Posted in
General Articles by Gretchen Kiehlbaugh on 8/29/2008
I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO THE MIDDLE!
Not until recently have I understood what that place means in the Kingdom.
I grew up as a middle child with two sisters. My oldest sister has been blessed with an incredible intellect and my younger sister has a heart like Mother Theresa. I always wondered growing up how to find my place between the two. Where did I fit in? Who would notice me? It felt like the world was always after me. Everything was my fault. Why can't you people see how you are treating me?
Satan had begun his attack on my identity!
He knows that if he can keep me from understanding who I am in Christ, he can keep me from experiencing the maturity and freedom which is my inheritance as a CHILD OF GOD! Neil Anderson (Victory Over the Darkness)
I grew up believing his lies. I was not good enough. No one would notice me. I don't have anything to offer. Why do you even try they are just going to reject you.
Here, I am going to give you some walls. Use them to protect yourself, guard your heart from Christ and the world and you will be safe. No one can break them down. After all you are in the middle and no one really notices you anyways so just stay put.
I have lived in this prison too damn long! I have allowed the devil to control my identity for far to long. I have stolen the key and I AM GETTING OUT!!!!!
Honestly I did not know what to expect coming on this trip. I know I expected to see God move but not within the depths of my OWN prison.
God is there to give you what you need, but you have to be ready for what you might get.
What I have received is hard to even put into words.
As this year has passed the Father has begun to break pieces of who I WAS off and plant seeds in the worst parts of who I am.
"If my life is broken when given to Jesus, it is because pieces will feed a multitude, while a loaf will satisfy only a little lad." (Passion and Purity)
The seeds have begun to show life and the pieces are re-shaping themselves into a new identity in Christ. This girl is learning she is a daughter to the KING, a princess in the Kingdom! I AM ROYALTY!
My calling into the middle has been a painful process but I am learning that is has SIGNIFICANCE. Never before was I in a place to understand or to accept the calling.
I Am ready PAPA!
I was sitting at dinner last week talking with a very wise woman about the struggles I have been going through lately and how the Lord is teaching me through them. But I was still pretty confused about this ability I have to always end up in the middle of things. I mean even really silly things, like sitting in the middle of the table at dinner between everyone. I described to her about my past and growing up and even on this trip how I have managed to find myself between two of my most favorite people, Kim and Patrice.
I was ready for some wisdom on the subject and someone else's perspective.
What she shared with me CLICKED, it finally made sense! I am in a place now, outside of the prison where I can receive it. I am called into the middle to bind the sides together and make one. You see, my sisters in Christ Kim and Patrice are incredibly gifted Women of God. Patrice could get a herd of elephants to follow her and Kim has been gifted with incredible depths of wisdom. The Lord has placed me between these two amazing women as they lead and teach the flock to bind the sides together and love on his children.
I am a Shepherd called to the middle to LOVE, to PROTECT, to ENCOURAGE,
and to have MERCY on his children.
p.s. As I was writing this I felt the Lord speak to me about encouraging all those other souls out there that feel like they have been called to the middle. We are not stuck there!
Be an encouragement Gretchen to all those other souls I have called to the middle. You are beginning to understand the importance of this place in my Kingdom. You are needed to help bring it all together. To LOVE on those who you know need love, to have MERCY on those who don't deserve it. Love on my children. You didn't see this as a child/teenager because you were not ready to Listen. Now, you have the key and I am helping you open the door. THE KINGDOM IS WAITING!
