"But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." [Rom 8:37]
Paul wrote that we shall overwhelmingly conquer in all these things. What are these things? In verse 35 he gives us a list. Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and the sword.
Tribulation comes with pressure. The word literally means pressing together. I talked to a man at our church this week who told me about the pressure he feels under with his job. He has a performance based job. Everything depends on results. Right now the results are not so clearly evident. He feels the pressing together to perform at a higher level. This is leading him to feel stressed and overwhelmed.
Distress means to be in a narrow place. In our terminology this would refer to someone in a tight spot in life. It also can mean extreme affliction. I know many people living like this. The extremity of their affliction is heart wrenching. You wonder how such people get through each day. No matter how hard they work they can't seem to catch a break.
To be persecuted means to be harassed and troubled for one's faith. Persecution involves mistreatment. How many missionaries are mistreated. How many pastors and youth pastors are harassed by churches who do not appreciate them or want their ministry to continue. How many of their wives suffer silently with nobody to talk to and to share the pain. Living like this can lead to fear and bitterness.
To live in famine means to have scarcity of crops due to the weather. This often puts people in financial crisis. Having lived in west Texas I began to appreciate prayer for rain for the crops. A bad year of famine meant a bad year at harvest. This affects the livelihood of many farmers and that affects the local economies of many towns. Most people know what it is like to have a lack of financial resources. It is not a fun place or way to live.
Nakedness. To me this speaks of extreme poverty. When you are so poor you struggle to even have your basic needs met such as adequate clothing. Fall is setting in here at North Texas. In two weeks we have seen a a thirty degree shift in temperatures. Many people live without adequate clothing to stay warm in the winters. Most of us cannot relate to that but there are some who wear threadbare clothing. They cannot afford anything else.
Peril is to live in danger. There are followers of Christ around the world who live in danger every moment of everyday. They are hated and targeted to be killed and or persecuted. Many of these people will suffer a martyr's death.
The sword refers to living in war or contention. The most extreme cases refer to the battles between warring factions where soldiers are called in to settle disputes. There are also personal conflicts between quarreling people that lead to contention.
Now if you take all of those things together, Paul said through Christ who loved us we overcome. We overwhelmingly conquer. That phrase means we gain surpassing victory. You might not feel you are gaining the victory. Your circumstances may be getting the best of you. Through Jesus we have access to personal victory. Not only that but surpassing victory.
The tendency is to give in to our perils, persecutions, distresses and discouragements. I did this yesterday. I poured out my frustrations in an email to a friend. God used the responding email to help me toward gaining the surpassing victory. Read just part of the email.
This life is hard, no doubt. I, myself, question at times where's the abundant life? But when I am still before Him, He brings to my mind this question, "where's my focus?" On Him or on my struggles, heartaches, sorrows, etc. cause when I focus on those things, (which is easy to do since at times those things out weigh the joys) man can I get discouraged!
Those simple words proved to be an oasis in the desert of my experience. Reading them and thinking through them set me back on the right track. When my focus is on Jesus and not my circumstances I overcome. Like an athlete overcoming the competition I gain surpassing victory not by my will power but by my submission and trust in a Sovereign God.
Like so many things that is easy to write but harder to live. I said yesterday I would learn to cope with disappointment through four things, scripture reading, thanksgiving, lingering in the Lord's presence, and filling my mind with faith lifting thoughts. I have done that today.
I thanked God for the warm water in the shower after my workout. I thanked God for time with Taylor as we lifted weights before school. I thanked God for my breakfast. I thanked God for the solitude I have in this office. I thanked God for life, family, friends and health.
I have lingered in God's presence and meditated on the scripture above. I am filling my mind with positive truth and thoughts that uplift faith.
Yes, my friend is right. Life is hard! Lingering in the Lord's presence I have peace and He helps me overcome whatever comes my way. Persecution, tight spots, financial pressure, poverty, and even danger. None of these things have the power to defeat me if I walk with God and keep my eyes on Him. When I do those things I overcome. I then gain the surpassing victory.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Coping With Disappointment
Today I am a disappointed man. Disappointed on many different levels. Suffice it say I carry a heavy heart. The reasons are not important. I write this wounded in my soul and disappointed. Mainly I direct my disappointment back to God.
