"God is taking us all on a journey."
This past Wednesday marks the one year point that started a new phase of my journey. It was a year ago that I was named the Senior Pastor of The Rock Church and World Outreach Center. It happened in an organizational meeting and no one was expecting it. That night I wrote the words above along with a lot of other thoughts. There was a myriad of emotions that came throughout the day. I remember the feeling like I wanted to cry but no tears would come. I was excited but apprehensive. I had thoughts of what I was supposed to do for the church, for myself and for the family. I felt confident that God would give me grace for the task but had the lingering question of whether He got the right guy for the job.
This past year has proven that God is faithful and He is in control. He has lead the church from it's inception and continues to do so. Our journey is a result of His perfect plan. He has ordained every step we take and has placed us here for such a time as this.
I never set out to be a pastor, let alone a Sr. Pastor, on my journey. I was just a teenager who fell in love with Jesus and started following His lead. If my plans had been followed I would have been a rock star and maybe later in life done some ministry in the church once my platform had been built to speak from. God had a much greater plan. He has lead me around the world and across the U.S. through mission. He lead me to the love of my life, Jessica. He lead us together to Bible College, young adults ministry, and made us the parents of three amazing children.
More recently God lead me to the place of being the Executive Pastor of the Rock Church and I couldn't have been in a better place in my opinion. I loved the place of supporting the vision and mission of our church and carrying out the direction from Pastor Jim. I got to lead, to serve, to preach, to be amongst the people and make ministry happen.
Today I see after this year that God had been leading me through all those experiences to got me to the place where I am today. It was no accident.
Hopefully as you read this blog you aren't discouraged that God hasn't lead you to where I am at. That would be tragic! Why? because God has a plan for you individually. He is leading you on a journey of your own. If everyone had my story where would all the other stories be? How bland and boring!
You were specifically designed by God with a purpose. With that purpose in mind God has lead you through every trial and triumph. All the growth you have experienced over the years has been to the end that God intends to use you for His glory. Sometimes the process is painful and grueling. Other times you don't even know God is at work.
Be encouraged today that God is taking you on a journey. Fall in love with Jesus and follow His lead. As you do God will take you on adventures and take you places you never would have imagined. The story He wants to write about your life will be far greater than your best laid plans.
Showing posts with label God's Sovereignty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's Sovereignty. Show all posts
Friday, October 21, 2016
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
2 Decades of Good Times
"What a crazy ride it has been!"
In these words I sum up twenty years of my Christina walk. I never dreamt that God would take me around the world preaching the gospel when I said yes to Jesus. I never dreamt that God would have me pioneer ministries, teach in a Bible College or pastor at one of the greatest churches on the planet (which I believe is the greatest but I am a little biased). I never dreamt that God would bless me to have the family that I do. I look at my wife and children in amazement.
All of this is not to brag. All the praise goes to God. I couldn't have done any of this by myself. At best I would have been playing guitar in a coffee shop somewhere hoping someone would like my version of an old song and they would give me a tip with paper money rather than coins. How miserable.
Every morning I wake up with the words 'thank you' on my lips. I think God smiles when we say thanks. He knows He is good but loves a grateful heart. The words 'be thankful' occur on several occasions in the New Testament. I guess we have to be reminded. If you look around you will see the hand of God on your life.
I could tell stories of how I should be dead. How people on my street pulled guns on me and my friends while we were playing basketball. I could talk about car accidents that never happened and I don't know how they were avoided. To be honest there was one time in San Timoteo canyon I closed my eyes when a truck crossed over the double yellow lines on to my side of the road and when I opened them again I was just fine. Or when I rolled my car in Reche Canyon and told God on the way over "Here I come!" (That accident did happen but I was fine. Maybe I should stay away from the canyons?!)
As I look forward to the next twenty years I wonder at what God will do. What victories are in store and what tragedies will be avoided or withstood with grace and joy? No matter what comes good or bad I do know that two words will be on my lips; "Thank you!"
What has God done in your life since you said yes to Jesus? How grateful are you?
In these words I sum up twenty years of my Christina walk. I never dreamt that God would take me around the world preaching the gospel when I said yes to Jesus. I never dreamt that God would have me pioneer ministries, teach in a Bible College or pastor at one of the greatest churches on the planet (which I believe is the greatest but I am a little biased). I never dreamt that God would bless me to have the family that I do. I look at my wife and children in amazement.
