Well normally I (Cayman) have the stories to share about where I've been and what I've experienced in my bearabouts but today I just want to share with you a different kind of experience. One that I pray will beary much so bring encouragement your way! Hum was I part poet there? I know it, cause I am a bear! Lather, rinse, repeat...........yup ain't I beary sweet!
Anyway the story I'd like to share is a copy and paste of a post momma Bair Sandra shared just a few weeks ago. It's the story of the last 17 years that she's served Him. To I beary much so feel it's fair that you are entitled to hear the background story of who I am hanging out with!
She writes:
"Wow it’s been 17 years since I felt God calling me to serve Him in ministry! I can’t begin to express or even explain how the last 17 years of my life have meant to me. To be serving God in whatever capacity that He has given me has been incredible. There have been a lot of ups and there has been a lot of downs, but I know in it ALL God and God alone has carried me through. I could not have made it this far unless He carried me through it ALL.
I remember the day it was laid on my heart like it was yesterday. There were some things going on that my friend called me up to address me with at her church. She said it was amazing people were coming in and out and shouting at each other and even though the outside sign said, “No God, No Peace, Know God, Know Peace” she said she felt like none of them really knew Him. I told her the calling that was laid on my heart and of some of the confirmations that had found me since I started praying to God about what to do. I let her know than at that time that God wants us to be in peace with each other and that we are all in this together (Galatians 3:28) and that we are to be ONE in Him with no divisions. He wants us to follow His Great Commission found in Acts 1:8 and we are to be His church of FOLLOWERS and not just fans! After all anyone can wave a fan and show support from the sidelines! He gave me the name of New Hope Christian Ministries as a reminder that we had a NEW HOPE in Him and that meant that we needed to remind people we are in this ALL TOGETHER! There’s not to be any separation in the BODY of Christ we are ALL part of the body and it ALL needs to work together! He gave me Philippians 4 and reminded me that we are supposed to pour everything into Him and let His PEACE surround us! That we can be content in ALL circumstances!
I registered for college that week at John Wesley College for a Bachelor’s Degree in Ministry and Christian Counseling. I stayed there and endured some hardships that eventually turned around to glorify God and God alone. I left when I felt Him say you need to be out there with my people, they are not all going to come to you! Acts 1:8
I left there and started preaching and teaching on Sundays at a flea market until many said we need a building. I listened to them instead of God and learned a few months later a crash course in humility that I will never forget! It turned out to be beneficial to God’s kingdom for my wrong decision at the time in many, many ways! Seems like God is still working just like He did for Joseph all those years ago.
Time passed and I over the years I have done many many things for Christ. Including starting a petition to get prayer back in school that went into 26 different states. My home even got shot into because of it and many other crazy things happened! Can you tell each of these things is indeed a story in itself? I can tell you that in all of it there was a BUT God moment! If not BUT for God things would turn out so differently!
Years later I find myself finally earning my Certificate in Christian Ministries and being a member of the American Association of Christian Counseling. I am till pursing the degree and the first part of it took me 16 years to get, but by God’s grace I achieved it! I am a minister to God’s gospel and with Him left the “world” as we know it a little over 3 months ago to really start doing more and more of what He led me to do 17 years ago. Sometimes I wonder if I have lost time in this process but than I remember it took each and every step to get me to where I am today and I love where I am today! I am on a mission from God to share His words to those who may not hear it any other way!
Many years ago someone told me I couldn’t change the world doing God’s work! I told them they were wrong, of course I could! I just want to say right here and right now that I am glad I didn’t listen to them and I am glad that I have followed God’s calling on my life! Yes to I have to admit they are semi sorta right, I can’t change the world but by doing God’s work that He has me to do God can change the world by using me as His vessel!
By the way Facebook it’s a global thing and so are some of my other projects! Yes indeed so I am being seen all over the world as God’s vessel and I love every minute of it! I just wanted to say that I am glad that I have been obedient over the years! There have been many causes for delays and many reasons to stop but why would I want to give up the world God has given me whenever I can share what He is doing and will do through using me to honor and glorify Him.
I am blessed and proud to be His child!
I will keep on keeping on and I will keep on holding on to Him! He is faithful, He is my rock and He will never disappoint me!"
God bless each of you!
Sandra Bair & Cayman too!
Here I am! It's me, Cayman, THE Bear Witness, Buddy Bair and the momma Bair Sandra. Normally she stays behind the eyes of the camera! :)