Accompanied with my disappointment is fatigue. Bone weary fatigue emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Years of struggle in ministry have taken a toll. Like a battery slowly being drained so do I feel drained. Repeated quiet times help to get recharged for the short haul but I can tell there is something deeper broken in me than a quiet time can fix.
I am disappointed in how my life has turned out. I am extremely blessed with Brenda and the boys. I could not ask for anything else as far as family is concerned. I do wish I had a father to turn to in times like this for advice. One of my great disappointments is I feel I have few people to bear my soul to. I keep a lot of my disappointments pent up inside.
I am a broken man. Disappointment, fatigue, and broken all mixed together can either usher in a great work of God or lead me to despair. I have to cope with life's disappointments. There are many. They do not go away and I cannot run from them. Neither can I bury my head in the sand. I have to deal with them.
How? I will give you four ways I am seeking to cope with life's disappointments and pray God will use them in your life as well.
First, I will sit before the Lord and linger long in His presence. I may not say a word. I will sit and direct my focus toward Him. I will listen longer. I will content myself at His feet. Just being near Him comforts the soul. The circumstances may not change but I will be changed just being with Him.
Second, I will read His word voraciously. I have been devouring the scriptures in recent days reading through Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. His word holds hope for my soul. I will read like George Mueller advised people to read their Bibles. "Now what is food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the word of God; and hear again, not the simple reading of the word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water passes through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering it over applying it to our hearts." I will continually seek to consider what I read, to ponder over it and to apply the truth to my situation.
Third, I will be thankful every day. I will find reasons to thank God for His blessings. I will count them and direct my gratitude back toward God reminding me daily of His faithfulness. [Phil 4:6] Like the old song, "Count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." I will find reason every day to give thanks in private and in public.
Lastly, I will fill my mind with positive faith reinforcing thoughts. I will intentionally put things into mind and heart that strengthen and encourage my faith. I know life's disappointments tear away at faith so I will combat this with a mind filled with scripture and helpful literature. I will seek to dwell on the positive and to accentuate the positive aspects of life while seeking to diminish thoughts on life's disappointments.
In these ways I trust God to help me cope with disappointments. Lingering long in His presence, read scripture, be thankful, and filling my mind with positive faith reinforcing thoughts. In these simple ways I believe I will not only cope with disappointments but also overcome.
Accompanied with my disappointment is fatigue. Bone weary fatigue emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Years of struggle in ministry have taken a toll. Like a battery slowly being drained so do I feel drained. Repeated quiet times help to get recharged for the short haul but I can tell there is something deeper broken in me than a quiet time can fix.
I am disappointed in how my life has turned out. I am extremely blessed with Brenda and the boys. I could not ask for anything else as far as family is concerned. I do wish I had a father to turn to in times like this for advice. One of my great disappointments is I feel I have few people to bear my soul to. I keep a lot of my disappointments pent up inside.
I am a broken man. Disappointment, fatigue, and broken all mixed together can either usher in a great work of God or lead me to despair. I have to cope with life's disappointments. There are many. They do not go away and I cannot run from them. Neither can I bury my head in the sand. I have to deal with them.
How? I will give you four ways I am seeking to cope with life's disappointments and pray God will use them in your life as well.
First, I will sit before the Lord and linger long in His presence. I may not say a word. I will sit and direct my focus toward Him. I will listen longer. I will content myself at His feet. Just being near Him comforts the soul. The circumstances may not change but I will be changed just being with Him.
Second, I will read His word voraciously. I have been devouring the scriptures in recent days reading through Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. His word holds hope for my soul. I will read like George Mueller advised people to read their Bibles. "Now what is food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the word of God; and hear again, not the simple reading of the word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water passes through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering it over applying it to our hearts." I will continually seek to consider what I read, to ponder over it and to apply the truth to my situation.
Third, I will be thankful every day. I will find reasons to thank God for His blessings. I will count them and direct my gratitude back toward God reminding me daily of His faithfulness. [Phil 4:6] Like the old song, "Count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." I will find reason every day to give thanks in private and in public.
Lastly, I will fill my mind with positive faith reinforcing thoughts. I will intentionally put things into mind and heart that strengthen and encourage my faith. I know life's disappointments tear away at faith so I will combat this with a mind filled with scripture and helpful literature. I will seek to dwell on the positive and to accentuate the positive aspects of life while seeking to diminish thoughts on life's disappointments.
