God has been showing me that no matter what life throws at us, He will walk with us through that. Hearing stories from people about the hurts and pain that they have experienced in their lives, or seeing it in their face as they tell you their story can seem very disheartening. Could even cause the one hearing to not want to get involved in the other person's pain. "Don't want to bring that into my life," they might say.
All around us, in every single person their is pain. There are stories that are dark. But, maybe it should be a bigger but...
BUT,
God is in the business of redemption. Of healing. Of hope. Of love. Of new beginnings.
He is victorious! And one of my gifts to offer as a Pastor is God. God the Redeemer, Healer, Lover of their souls.
AND MY SOUL TOO!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
September 20, 2012
This week has felt off.
It's one of those things where you just can't quite put your finger on it, but you know it's there.
Which in some ways can make it even more frustrating than knowing what is wrong.
I like clear cut things in my life.
If I'm given too many choices or my life is too loose than I revert to stagnation.
Yet, on the other hand if I'm too busy or things are too rigid I want to rebel against those as well.
Is finding balance in life a continual practice?
I think so...
And as I type that I'm a little disheartened knowing that I will always be testing, evaluating, etc... to make sure that my life is balanced right. It's not finding the balance and then it's always good. It takes constant work and effort.
It's one of those things where you just can't quite put your finger on it, but you know it's there.
Which in some ways can make it even more frustrating than knowing what is wrong.
I like clear cut things in my life.
If I'm given too many choices or my life is too loose than I revert to stagnation.
Yet, on the other hand if I'm too busy or things are too rigid I want to rebel against those as well.
Is finding balance in life a continual practice?
I think so...
And as I type that I'm a little disheartened knowing that I will always be testing, evaluating, etc... to make sure that my life is balanced right. It's not finding the balance and then it's always good. It takes constant work and effort.
Monday, September 17, 2012
September 17, 2012
One of the great things about being an Associate Pastor is the fact that you don't have to preach every Sunday. I have really enjoyed this on a few different levels.
The first being that I don't have to prepare a sermon every week. I get at least 2 weeks every time. This helps in the preparation, marination?, and overall delivery of the sermon in my opinion.
Second, I get to hear someone else (Senior Pastor) preach. I get to share in the knowledge and work that he has put in, the words that God has given him that week.
Some notes from this last week's sermon:
"You just can't keep us from Jesus." - I really liked this quote.
Spiritual Growth doesn't happen by accident.
Develop good spiritual habits. Don't focus on the mess, focus on Christ.
Praise the Lord for not having to preach every Sunday!
The first being that I don't have to prepare a sermon every week. I get at least 2 weeks every time. This helps in the preparation, marination?, and overall delivery of the sermon in my opinion.
Second, I get to hear someone else (Senior Pastor) preach. I get to share in the knowledge and work that he has put in, the words that God has given him that week.
Some notes from this last week's sermon:
"You just can't keep us from Jesus." - I really liked this quote.
Spiritual Growth doesn't happen by accident.
Develop good spiritual habits. Don't focus on the mess, focus on Christ.
Praise the Lord for not having to preach every Sunday!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
September 11, 2012
Lord,
I thank You for the cool breeze this morning.
For the warmth of the sunshine.
And how they offset each other.
Thank You for coffee.
For Your love for me.
Help me Lord to continue to seek after You when things get difficult or I get busy.
You are my rock.
Yet, often times instead of standing on the Rock, I choose to swim alone,
and then I wonder why I am struggling or getting tired.
Don't let me lose sight of You.
Amen.
I thank You for the cool breeze this morning.
For the warmth of the sunshine.
And how they offset each other.
Thank You for coffee.
For Your love for me.
Help me Lord to continue to seek after You when things get difficult or I get busy.
You are my rock.
Yet, often times instead of standing on the Rock, I choose to swim alone,
and then I wonder why I am struggling or getting tired.
Don't let me lose sight of You.
Amen.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
September 08, 2012
God has been bringing the theme of "family" more and more into the forefront of my life lately. Granted, it has been within some of the books that we are reading for the Master's Program, but also just in life.
Seeing how much affect we can have in our families, and the fact that if we all took care of our families 1st, quite a few of the "bigger" problems within society would take care of themselves because our families would be strong.
I guess my mindset has shifted some reading Crouch's "Culture Making". The realization that the places we have the most influence are the smaller ones. Individuals, families, small groups, close friends, Church.
Moving from the inside out rather than make a huge push and focus for something grandios only to have it fail or not reach it's potential because the infrastructure of individuals and families isn't there.
Seeing how much affect we can have in our families, and the fact that if we all took care of our families 1st, quite a few of the "bigger" problems within society would take care of themselves because our families would be strong.
I guess my mindset has shifted some reading Crouch's "Culture Making". The realization that the places we have the most influence are the smaller ones. Individuals, families, small groups, close friends, Church.
Moving from the inside out rather than make a huge push and focus for something grandios only to have it fail or not reach it's potential because the infrastructure of individuals and families isn't there.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
September 1, 2012
In the "Good and Beautiful Community" this week we read about doing peculiar acts for someone. Something out of the ordinary and generally nice. Something that isn't really expected by our standards of living for today. I have been racking my brain all week as to what to do that would be "really good".
Not really the point of the exercise. Chalk it up to humanity, vain-glory, wanting to be the best, etc... but I really wanted to be able to say I did this amazing thing for someone! Not necessarily because of my love for them, or out of my time spent with Jesus, but because I wanted to "win" at this training exercise.
And reflecting back on this week today, I'm glad that God didn't allow me to think of that thing. That I was humbled before Him. I did pick up the dishes when I was a guest at someone's home. They weren't expecting that.
Not really the point of the exercise. Chalk it up to humanity, vain-glory, wanting to be the best, etc... but I really wanted to be able to say I did this amazing thing for someone! Not necessarily because of my love for them, or out of my time spent with Jesus, but because I wanted to "win" at this training exercise.
And reflecting back on this week today, I'm glad that God didn't allow me to think of that thing. That I was humbled before Him. I did pick up the dishes when I was a guest at someone's home. They weren't expecting that.
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