Have you ever had those moments where plans have been made, schedules agreed to,who does what upon arrival,then there's delays.Out of your control, you find yourself trying to make the best of it, perhaps hiding your frustration from those with you, but in your spirit, you're really frustrated.

Upon your exit, you realized there was something under your control that was missed. Granted other elements kept the moment from going through anyways, but it you were prepared, at least you know full well that you had done everything you needed to do in order to move forward.

I was frustrated. Because I thought it was the other party that should have had it together. Turns out, it was I who had dropped the ball in my own right. This made it worse, because I felt like I had wasted all that time.

On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray that pastors would find themselves ready for whatever lies in front of them. May there exist, a level of enthusiasm, knowing they're are on a journey to give back to the community. Pray for an awareness...not  only on the status of the church, but in alignment with God's word having left nothing behind. May moments of frustration and self-doubt not get the better of people, but that they would be opportunities to recognize and communicate God's grace, that supersedes our own feelings and points others to a God that is still under control. May they realize, that in Christ, they have all that they need to accomplish all that God has ordained for them in advance.

All things for a reason. Ready for what God has in store for us. For the glory of God. For the cause of Christ.

-PNC

A few minutes ago, Hillsong's Young & Free band was playing their song Alive on Pandora. I believe the Holy Spirit just dropped in my heart, to encourage Associate Pastors who, for whatever they are facing are feeling trapped.

The words "You are alive in me, Your love has me free" resonated loud and clear.

It happens to us. The weight of life just pushes on us, beats us and hammers away, until we are no longer standing, at which point the dragging begins.

When you have done all you can do to stand, STAND FIRM!

Christ did not rise from the dead so that we could lay down! He rose so that we might stand... and not only stand, but have someone upon which we could firmly plant ourselves

Whatever the situation that has you not knowing where to turn, what to do, how to say and when to approach, may I encourage where you are:

Use Christ alive in you and the freedom you experience through His love to draw you into His presence and allow Him to bring peace and perspective to the circumstance(s) that are attempting to take you out for the count. If the weight of the entire world failed to defeat Christ, surely He will not allow the weight of your world to defeat you, provided you remain in His presence. (figures I'd be typing this as Kari Jobe is now singing Holy Spirit, on the same Pandora station)  

"Let us become more aware of your presence and let us experience the glory your goodness.
Holy Spirit you are welcome here, come flood this place and fill the atmosphere."

Pray on this #associatePastorTuesday, for those needing a fresh experience of God's grace, glory and goodness. May His presence overwhelm them anew and afresh, releasing the stress, worry, tension and frustration of the situations they face. Pray faith arise within them, allowing them to stand again and stand firm. Pray a fresh spirit of boldness and courage; wisdom to speak truth and live into situations that are deceived and dying. May there be a quickening of the power of the Holy Spirit within their lives, their homes and their ministries...that the fire would not burnout, but rekindled and reignited by the breath of God. By His Grace. For His Glory.

-PNC

We all, at times, wish we were the boss. Oh, the decisions we'd make. Things we'd do differently. Other times, you're glad you're not the boss. The decisions you'd rather not the final say. The responsibilities you're glad you don't have. Yet, in between, is the understanding that you are responsible for the decisions you do make; things that are within your control to make sure they are done right.

It's these moments that frustrate to no end, when you realize, that as an associate in an organization, you've dropped the ball. Someone won't be happy about it. The waiting for "the conversation" is just as agonizing as the moment you realized you fumbled! Or is it just me.

No...we've all made dumb mistakes. We all wish they had been forgotten about before they were even made known. And we've all wished we had a better explanation than the simple truth that ball just got through. Not planned, not intentional. Just the right confluence of events conspired against us; perhaps.

We each handle these moments differently. Some struggle worse than others. Grace, forgiveness, confidence, awareness, focus. Just keep trying. Just keep doing. Just keep praying.

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, for the mistakes, missteps and fumbles along the way made by associates. Pray grace and forgiveness be extended when needed. Pray confidence, awareness and focus to do better when necessary. Pray against defeatist attitudes and thoughts that would attempt to drown out their accomplishments, abilities and aspirations. Pray for strength of heart and mind to keep getting up, to keep trying, to keep doing, to keep believing that whatever they put their hands to, will succeed. For the glory of God. For the cause of Christ. For effective and efficient ministry in the communities in which they serve, day in and day out, despite all odds.

-PNC                      

Last week we prayed for Associate Pastors as they gain experience. Yesterday we prayed over Senior Pastors and the spirit of discernment. In that similar vein of thought, I was considering decision-making.

As in finances, $20 spent on going out with friends is $20 less you have for gas, when you gauge drops below 1/4 in a couple days; so to, saying yes to one thing equates to denial of another.

If only all decisions could be broken down, free of external factors, opinions and influences that create complexity. Yet dealing with complexity is how you gain experience and learning to do it well is you become one that others look to as competent. Competency with a long track record turns to wisdom. Everything about creation, the most complex forms and circumstances can be traced back to a single decision, in which one had received an affirmative response and the other, an automatic decline.

Whilst the decline can be hard to watch and resisting the temptation to change one's mind is a struggle at best, it's crucial that right decisions are made with the right people involved, with accurate information and sufficient resources to follow through. If any of those four components are off; a lesson will be learned, but probably not without consequences.