In these ways I trust God to help me cope with disappointments. Lingering long in His presence, read scripture, be thankful, and filling my mind with positive faith reinforcing thoughts. In these simple ways I believe I will not only cope with disappointments but also overcome.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Dedicate the Season to God
I stood before close to four dozen students last night with a blazing hot message on my heart. Dedicate the season to God. Things have not gone well around here at the start of this football season. The coaches feel the pressure which means their wives feel the pressure. The athletes feel the pressure, especially the seniors. I woke up with the phrase, "Dedicate the season to God," on my mind.
Using passages from [Jn 3:30] [I Cor 10:31] [Col 3:17] and [Ps 133:1] I shared a message about living and playing for the glory of God as the chief purpose. I witnessed dozens of teenagers fall to their knees in repentance and in an act of surrendering their lives and teams to the Lord. I challenged them to get united in playing for the glory of God alone.
Those students have the influence to change the culture on Tuesday and Friday nights. They were challenged to play for something bigger than themselves. Bigger than school spirit. They were challenged to dedicate their seasons to God and to leave the results up to Him. When God is the big deal nobody is a superstar. They are a team. Everybody has a role and when every member trusts God to strengthen them so they can play to glorify His name great things are bound to happen.
At the end of the altar call the students gathered with their dance teams, junior high and varsity football and volleyball teams and band members to pray a prayer of dedication for the rest of the season and school year. What a beautiful sight. A group of junior high boys broke out after their prayer time with the chant, "Glory to God." That is what life is all about. Bringing more fame to the name of Jesus.
I am not talking about using Jesus as a good luck charm. He is way too wise and powerful to be manipulated that way. I am urging players, dancers, cheer leaders, and parents to think differently. Just as it is not all about your child or mine it is not about your school or mine. It is all about Jesus. I asked Jesus to enlarge the platforms of His followers so they can talk openly of Him. That is what this is all about.
I challenge adults to quit criticizing the coaches and to unite behind them and support of the team. Pray or them. Build them up. Stand united behind them. It is a beautiful thing when a community stands united. I challenge adults to quit focusing on the glory of your children and to challenge each child to play for something greater than themselves. I challenge the whole community to make the remainder of this season be about God getting the credit. With God's help nothing is impossible. I know a group of students who have already bought in. They are united in that purpose.
The culture is changing in Paradise. The changes may be small at this time but big doors swing on little hinges. Already I am hearing reports how popular students are reaching out and accepting students who are not so popular. Students are playing performing for a cause that matters into eternity. Everything is changing. There is not telling how great the remainder of this season and year will be when God gets all the credit.
Using passages from [Jn 3:30] [I Cor 10:31] [Col 3:17] and [Ps 133:1] I shared a message about living and playing for the glory of God as the chief purpose. I witnessed dozens of teenagers fall to their knees in repentance and in an act of surrendering their lives and teams to the Lord. I challenged them to get united in playing for the glory of God alone.
Those students have the influence to change the culture on Tuesday and Friday nights. They were challenged to play for something bigger than themselves. Bigger than school spirit. They were challenged to dedicate their seasons to God and to leave the results up to Him. When God is the big deal nobody is a superstar. They are a team. Everybody has a role and when every member trusts God to strengthen them so they can play to glorify His name great things are bound to happen.
At the end of the altar call the students gathered with their dance teams, junior high and varsity football and volleyball teams and band members to pray a prayer of dedication for the rest of the season and school year. What a beautiful sight. A group of junior high boys broke out after their prayer time with the chant, "Glory to God." That is what life is all about. Bringing more fame to the name of Jesus.
I am not talking about using Jesus as a good luck charm. He is way too wise and powerful to be manipulated that way. I am urging players, dancers, cheer leaders, and parents to think differently. Just as it is not all about your child or mine it is not about your school or mine. It is all about Jesus. I asked Jesus to enlarge the platforms of His followers so they can talk openly of Him. That is what this is all about.
I challenge adults to quit criticizing the coaches and to unite behind them and support of the team. Pray or them. Build them up. Stand united behind them. It is a beautiful thing when a community stands united. I challenge adults to quit focusing on the glory of your children and to challenge each child to play for something greater than themselves. I challenge the whole community to make the remainder of this season be about God getting the credit. With God's help nothing is impossible. I know a group of students who have already bought in. They are united in that purpose.