All of this is not to brag. All the praise goes to God. I couldn't have done any of this by myself. At best I would have been playing guitar in a coffee shop somewhere hoping someone would like my version of an old song and they would give me a tip with paper money rather than coins. How miserable.
Every morning I wake up with the words 'thank you' on my lips. I think God smiles when we say thanks. He knows He is good but loves a grateful heart. The words 'be thankful' occur on several occasions in the New Testament. I guess we have to be reminded. If you look around you will see the hand of God on your life.
I could tell stories of how I should be dead. How people on my street pulled guns on me and my friends while we were playing basketball. I could talk about car accidents that never happened and I don't know how they were avoided. To be honest there was one time in San Timoteo canyon I closed my eyes when a truck crossed over the double yellow lines on to my side of the road and when I opened them again I was just fine. Or when I rolled my car in Reche Canyon and told God on the way over "Here I come!" (That accident did happen but I was fine. Maybe I should stay away from the canyons?!)
As I look forward to the next twenty years I wonder at what God will do. What victories are in store and what tragedies will be avoided or withstood with grace and joy? No matter what comes good or bad I do know that two words will be on my lips; "Thank you!"
What has God done in your life since you said yes to Jesus? How grateful are you?
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Day 271 - If I Ran The World
"I am reading in 1 Kings 20 how God delivered the Syrians to King Ahab. It is so opposite of what we would do for a sinful King like Ahab was. Here God gives a special prophecy, the plan and hands the leadership and the victory to Ahab. Even after all that Ahab still turns his back on the God who delivered him."
If I ran the world it would not look like it does today. I would have wiped out a lot of people by now and made a mess of things. Thank God He is perfect and has eternity in mind. God knows what He is doing.
It is easy for me to look around and see suffering and injustice and get discouraged or distracted. The questions of 'why?' come to mind. What I have to come back to is that God is good no matter what and His patience and long-suffering are for the salvation of the lost.
We know that God had a purpose in handing a wicked King like Ahab a victory. He also had a purpose with Nebuchadnezzar and Rome and so many others throughout history. We could wonder at why God would allow genocide and sex-trafficking. Why would God allow the wicked to prosper?
These questions have driven many away from God. There is a man in the Bible who had the same questions. He saw the wicked prosper and was grieved. He didn't understand at all until he went to the House of God. It was there he understood the end. God sees the whole picture. Even though the wicked may prosper here on earth they will receive according to their works in eternity. The same goes for those who are Godly. We may receive evil and hard things here on earth but we will receive according to our works in eternity.
We should consider that God will tell the end of the story. He has the final word. Ahab may have lived life in a palace but he died on the battlefield and the dogs licked up his blood. His wife had a terrible death and his family was all cut off from the earth quickly.
Don't fear. God is on your side and loves you. Follow Him and His ways and He will take care of you. Bless and do not curse, forgive and love. God Himself will repay and He will settle all accounts on the final day.
How different would the world be if you ran it? What scriptures remind us that God is in control?
If I ran the world it would not look like it does today. I would have wiped out a lot of people by now and made a mess of things. Thank God He is perfect and has eternity in mind. God knows what He is doing.
It is easy for me to look around and see suffering and injustice and get discouraged or distracted. The questions of 'why?' come to mind. What I have to come back to is that God is good no matter what and His patience and long-suffering are for the salvation of the lost.
We know that God had a purpose in handing a wicked King like Ahab a victory. He also had a purpose with Nebuchadnezzar and Rome and so many others throughout history. We could wonder at why God would allow genocide and sex-trafficking. Why would God allow the wicked to prosper?
These questions have driven many away from God. There is a man in the Bible who had the same questions. He saw the wicked prosper and was grieved. He didn't understand at all until he went to the House of God. It was there he understood the end. God sees the whole picture. Even though the wicked may prosper here on earth they will receive according to their works in eternity. The same goes for those who are Godly. We may receive evil and hard things here on earth but we will receive according to our works in eternity.
We should consider that God will tell the end of the story. He has the final word. Ahab may have lived life in a palace but he died on the battlefield and the dogs licked up his blood. His wife had a terrible death and his family was all cut off from the earth quickly.
Don't fear. God is on your side and loves you. Follow Him and His ways and He will take care of you. Bless and do not curse, forgive and love. God Himself will repay and He will settle all accounts on the final day.
How different would the world be if you ran it? What scriptures remind us that God is in control?
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