The Long Road of Patience

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? When we will get there? These are the troubling questions of unseasoned travelers who long to get to the appointed destination without enjoying the view along the way. And such is the experience of the new pastor, so I am learning.
Pastoring is not an easy job! If done right I believe it empties one of self and leaves him in a postion where he cannot operate effectively on any strength of his own. Let me say atleast that has been my experience.
Upon arrival at my current assignment I was most assured that I was prepared and equipped for the road ahead. I knew within a few short months of this new journey that we as a people would arrive at destinations unbefore seen. And so with the earger energy of a beaver I got after it, digging and chugging along giving it all I had. I just knew that my growing biblical acumen and serious comittment were enough to transform the life of the people and the church.
After almost 4 years of that kind of foolishness, I am still asking the question, "Are we there yet?". Boy what juvenile ignorance! It feels like and looks like from my perspective that the car is still in the driveway. I need patience.
I have learned that Pastoring is not for the faint of heart. You can literally die because of ministerial setbacks. I have experienced this a lot this year. It seems like I have lost more than I have gained. My heart has been broken by people I thought were really with the program only to discover they had hidden motives and agendas. This has been the lonliest year of my ministry as I have suffered in silence while pretending that everything was okay. Man this is tough stuff. I find myself wanting to cry but the tears just will not flow. "Are we there yet?" I want to get out, I am just about tired of the ride. No one really knows how I feel and to try express this to someone is really an exercise in futility because I still have to go right back to my pulpit next Sunday wanting to be further down the road only to discover we haven't made much progress.
Lest I seem ungrateful, I thank God for this experienc. I have learned to thank God for the slow but steady progress. I thank God for the heartaches caused by others because these experiences remind me that God really does use weak people.
So thank you Lord for your Sovereign arrangement of circumstances at Galilee. Thank you that you keep reminding me that it must be none of me and all of you.
Are we there yet? I don't know and I pray that I wont be preoccupied with the nagging question. May the Lord grant me the wisdom and patience to just enjoy the ride.
Thank you Lord, Thank you!

God be praised!

Don't Waste Your Storm!

Psalm 57 is another prayer of deliverance. It is one of a number of successive Psalms (52,54,55,56) attributed to David who is once again on the run from his enemies. This Psalm has as its background a time in the life of David when he was hidding in a cave trying to escape from Saul. David finds himself in this cave surrounded by his enemies and he calls out to his God for protection and deliverance.
David knows that if Saul and his men capture him his life will be over, his situation is desperate.
But while in this cave he realizes that his ultimate protection is not the cave he is hidding in but God in whom he trusts. He realizes that God is his refuge, one whom he can depend on to keep him in the midst of his impending danger, this "storm of destruction" vs 1b.
David cries out to God for deliverance but the driving beat of his heart in the midst of his situation is for God to be exalted and God's glory to be seen over the earth. David wants to honor God even while going through his storm!
That's a tremendous testimony! David is more passionate about the Glory of God in the midst of his personal trial than he is for even his own deliverance.
What a lesson for the believer to heed because many of us seek personal comfort, success, wealth, accomplishment and status at the expense of honoring God. But Davids situation reminds us that even storms, personal calamaties, times of personal challenge and setbacks in a believers life can and should be times we seek the honor and glory of God. But most of us waste our opportunities. Storms are an opportunity for the Glory of God to be seen in the life of the believer.

The question is How can I bring Glory and Honor to God in the midst of lifes storms?

Psalm 57 teaches us how.

1). Trust God in the Midst of Lifes Storms. vss. 1-6
A). Because God will Protect you in the midst of lifes storms. vs. 1
1). Refuge 2). Wings
B). Because of His Power to fulfill his purpose for you in the midst of lifes storms. vs.2
C). Because of His Passionate Comittment to you in the midst of lifes storms. vs.3
1). Devotion 2) Dependability
D). Because He will Preserve you in the midst of lifes storms. vss. 4&6
E). The Plea that demonstrates trust in the midst of lifes storms. vs. 5

2). Thank God in the Midst of Lifes Storms. vss.7-11
A). With a heartfelt comittment. vs 7-8a
B). With your service. vs 8b.
C). With your testimony. vs. 9
D). With an apprehension of God's comittment to you. vs. 10
1). Devotion 2). Dependability
E). With a God Centered Desire for His Glory. vs. 11

Jesus lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly. While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high. Hide me, O my Savior hide, till the storm of life is past. Safe into the haven guide, O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none- hangs my helpless soul on Thee. Leave ah, leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me. All my trust on Thee is stayed. All my help from Thee I bring. Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of thy wing.

An Inside Job

Lurking deep within the hidden cave of the human soul is a monster. He is insidious, vile, decrepet, disgusting, sinful and as greedy as the grave. His name is selfishness!

No one has actually ever seen this hideous monster because he cloaks himself in human flesh. But he leaves a trail everywhere he goes. Behind every proposterous crime he ever comitts he leaves wounded souls, bitter bite marks of hurtful language and stab wounds of character assanation. His desire is to inihilate everyone who gets in his way and does not submit to his selfish agenda.
For milenia he has been on the most wanted list. His first crime was classic. He claimed that following his leadership would lead one to true freedom independence and self rule. His victims bit on his lie, fell and died! He has been using this same Modus Operandi for centuries to kill his unsuspecting victims.
The irony of this selfish monster is that he always leads his victims to lonliness and isolation, of course he doesn't tell them this, it's only discovered once the selfish crimes have been committed.
But there is an antidote to this perennial foe that comes from another realm. It was delivered a couple of centuries ago by the wisest apothecary ever to live. He gave instructions on how to starve this monster to death.