The culture is changing in Paradise. The changes may be small at this time but big doors swing on little hinges. Already I am hearing reports how popular students are reaching out and accepting students who are not so popular. Students are playing performing for a cause that matters into eternity. Everything is changing. There is not telling how great the remainder of this season and year will be when God gets all the credit.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
For the Glory of Who's Name
We are in full swing of football. All the boys are playing. With the exception of Wednesday nights and Sundays we are practicing or playing games every other day or night.
While working out one of our administrators commented about what a good game one of the boys had. I had already prepared myself if anyone said something like that to me. I replied, "I give God all the credit." As much as I love football it is only a platform for my boys and my family to testify about God's greatness. God gets the glory in the Edwards household.
That is not the case with every player or every family. Many have lost the team concept in a me, my, and mine generation. Far too many parents think their children are superstars. Their child is the next latest, greatest, grandest thing to ever hit the field or the court. Parents want their child to excel so people will pat them on the back and brag on their child. This inflates the egos of many parents.
I contrast this with the attitude John the Baptist had about Himself. Read it for yourself in [John 3:30], "He must increase but I must decrease." It does not get any plainer than that. John wanted to make much out of Jesus while making less out of himself. This should be the attitude of every athlete, parent and follower of Jesus.
Let me give you as parents a reality check. In the state of Texas there are around one hundred seventy thousand high school campuses. Of all of those schools and all the athletes playing football only about 1:17 will go on to play football in the NCAA at any level. That breaks down to a little over 5%. Out of those who do get to play at the college level only 1.8% of them or 1:50 will be drafted to play in the NFL. Most likely your child might be a big fish in a little pond. They will be dwarfed when they get out in the ocean compared to others. In short less than 1% of high school athletes will play football at the professional level in the National Football League.
If you and your child play for your own glory it will not last. If you do not believe me take a stroll through the Finish Line Cafe in Paradise, TX. Look at all the past athletes with pictures on the walls living in their glory days. Many people have forgotten not only their accomplishments but also their names. Records will be broken. Others will outshine current players.
Play for something bigger. Play for the glory of God. [Col 3:17] Live to make much of His name. Play to make much of the name of Jesus. Ask God for a bigger platform so you can testify of God's greatness. He alone deserves the glory and all the fame.
While working out one of our administrators commented about what a good game one of the boys had. I had already prepared myself if anyone said something like that to me. I replied, "I give God all the credit." As much as I love football it is only a platform for my boys and my family to testify about God's greatness. God gets the glory in the Edwards household.
That is not the case with every player or every family. Many have lost the team concept in a me, my, and mine generation. Far too many parents think their children are superstars. Their child is the next latest, greatest, grandest thing to ever hit the field or the court. Parents want their child to excel so people will pat them on the back and brag on their child. This inflates the egos of many parents.
I contrast this with the attitude John the Baptist had about Himself. Read it for yourself in [John 3:30], "He must increase but I must decrease." It does not get any plainer than that. John wanted to make much out of Jesus while making less out of himself. This should be the attitude of every athlete, parent and follower of Jesus.
Let me give you as parents a reality check. In the state of Texas there are around one hundred seventy thousand high school campuses. Of all of those schools and all the athletes playing football only about 1:17 will go on to play football in the NCAA at any level. That breaks down to a little over 5%. Out of those who do get to play at the college level only 1.8% of them or 1:50 will be drafted to play in the NFL. Most likely your child might be a big fish in a little pond. They will be dwarfed when they get out in the ocean compared to others. In short less than 1% of high school athletes will play football at the professional level in the National Football League.
If you and your child play for your own glory it will not last. If you do not believe me take a stroll through the Finish Line Cafe in Paradise, TX. Look at all the past athletes with pictures on the walls living in their glory days. Many people have forgotten not only their accomplishments but also their names. Records will be broken. Others will outshine current players.
