"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 Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Year. Show all posts
Friday, October 21, 2016
Friday, December 18, 2015
Day 353 - Again and Again
"It was just like last year with a few changes."
I have talked a lot on this blog about how our year seems to repeat itself on the same day doing the same thing. I have also talked about the traditions of our lives and how the routines can actually be helpful.
Today I want to focus on the changes that need to happen. Even with a cyclic year and the routines and traditions we have to change. God wants to grow our lives and growth means change.
Think about it this way; if you encountered the same series of events but kept your natural time and aging process the scenarios you face would be different. Why? Because you are different. As you grow older your physical body would respond to the same challenges in different ways.
Now get yourself back into reality. When you approach the times and seasons of life each day, week, month and year you are different. Not just physically but also mentally and spiritually. Hopefully we have learned something over the course of the year and don't repeat the mistakes of the past. I don't want to be the same man I was last year nor do I want to be the same Christian I was last year. I want to be better!
In order for that to happen I have to change. I have to allow the growth that God produces through trial and hardship to take me to new levels. I have to learn the lessons and not forget. I have to walk in the Spirit and allow the life of Christ to make me into His image. I have to pray and let God do His work in and through me.
When we come to repetitive times and seasons we have to look at them with the fresh eyes of how we will respond this time around. Christmas is one week away. Did you have a good Christmas last year? How can you make it better? Did you have a bad Christmas last year? What can you do this year to fix that?
Change is necessary and wonderful. All our lives we will be growing. I guess you could say "If it ain't broke, don't fix it; but see if you can make it better."
What do you see that hinders change and growth? How can we promote growth?
I have talked a lot on this blog about how our year seems to repeat itself on the same day doing the same thing. I have also talked about the traditions of our lives and how the routines can actually be helpful.
Today I want to focus on the changes that need to happen. Even with a cyclic year and the routines and traditions we have to change. God wants to grow our lives and growth means change.
Think about it this way; if you encountered the same series of events but kept your natural time and aging process the scenarios you face would be different. Why? Because you are different. As you grow older your physical body would respond to the same challenges in different ways.
Now get yourself back into reality. When you approach the times and seasons of life each day, week, month and year you are different. Not just physically but also mentally and spiritually. Hopefully we have learned something over the course of the year and don't repeat the mistakes of the past. I don't want to be the same man I was last year nor do I want to be the same Christian I was last year. I want to be better!
In order for that to happen I have to change. I have to allow the growth that God produces through trial and hardship to take me to new levels. I have to learn the lessons and not forget. I have to walk in the Spirit and allow the life of Christ to make me into His image. I have to pray and let God do His work in and through me.
When we come to repetitive times and seasons we have to look at them with the fresh eyes of how we will respond this time around. Christmas is one week away. Did you have a good Christmas last year? How can you make it better? Did you have a bad Christmas last year? What can you do this year to fix that?
Change is necessary and wonderful. All our lives we will be growing. I guess you could say "If it ain't broke, don't fix it; but see if you can make it better."
What do you see that hinders change and growth? How can we promote growth?
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Day 260 - History is on Repeat
"The church service went well with a good message on where strength comes from and working with the strength of God in humility, holiness and happiness. Afterward we opened it up for the baptism of the Holy Spirit."
At 260 days into this blog and after keeping a journal for 625 days I have noticed that History is indeed repeating itself. I used to think of it in terms of the same thing happening in a different time with different people and different circumstances. What is really tripping me out is that in my journal with the same people in the same places and roughly the same time, only one year apart, the same things are happening.
Case in point; last year's quote shows that on the Wednesday night this day a year ago the topic was "Strength" and we opened it up for the baptism of the Holy Spirit after church. I just got home from Wednesday night church a few hours ago where the topic tonight was "Strength" and at the end of the service we opened it up for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
This isn't the only occurrence of this type of thing happening. I have seen through my journal that for the most part I have preached the same days, did activities on the same days and even fought with my wife on the same days. This is either a crazy coincidence or God is getting our attention in the details.
Moses prayed in Psalm 90 to the Lord to teach us to number our days that we might gain a heart of wisdom. This year I have seen that as I have numbered the days and stayed faithful to my commitment to journal and blog I have gained wisdom. I have seen the truth in the statement that hindsight is 20/20. I am also going into the future with greater confidence in the Divine Providence of God.
Our steps are ordered of the Lord. It is obvious when I see things like today's entry. God knows what He is doing and He will give us the wisdom we need each day.
How have you seen history repeat itself? What wisdom did you draw from it?
