in the
mainstream music business has allowed me to see from a different
perspective than someone with a longer church background. The
similarities of the church and the world concerning music are
looked at in this little book. The direction praise is starting
to take, and the concern for our young people and the music they
embrace is addressed as well.
"This book explores what the prophetic and praise can accomplish
when in unity, and how praise and intercession are inseparable.
"Praise is a difficult subject to define or understand why it is
necessary. I'm hoping not to over-complicate, nor understate
such a spontaneous act. One would sooner define their feelings
when falling in love." - Don Potter
Feel free to
order
online OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=438 |
To donate by regular
mail, use this address:
Elijah List Ministries
(Now a Non-Profit Ministry)
528 Ellsworth St SW
Albany, OR 97321
or call: 1-8.6.6-881-0477
or 1-541-917-0484
If you donate $15 or more to Elijah
List Ministries, we will send you our current tape of the Month NO_CHARGE,
as a token of our appreciation. Any amount over $15 will be
tax deductible.
Permission is granted (and
you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form,
as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on
your own websites. We ask only that you keep Elijah List website, email
contact info, and author contact information intact.
Thank you and blessings,
Steve Shultz, Publisher, The Elijah List
http://www.elijahlist.com
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While
I Wait
Since
the Fall
Facing
the Wall
Facing
the Wall