Play for something bigger. Play for the glory of God. [Col 3:17] Live to make much of His name. Play to make much of the name of Jesus. Ask God for a bigger platform so you can testify of God's greatness. He alone deserves the glory and all the fame.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Not in Control
This has been an interesting morning. For the first time in days I am not sitting on a mower. I relished the thought of spending some great time with the Lord this morning. I struggled to stay focused as I laboriously read through Leviticus. Each time I come to this book in my daily reading I dread it. All I can say is I thank God we are no longer under the Law but redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and declared righteous. [II Cor 5:21] I did not get a word from the Lord during this reading. I determined to read in another place over breakfast.
I went to the cafe and God met with me at my corner table. While sitting there He convicted me that I am not truly surrendered. Those of you who know me and know our circumstances might argue to the contrary but hear me out first. I have committed my life to following the Lord's leadership. We have taken steps of obedience in faith.
I have not been surrendered in the fact that I have resisted our circumstances. I have prayed, whined, believed, doubted, pressed on, fallen into the pit of despair, and battled in my mind for most of the past year. I have asked God why His leadership has meant great hardship to my family. I have followed but at times very reluctantly.
While reading this morning God convicted me that I have wanted to be in control. He showed me this morning I do not have control over anything. Not Faith Community Church, not Brenda, not Taylor, Tanner, Tucker, or Turner, not my house selling in Seminole, not my living situation in Paradise, not the church finances, nor publishing and selling books. I am not in control of anything. God is though.
[Job 42:1-2] "Then Job answered the Lord and said, 'I know that You can do all things, and no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." God is in control and I am not. God purposed me to leave Seminole. I have asked why hundreds of times. Each trip back there is emotionally painful. I ask God why we had to give up our life, friends, ministry, and home there. I have asked God repeatedly about the Faith Community Church growing (which it is) and about the church finances growing (which they are not.) God has a purpose for all of it and He is in control. Maybe another scripture will shed more light on this subject.
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways." [Rom 11:33] God has a plan and that plan may not make sense to me. Either way I am not in control. If that plan means leading me through hardship all with my kicking and screaming, it is not going to alter God accomplishing His purpose whether I understand or not.
God's reminder to me today is that I am not in control. He is. I am dependent on Him. Faith Community Church depends on Him. We are fast running out of chairs and I do not even the control to go and purchase more chairs because we do not have the extra money. He does though. I can resist God's purpose in the struggles or I can submit. Either way God is going to to have His way. He is in control and not me.
The longer I sat at that cafe table the more conviction I felt. I also had to come to grips with the fact that God's purpose at times are painful and tough challenges. I bowed my head and heart knowing that to fully trust God I had to give up control that I never had to begin with. I had to give up control over my reputation, over my family, over my finances, and over my future. These things are easy to write but much harder to pray and even more difficult to live. To truly surrender control I have to be willing to endure these momentary trials even when they last longer than I would like. I have remain obedient even when I do not understand.
I have no control. I trust my Sovereign God. I do not understand the challenges. God has a purpose in all of it. In order to truly submit I have to embrace the challenges rather than resent them. God is building a testimony in my family's life as well as in the life of Faith Community Church. Each challenge drives us to rely on God more. Isn't that what He wants in the first place. I am grateful for a gentle reminder today that I am not in control and that God will accomplish His purposes in me and around me. I can resist or I can submit.
I went to the cafe and God met with me at my corner table. While sitting there He convicted me that I am not truly surrendered. Those of you who know me and know our circumstances might argue to the contrary but hear me out first. I have committed my life to following the Lord's leadership. We have taken steps of obedience in faith.
I have not been surrendered in the fact that I have resisted our circumstances. I have prayed, whined, believed, doubted, pressed on, fallen into the pit of despair, and battled in my mind for most of the past year. I have asked God why His leadership has meant great hardship to my family. I have followed but at times very reluctantly.
While reading this morning God convicted me that I have wanted to be in control. He showed me this morning I do not have control over anything. Not Faith Community Church, not Brenda, not Taylor, Tanner, Tucker, or Turner, not my house selling in Seminole, not my living situation in Paradise, not the church finances, nor publishing and selling books. I am not in control of anything. God is though.
[Job 42:1-2] "Then Job answered the Lord and said, 'I know that You can do all things, and no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." God is in control and I am not. God purposed me to leave Seminole. I have asked why hundreds of times. Each trip back there is emotionally painful. I ask God why we had to give up our life, friends, ministry, and home there. I have asked God repeatedly about the Faith Community Church growing (which it is) and about the church finances growing (which they are not.) God has a purpose for all of it and He is in control. Maybe another scripture will shed more light on this subject.