1). Esteem others better than yourself.
2). Don't just be concerned about your own interests.
3). Let the mind of Christ rule your heart.
4). Humble Yourself.
5). Don't trust in your own self righteousness.
6). Have an honest estimation of yourself.
7). Ask God for the strength, help and power and wisdom to do all of the above!

From Start to Finish

"To no person can a higher tribute be paid than this: You have finished the work I gave you to do. Bezalel and his assistant, Aholiab, had been called, Spirit-endowed, and commissioned for one work and one work alone. That work was the building of the tabernacle and particularly the furnishings, using precious metals and various types of fabrics.
Neither of these individuals ever became a celebrity. Moses, yes, but Bezalel? Aholiab? Fortunately, God does not measure our effectiveness in His kingdom work by how many times we make headlines in the local media. He does, however, measure our effectiveness on the basis of our full acceptance and implementation of those responsibilities with which He does challenge us.
Bezalel and Aholiab are complimented for having completed their assignment. It is so easy to accept responsibility verbally, to make an initial commitment in the flush of that first excitement. But alas, too often we do not carry through.
Bezale and Aholiab are not just beginners. They are finishers. They encourage us also to be finishers."

Speak to My Heart; Psalm 54

Who do you talk to when you are perplexed? Who do you talk to when what you have to say may sound strange or unusual? Who can you really tell how you really feel? Most of us have friends, family members, spouses that we can uload on. But what about those times that you need someone who can identify specifically with what you are going through to hear you out and just flat out be honest with you? Who do you talk to about your fears of the future, your insecurities, your doubts, your needs and your need of assurance?
Thank God for prayer!!!!!!!!
When the questions of life bounce around in your head and heart and you even become disheartended of your present and future it's just a real blessing to be able to unload and cast all your cares and burdens upon the Lord.
It's a blessing to know that God will Sustain the righteous. God takes care of His own and God will never be a dry well for a thirsty soul. Praise God!

When life puts you in a position where you are immobolized

!). Cast Your Burdens On the Lord.

2). Have Confidence that God will Sustain You.

3) Comitt to Blessing God, even if He hasn't delivered you yet.

4). Take A Risk for God!!!

Lord thank you for sustaining me. I know you will!

The Making of A Pharisee

How do you balance godly passion with godly compassion? Are these two mutually exclusive or can there be a perfect blending of the two? Honestly I know there can be andI know that there is a danger in being extreme in either one.
If one is passionate as a preacher about doctrine, preaching, studying, reading, preparing sermons and lessons and shows little to no compassion toward those to whom he preaches or serves, chances are he will not be received well or for long. On the other hand if one is compassionate at the expense of his passion for his calling and neglects his doctrine, study, reading,preperation, preaching etc...he may have a great audience but nothing really to feed them to help them grow.
I love preaching...I really do. I have such a long way to go but the grind in the study is my cup of joe...I really yearn for it, even after sitting in the study all week long, turning over rocks and digging looking for nuggets only to walk to the pulpit with with nothing but the promise of God's presence. Even when the week has been grueling on my secular job and time in the study has been hard to find.....I still love preaching. I love the reading, learning the truths of the scriptures and reading to deepen my understanding of tough doctrinal issues. I love the tough passages that challenge me. I love the moment of delivery when all is silent in the midst of a crowd and you actually hear yourself speak to you...when you are oblivious to all your surrounding and your are in the moment...feeling that thang...yeah....
I love it so much I am super hard on those who I know, who say they have been called to preach and are cavalier about their calling. They don't take it seriously, so it appears to me, and they show little evidence of really being called. My passion for preaching causes me to show little compassion for those who love the title more than the calling.
But wait a minute...am I slowly becoming a Pharisee? They were passionate for the law...very zealous for the law...they cherished the law and hated those whom they thought didn't honor the law as they did. They tithed of all they had....added extra commandments to the law to try and make sure it was kept. I mean these fellows if anybody were passionate about God and the law. So it appeared!
As zealous as they were Jesus chided them for their lack of compassion and not following through on the weighter matters of the law, like justice and mercy. What an indictment!
I have made one of the biggest mistakes of my young pastorate. In a honest passionate moment my lack of compassion showed it's ugly head in a most ungodly way. I have seen first hand that no matter how well your preperation, doctrine, exegesis, delivery or how well illiterated your message is, a show of no compassion kills the message and destroys the messenger!
I don't know if this lack of judgment and compassion on my part is redeemeable or even forgiveable, only God knows. I accept full responsibility for whatever may come from it. But I have learned my lesson and pray that God will use this to help me be a more compassionate Christian, friend and pastor.

Jesus is the perfect example of passion and compassion. He was passionate about the law and honoring His Father. He was passionate about redeeming mankind. But His passion was expressed in his most compassionate act, His death on Calvary. Where He died for vile sinners like you and I. If we are ever to learn how to be both passionate and compassionate may the life of Jesus and the Cross of Calvary be our model.

Lord please forgive me.

Jim Elliot

"God , I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life that I may burn up for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life but a full one, like you Lord Jesus."

Wow!