Slow your roll. Jesus is waiting.

Some days seem to rock on smoothly. Some seem to be filled with challenge and controversy, but at the end of the day to whom we have given the most intimate time to will define how all the pieces will fall. The reality of life's responsibilities, work, serving our families, ministries, all of these sometime catch up with us. Is it possible that Satan, like the thief that He is, is just waiting for us to be so consumed with all the task at hand, so that we are no longer vigilant.  I learned a long time ago that busy does not mean productive. 

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 

God longs for us to sit with Him, to slow our roll through life, and spend time at His feet. 

Luke 10:38-42 
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  

My encouragement to you is this, acknowledge what is distracting you. Identify what looked like a blessing but was really a distraction and return to what is most important. Spend time at the feet of Jesus.  At His feet we are humble, looking up and fed by the Master of the Universe. 

At the feet of Jesus our perspective is forever changed.  

Matthew 11:28-29 
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Trusting God Through The Changes of Life

Today and old friend sent me some photos from our longest standing Pastorate. There were pictures of baptisms, some of my first in ministry, trips and fellowship with church family. We were blessed to lead a congregation of people in a small community in rural Georgia for almost seventeen years. It was there that I learned what it meant to be a leader, a pastor, what success was, and at times what it was like to fail. Looking back over those pics I thought of how young Selina and I were and how small our, now adult, daughters were. They were years filled with blessing, and growth for my entire family. I could not help but consider all the types of change that has shaped my destiny to this point.

Exodus 15:13 In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Tomorrow will be the birthday of my oldest daughter, Cadarina, who passed away twenty-three years ago. I remember the pain, the many sleepless nights, countless surgeries but through it all God was always faithful, even until her last day with us in this life. 

Job 1:21 21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

You ask, why am I sharing this? LIFE is full of changes, good, bad, amazing, sad and glorious ones. In all of it, God is busy shaping our lives into His preordained plan. I don't know what your journey looks like right now, but what I do know is that God will walk with you, lead you if you will allow it. Will you let Him paint your picture of life. I will leave you with this. While serving in my first pastorate, I remember the holy spirit revealing to me how God had been directing my path. I prayed about a list of things that had seemed to not workout for me, a secular job choice, the death of my daughter, and now, some challenges for a twenty-one year old pastor. I saw a chess board and the holy spirit softly whispered to me, "I have been arranging the pieces all of your life to fulfill my plan". That was the day that I knew, even when I cant see it, He is always working for me. 

Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Prayer: Lord I pray that all who read this will be reminded of your hand of providence. Father we give you our life, our heart, this journey and we trust you with each step. We confess you as Lord and King of our life.  Lord will you lead us, forgive us and wash us clean. Holy Spirit take control and do with us as you will, that we may bring Glory to your name all the days of our life. Amen.

~ The offended and the offender both of which I have been ~

Pain, hurt, betrayal, and frustration, I find that these are never welcomed feelings in our life, but the reality is, we all will experience them. I mean, let's be honest. None of us are lining up for a bad day. Like most people, I try to avoid them if at all possible but they still come. In twenty-six years of pastoral ministry, they have come more than I could have ever imagined. So, now what? Do we quit? Do we cower to the attack of the enemy when our faith is brought into question or do we press on? When these emotions rise out of the sea of conflict or misunderstanding, be steady, and return to the promise of God's word. The psalmist David had an amazing understanding concerning this subject.

Psalm 63:6-8 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

Recently the Lord reminded me that in my offense, I must remember, that I have been the offender. Just as I desire to be vindicated I must also be willing to be examined. He is my rescuer, but He is also my examiner. He alone knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. He knows our real motive. David again understood this.

Psalm 26:1-3 1 Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. 2 Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3 for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

Vindication can never come without the willingness to be tested and examined. If we are to ask for vindication then we to must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit full access to our mind and heart so that anything that is unlike the love of Christ in us may be removed. My prayer in writing this is that we see in our humanity there is no perfection. What is perfect, it is His mercy, justice, grace, and love. Your healing is in Jesus. We love because He first loved us. 

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ The offended and the offender both of which I have been ~