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways." [Rom 11:33] God has a plan and that plan may not make sense to me. Either way I am not in control. If that plan means leading me through hardship all with my kicking and screaming, it is not going to alter God accomplishing His purpose whether I understand or not.
God's reminder to me today is that I am not in control. He is. I am dependent on Him. Faith Community Church depends on Him. We are fast running out of chairs and I do not even the control to go and purchase more chairs because we do not have the extra money. He does though. I can resist God's purpose in the struggles or I can submit. Either way God is going to to have His way. He is in control and not me.
The longer I sat at that cafe table the more conviction I felt. I also had to come to grips with the fact that God's purpose at times are painful and tough challenges. I bowed my head and heart knowing that to fully trust God I had to give up control that I never had to begin with. I had to give up control over my reputation, over my family, over my finances, and over my future. These things are easy to write but much harder to pray and even more difficult to live. To truly surrender control I have to be willing to endure these momentary trials even when they last longer than I would like. I have remain obedient even when I do not understand.
I have no control. I trust my Sovereign God. I do not understand the challenges. God has a purpose in all of it. In order to truly submit I have to embrace the challenges rather than resent them. God is building a testimony in my family's life as well as in the life of Faith Community Church. Each challenge drives us to rely on God more. Isn't that what He wants in the first place. I am grateful for a gentle reminder today that I am not in control and that God will accomplish His purposes in me and around me. I can resist or I can submit.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
It Has Been A While
It has been some time since I have served in a bi-vocational position. I have not blogged in a while because I spent a total of one hour in the office last week. The rest of the week I mowed missing my boys' help as they went back to school. The recent rains in Paradise have the grass growing at a rapid rate. This has me out of the office and on the mower.
Many preachers seek to avoid work especially hard manual work. Working helps me to relate to our congregation. Most of people have to work hard to make ends meet. Many know the value of sweat physically and know what an honest day of work feels like. I do not fear sweating and hard labor. I thank God for the opportunity to provide a service and yet I still get to be my own boss.
Every drop of sweat through my shirt, pants, and gloves I see as tangible proof to God that I love Him and am willing to follow Him in the pursuit of planting Faith Community Church no matter how hard the job turns out. I am thankful for equipment God has provided and for the time I enjoyed with the boys this summer working. We are not getting rich. In fact, most of the time I barely made enough to pay for the equipment after paying the boys. I enjoyed watching them learn the value of a dollar. I paid them well and when they had to spend their own money they did not like it. In fact, Tanner put all his money in savings on the last pay day and seldom brings his wallet so he will not be tempted to spend his money.
I miss getting to spend my days totally in prayer, study, writing, along with other pastoral responsibilities. I know as surely as the mowing season will come to an end my time working at two jobs will come to an end. I do not want to be a burden to Faith Community Church or to our other supporters. I will work as God gives me opportunity. I am not a pampered pastor who has to have perks and special favors to serve God. If planting this church requires me to mow for the rest of my life then I will work. The dream is greater than me or whatever price it takes to make the dream come true.
In Seminole I actually wore a tie to the office most times. I enjoyed dressing professionally. Now I wear jeans and boots more than slacks and a dress shirt. I still dress up on Sunday mornings but this is all just a season. I will sweat and labor trusting God to build His church day by day and one yard at a time. That might mean a great deal less time in the office. That in turn will mean much less time to write.
The stats on this site tell me we have three followers. To be honest I do not even know what that means. I know a few people seem interested in what I have to write. There are times when I cannot get into the office to write. I help coach Turner's football team every Monday and Tuesday night. Wednesday nights I minister to adults and teenagers. Thursday nights I watch Tanner or Tucker play football. Taylor plays on Friday nights. I coach on Saturday mornings. This past Wednesday I had exactly one hour before the Bible study to prepare and that proved to be the only hour I had in the office all week until early Sunday morning. God used it though.
