Inspiration
Have you ever been just completely overwhelmed? There are so many emotions running through me that it makes it hard to find the inspiration that I need. I know I have been neglecting a very important release and that is writing things out in a format like this. I am so very excited about the babies that are on the way! These girls are such an answer to prayer as Camille and I have been praying for children for a long time. ROCC has certainly been an excitement in my life as it seems like every week we continue to draw in new believers for the kingdom. This summer was full of celebration and heartache as we had all sorts of things happen at the church. We added many new families while at the same time we have lost some that were very dear and close. I always hate it when friendships are built over time and then destroyed in an instant. Sometimes I think people just assume that Pastors don’t have feelings…in all actuality we are probably the most sensitive and so this aspect of the church really hurts. This summer has also been filled with marriages and deaths as some families grow and others shrink as our loved ones have been called home. Seeing a family going through the grieving process is never easy. In the midst of all that is going on we also have to deal with and confront the increase of violence in our community. Kids continue to be gunned down and now the mob violence has claimed a life as a young man was beaten to death. While Fenger High School gets all the media attention we had the very same sort of incident happen in our own parking lot when Thornwood students began fighting after school. Thank God that our situation did not prove to be fatal like the one at Fenger.
So I said all that to simply say…Lord speak! We need a word from God that can penetrate our community and penetrate our hardened hearts! I want to be a vessel that the Lord can use to bring change that will bring about a revival. So as I sit at Starbucks this morning and I pray for direction I find myself asking the Lord for the inspiration I need to be able to deliver a life changing message of hope, love, and mercy!
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Yes, I certainly have and I didn’t even know it. But after an eventful 2nd half of 2008 (car totalled, debit card compromised, health issues, etc.) and God’s total deliverance into a glorious new beginning in 2009 (which was punctuated by losing my job of 27+ years in April), I know, that GOD IS GOOD! He makes or allows unexpected (drastic) changes in our lives to refine us into the disciples he needs for his kingdom work. Relationships and friendships come and go (this is not to make light of emotional and spiritual connections) but the Lord never intended for us to rely on anything or anyone more than him.
The arm of flesh will fail us. Gal. 6:9 says, “… let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap a harvest if we faint not.”
Be encouraged that this season will pass and time heals all wounds. I imagine in a pastoral context it’s very hard not to take things personally, but if you truly loved someone as a brother and/or sister in christ, even when the walk away a part of him/her/them remains.