Is That Seat Taken?

By Sharon Chiellini

Is there someone in your life that will always save you a seat? When our Women's Ministry Team attended the Beth Moore conference this past weekend at Idlewild Baptist Church we saw a whole lot of seat saving going on, and our group was no exception. Tracy, Rosalie and I were so relieved when we arrived at the church Friday night and Becky had saved seats for us right up front. We had shuffled into the ginormous sanctuary in a herd of 4800 women all with the same purpose, to be filled with sisterly encouragement from Beth Moore and each other and girl were we filled! We had an amazing time, which of course was amplified by the presence of my sisters who were there to enjoy it with me and cared enough to save me a seat!

     Romans 12:10 (Amplified Bible)
Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.

When we returned on Saturday morning, we neglected to get there early enough to get good seats and as we wandered around the sanctuary, row after row after row of seats were all being "saved" for people that had not yet arrived. Ever notice how annoying it is when people are saving seats and they aren't for you? Further and further back in the sanctuary we went, unable to secure a spot for ourselves. There were ample empty seats but they were all being "saved". Eventually we found ourselves in the balcony. We were so relieved to find seats available we didn't even care that we were in the balcony, we just wanted to be there, amidst the excitement and anticipation, enjoying time together. Tracy, Rosalie and I counted out 10 seats and proceeded to save them. Not allowing anyone else to take them, we made phone calls letting all our soon to be arriving sisters know our exact location. Once every member of our little family had arrived and settled into her saved seat, we were able to enjoy the rest of the conference.

Beth Moore proceeded to continue her teaching on family and the importance of having a Christian family as well as not turning your back on your flesh and blood family. She stressed the point that we NEED family, in fact in her words..."family is not just important, you cannot fulfill your destiny without it, because we cannot mature the way God intends us to, without conflict..." or what she calls "family calamity."

Family calamity. Wow, family conflict is something I have always tried my best to avoid. By process of elimination, I was forced into the role of peace maker in our family and I assure you, with 6 kids and a strong willed Italian husband, that is no small task. When it come to family conflict I have valiantly tried to prevent it, squash it, squelter it, run away from it, diffuse it, hide it and even ignore it. You name it, I've tried it but to no avail, it will repeatedly rear it's ugly head.

Is there any honor in family conflict? Absolutely. In order to have conflict there has to be a sense of betrayal and betrayal cannot be felt unless the heart is involved. When two hearts are connected they have become family. Satan will always attack our heart, our family, because that is where he can do the most damage. Honor comes in not letting him have the victory. Never turn your back on your family. As Beth Moore says "A life sentence for a lack of honor is too much to bear." We should always seek peace and forgiveness.

I hear ya girlfriend, it ain't easy! But after all, your family is worth the effort, they are the ones that will always save you a seat, and knowing that someone wants you beside them...priceless! :o)

Until next time...
Strength and Honor in Christ,

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