Today I have had the joy and blessing of being in the office all day. I have prayed, written, planned events, communicated with ministry leaders, and enjoyed serving as a pastor. Tomorrow I will be back to mowing. Three yards on tap. I still serve the same God. I mow for the glory of God and want to do an excellent job. I write for God and preach for God. It is not about me. I must decrease and He must increase. [Jn 3:30] This is the race He has set before me to run with endurance looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of my faith. [Heb 12:1-2]
I am thankful I had a little time to write. I am thankful I had a little time to sit at this desk and to work on things I pray will matter in eternity. I am not sure when I get to write again but know I take this ministry seriously and will be back at my post as quickly as possible.
Many preachers seek to avoid work especially hard manual work. Working helps me to relate to our congregation. Most of people have to work hard to make ends meet. Many know the value of sweat physically and know what an honest day of work feels like. I do not fear sweating and hard labor. I thank God for the opportunity to provide a service and yet I still get to be my own boss.
Every drop of sweat through my shirt, pants, and gloves I see as tangible proof to God that I love Him and am willing to follow Him in the pursuit of planting Faith Community Church no matter how hard the job turns out. I am thankful for equipment God has provided and for the time I enjoyed with the boys this summer working. We are not getting rich. In fact, most of the time I barely made enough to pay for the equipment after paying the boys. I enjoyed watching them learn the value of a dollar. I paid them well and when they had to spend their own money they did not like it. In fact, Tanner put all his money in savings on the last pay day and seldom brings his wallet so he will not be tempted to spend his money.
I miss getting to spend my days totally in prayer, study, writing, along with other pastoral responsibilities. I know as surely as the mowing season will come to an end my time working at two jobs will come to an end. I do not want to be a burden to Faith Community Church or to our other supporters. I will work as God gives me opportunity. I am not a pampered pastor who has to have perks and special favors to serve God. If planting this church requires me to mow for the rest of my life then I will work. The dream is greater than me or whatever price it takes to make the dream come true.
In Seminole I actually wore a tie to the office most times. I enjoyed dressing professionally. Now I wear jeans and boots more than slacks and a dress shirt. I still dress up on Sunday mornings but this is all just a season. I will sweat and labor trusting God to build His church day by day and one yard at a time. That might mean a great deal less time in the office. That in turn will mean much less time to write.
The stats on this site tell me we have three followers. To be honest I do not even know what that means. I know a few people seem interested in what I have to write. There are times when I cannot get into the office to write. I help coach Turner's football team every Monday and Tuesday night. Wednesday nights I minister to adults and teenagers. Thursday nights I watch Tanner or Tucker play football. Taylor plays on Friday nights. I coach on Saturday mornings. This past Wednesday I had exactly one hour before the Bible study to prepare and that proved to be the only hour I had in the office all week until early Sunday morning. God used it though.
Today I have had the joy and blessing of being in the office all day. I have prayed, written, planned events, communicated with ministry leaders, and enjoyed serving as a pastor. Tomorrow I will be back to mowing. Three yards on tap. I still serve the same God. I mow for the glory of God and want to do an excellent job. I write for God and preach for God. It is not about me. I must decrease and He must increase. [Jn 3:30] This is the race He has set before me to run with endurance looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of my faith. [Heb 12:1-2]
I am thankful I had a little time to write. I am thankful I had a little time to sit at this desk and to work on things I pray will matter in eternity. I am not sure when I get to write again but know I take this ministry seriously and will be back at my post as quickly as possible.
God's Perfect Timing
I am so thankful God knows the needs of people and connects His children to meet those needs. God continually impresses ministry assignments on His people and when He does the timing is perfect. We must learn to act promptly on these leadings.
This became apparent to me this week. All day yesterday I had a family on my heart whom I know is going through a tough time. They buried their seven year old little girl recently. Several times I kept feeling like I needed to text them to let them know I continue to pray as they grieve. I would get busy and forget only for God to remind me again later.
The impression became so strong while walking out into the garage to mow I had to stop. I sat down in a chair and I sent a text to these grieving parents. In the whole realm of life it was not a big deal. A simple text message. I just wanted them to know I care and that though most of the world moves on after someone dies I know they live with a hole in their hearts. All I know to do is to pray.
Today I found out from a mutual friend when I sent that text the parents received it while standing at the grave of their beloved daughter in tears. Just a small token and reminder of God's continual love for them. God's timing is perfect.
I urge you to take those God promptings seriously. You never know what God is doing on the other end. I cannot even tell you the number of times my family has been on the receiving end of blessings all in God's time.