On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray for discernment in the decisions they face; to say Yes with confidence, to say No with conviction. Pray for wisdom regarding the decision-making process; may the right people be involved, may the strategy be comprehensive; the information accurate; and the resources in place. Pray for those times, when one of these elements are missing...may they have guidance to know if that means to wait entirely or to have faith in making the best decision available at the time. Pray for the people and ministries affected by those decisions. 50% will have something negative to say about the outcome...may God help you navigate potential fall-outs, while trusting God will carry you as you follow-through.

-PNC

Yesterday we prayed over the experienced. As I went through the day considering the post, I realized it was just the flip side of experience. 

How it is gained.

By learning. By watching. By doing. And as discussed yesterday, the more you can learn by others trials, the less errors you are likely to make...theoretically.

Helping the lives of others, especially regarding spiritual matters in light of eternity and trial by error is risky. God's guidance is paramount and His grace, a requirement in these circumstances.

On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray in particular for those relatively new to pastoralship. Pray for a willingness to learn from wise and effective pastors. Pray for a guarding of their hearts and minds. May they not be easily distracted nor discouraged from the task at hand and the ministry to which they are called. Pray for a great anointing upon their lives and a greater grace as they grow to serve their circles of influence. 

-PNC

Over the past few weeks, as we've prayed over Associate Pastors, we've talked about their service to the leadership and direction of the church, their areas of ministry focus and responsibilities. And yet, in so many ways, if your responsibilities begin to feel like you're mid-level on the ladder of life, you can lose steam; as though the process is taking to long and the results aren't as strong as they used to be.

A week or two ago, I was reading the blog of business coach, Christy Wright and these words stood out:

"When you look at your business through the lens of the impact you’re making, your passion becomes ignited by the people that you’re serving" - Christy Wright

Stay focused on the impact and people you serve become the fuel you need to continue...with passion. And what you do with a sense of passion will lead you do it with a standard of excellence.

On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray for a clear focus on making an impact for the glory of God. Pray for a renewed sens of passion. Pray for a standard of excellence, not only in their ministry, but in their life. May they not grow weary in well doing. May they not be discouraged by "results", whether of their own goals, or by comparison to other churches, pastors or the like. Pray, if need be, for a renewed commitment to where they have been planted, as planned by sovereign God to be used for His purpose and His glory.

-PNC

One of my pastors' favorite scene from the Israelite' story, is when God, fed up with the whining, finally says, Okay....go. You have my protection, you have my provision. It's fine. You're fine. Go ahead and go. But I won't be with you.

And Moses, in a moment of great leadership, essential says, thanks for the offer; it's good and everything, but if you don't go with us, then its not something we want for our lives.

For all the transitions that Associate Pastors witness throughout their ministry, and in light of a transition in my own life that I am sorting out what is the best decision God has for us, how often to we get caught up in the choices available in simply making the decision and after considerable amounts of time and talk, come back to asking God for direction. (man, I really need to stop writing to myself) On that note, it's time to pray.

Pray on this #associatePastorTuesday, that whatever transitions they find themselves in, whether it pertains to them or their input is requested, may they put God's presence at the top of the priority list. Pray, that after all the conversations and pros and cons have been weighed and prayed over, may they not settle for getting what works for the time or accomplishes the major points of the decision. Pray for wisdom and discernment; a spirit sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, that indeed, their steps would be ordered, the course of direction in which they should proceed. Pray that none of forget, that there is nothing about us that God doesn't concern Himself and thus, may we never think that even the simplest of decisions shouldn't be submitted in prayer, that God would go with us...or more accurately, that unless God lead the way with His presence, may we need get ahead of His plan and purpose for our lives.

-PNC

It's incredibly frustrating when you feel as though the person you are communicating doesn't seem to be getting "it".

I've been the frustrated sender of communication. I've been the receiver in question of communication. I am frustrated with someone. I am someone's frustration.

The irony makes me laugh, except neither scenario is usually funny as it unfolds. That said, I had a moment last night where I wondered how Pastors deal with this.  Particularly, Associate Pastors. Whether they need something as it relates to church operations and staff interaction, perhaps its issues with volunteers or laypersons within the ministry... or worse; a Senior Pastor who's frustrated themselves, and so they are "closed" to new ideas, different methods, doctrinal or scriptural differences in the preaching and teaching of God's word? 

The list is as long as you think it would be impossible to exist. We would love to think all churches operate great and get along and don't have their issues Monday-Saturday, yet we have all sat in a service at some point and caught just a glimpse of a notion, that something was amiss within a particular congregation.

Pray, on this #AssociatePastorTuesday...that lines of communication would be open and clear. Pray that misunderstandings and differences in ministry would be resolved, with a spirit of love, grace and respect...even if the ultimate result leads to parting ways. Pray for patience and guidance as conversations unfold towards reaching places of understanding. Pray that frustration would not stand in the way of progress; that effective ministry would move forward whether with members of the congregation, community or fellow servants in ministry. Pray that neither a difficult situation, nor a difficult person stand in the way of God accomplish His purpose within His church, whether we acknowledge someone else has the problem or we admit to actually being the problem. May God's grace cover us all.


-PNC