At 260 days into this blog and after keeping a journal for 625 days I have noticed that History is indeed repeating itself. I used to think of it in terms of the same thing happening in a different time with different people and different circumstances. What is really tripping me out is that in my journal with the same people in the same places and roughly the same time, only one year apart, the same things are happening.
Case in point; last year's quote shows that on the Wednesday night this day a year ago the topic was "Strength" and we opened it up for the baptism of the Holy Spirit after church. I just got home from Wednesday night church a few hours ago where the topic tonight was "Strength" and at the end of the service we opened it up for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
This isn't the only occurrence of this type of thing happening. I have seen through my journal that for the most part I have preached the same days, did activities on the same days and even fought with my wife on the same days. This is either a crazy coincidence or God is getting our attention in the details.
Moses prayed in Psalm 90 to the Lord to teach us to number our days that we might gain a heart of wisdom. This year I have seen that as I have numbered the days and stayed faithful to my commitment to journal and blog I have gained wisdom. I have seen the truth in the statement that hindsight is 20/20. I am also going into the future with greater confidence in the Divine Providence of God.
Our steps are ordered of the Lord. It is obvious when I see things like today's entry. God knows what He is doing and He will give us the wisdom we need each day.
How have you seen history repeat itself? What wisdom did you draw from it?
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Day 182 - Half the Year is Gone
No quote today. Just thoughts from last year. I was looking at what I did last year and had some thoughts to share. Hence the name of the blog. Moving on.
At my wedding, just days away from fourteen years ago at the time I write this, our flower girl was my wife's best friend's niece...you tracking? That little flower girl, one year ago today, was getting ready for her wedding. I guess that is what happens when you have been married fourteen years, your flower girl gets married. I know some of my older readers are thinking I better get ready for this or that but just let me have a little crisis here and I'll be okay when I wake up tomorrow.
Except that tomorrow means that half the year is gone. Can that be right?! It has to be because tomorrow is the mid-point of the year. (Unless you are reading this tomorrow in which case it would be today.)
When I embarked on this project I couldn't have imagined what it would do to me. It has grown my writing abilities and has pushed me into a discipline that has been healthy for me. It has also allowed me to process life in a new way. What I didn't expect was the perspective it would give me. Hindsight is 20/20 and objects in mirror are closer than they appear!
If you set out with a goal in mind this year and haven't started yet this is your time. Do it before the rest of the year gets away from you. Do it before the flower girl from your wedding sends you an invitation to her wedding. Below is a slew of questions, I don't expect you to post answers to them unless you want to. Really they are just there to get your thought processes going and ultimately to get you going. Half the year is gone but you also have half the year ahead to accomplish your goals.
Do you remember what you said this year would be like? What were your goals for the year? Have you accomplished them yet? Why or why not? What obstacles need to be overcome to get started? What would your first steps be?
At my wedding, just days away from fourteen years ago at the time I write this, our flower girl was my wife's best friend's niece...you tracking? That little flower girl, one year ago today, was getting ready for her wedding. I guess that is what happens when you have been married fourteen years, your flower girl gets married. I know some of my older readers are thinking I better get ready for this or that but just let me have a little crisis here and I'll be okay when I wake up tomorrow.
Except that tomorrow means that half the year is gone. Can that be right?! It has to be because tomorrow is the mid-point of the year. (Unless you are reading this tomorrow in which case it would be today.)
When I embarked on this project I couldn't have imagined what it would do to me. It has grown my writing abilities and has pushed me into a discipline that has been healthy for me. It has also allowed me to process life in a new way. What I didn't expect was the perspective it would give me. Hindsight is 20/20 and objects in mirror are closer than they appear!
If you set out with a goal in mind this year and haven't started yet this is your time. Do it before the rest of the year gets away from you. Do it before the flower girl from your wedding sends you an invitation to her wedding. Below is a slew of questions, I don't expect you to post answers to them unless you want to. Really they are just there to get your thought processes going and ultimately to get you going. Half the year is gone but you also have half the year ahead to accomplish your goals.
Do you remember what you said this year would be like? What were your goals for the year? Have you accomplished them yet? Why or why not? What obstacles need to be overcome to get started? What would your first steps be?
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
A Yearlong Endeavor
A Yearlong Endeavor
So I invite you on January 1st through December 31st of 2015 to read each day some of my thoughts from last year and my current opinion of myself, the events, and the outcomes as seen one year later. Hindsight is 20/20 so I am interested to see clearer what I may or may not have seen then.
I know that if you decide to take this journey with me you too will remember and reflect on your last year and, hopefully, we will be better for it in our future years.
Do you remember how you felt last year around this time? How do you feel about last year in general?
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