Now, I do not know your need. I assure you God does. I do not know the time crunch you are under but God does. I do not even know how long you have been waiting for Him to come through. You may feel like you cannot stand to endure another day under your current circumstances. God knows. God has perfect timing. He is never late. Read that again slowly. HE IS NEVER LATE. He is always on time.
When you are at your lowest God can show up at the graveside to comfort and give a gentle reminder that He is still there. When your cash flow dries up He can send His vessel of provision to you over lunch or lead someone to give a gift sent through the mail. I have experienced all of the above. He can even lead someone from another place in town to get up from where they are to come be an instrument of blessing where you are. He can do the same thing all over the world.
One day many years ago I faced a great need and sat at my office in prayer. I asked God if I could just let Him know my needs or if I had to drop hints to others so they could be used to meet my needs. God has used both ways with His servants in the past. I have always leaned more toward just telling God my needs and trusting Him to lead others when necessary to help to meet those needs. I had no sooner voiced that prayer than my phone rang. On the other end was a couple I had met from Dalhart, TX. They had picked me up at the airport in Amarillo for a preaching event and driven me to Dalhart. I had not had any other contact with this family. They were calling to get my address because they felt prompted to send us some money. I forget the amount of the money but I cannot forget God's perfect timing in answering that prayer. To this day I trust God alone to meet my needs.
There is a time for every event under the sun Solomon tells us in Ecclesisates 3:1-8. His timing is perfect. Like me you may be waiting on God. You may even be waiting reluctantly and impatiently. God will come through in His time. Keep walking with Him day in and day out. Wait on Him. He will show you His kindness and goodness. [Ps 27:13-14] His timing is perfect.
This became apparent to me this week. All day yesterday I had a family on my heart whom I know is going through a tough time. They buried their seven year old little girl recently. Several times I kept feeling like I needed to text them to let them know I continue to pray as they grieve. I would get busy and forget only for God to remind me again later.
The impression became so strong while walking out into the garage to mow I had to stop. I sat down in a chair and I sent a text to these grieving parents. In the whole realm of life it was not a big deal. A simple text message. I just wanted them to know I care and that though most of the world moves on after someone dies I know they live with a hole in their hearts. All I know to do is to pray.
Today I found out from a mutual friend when I sent that text the parents received it while standing at the grave of their beloved daughter in tears. Just a small token and reminder of God's continual love for them. God's timing is perfect.
I urge you to take those God promptings seriously. You never know what God is doing on the other end. I cannot even tell you the number of times my family has been on the receiving end of blessings all in God's time.
Now, I do not know your need. I assure you God does. I do not know the time crunch you are under but God does. I do not even know how long you have been waiting for Him to come through. You may feel like you cannot stand to endure another day under your current circumstances. God knows. God has perfect timing. He is never late. Read that again slowly. HE IS NEVER LATE. He is always on time.
When you are at your lowest God can show up at the graveside to comfort and give a gentle reminder that He is still there. When your cash flow dries up He can send His vessel of provision to you over lunch or lead someone to give a gift sent through the mail. I have experienced all of the above. He can even lead someone from another place in town to get up from where they are to come be an instrument of blessing where you are. He can do the same thing all over the world.
One day many years ago I faced a great need and sat at my office in prayer. I asked God if I could just let Him know my needs or if I had to drop hints to others so they could be used to meet my needs. God has used both ways with His servants in the past. I have always leaned more toward just telling God my needs and trusting Him to lead others when necessary to help to meet those needs. I had no sooner voiced that prayer than my phone rang. On the other end was a couple I had met from Dalhart, TX. They had picked me up at the airport in Amarillo for a preaching event and driven me to Dalhart. I had not had any other contact with this family. They were calling to get my address because they felt prompted to send us some money. I forget the amount of the money but I cannot forget God's perfect timing in answering that prayer. To this day I trust God alone to meet my needs.
There is a time for every event under the sun Solomon tells us in Ecclesisates 3:1-8. His timing is perfect. Like me you may be waiting on God. You may even be waiting reluctantly and impatiently. God will come through in His time. Keep walking with Him day in and day out. Wait on Him. He will show you His kindness and goodness. [Ps 27:13-14] His timing is perfect.
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