WAR ROOM
|
|
|
 It's awesome when churches are doing well. I love hearing about churches that operate debt free. There's incredible impact that is made by long-term pastorates and a stable pastoral staff. Healthy churches make positive changes in the communities they serve. Their effective ministry becomes a go-to recommended resource for those in need and unaware of where to go for help.
Longevity and stability breed greater opportunity for broader influence. Comparatively, unhealthy churches, with relatively higher staff & pastorate/pastoral turnover, burdened by either debt or low financial income or a combination of the two...struggle to serve their communities effectively. Turnover rates affect the churches ability to offer stable, effective ministries. Outreaches hindered by financial concerns suffer, either through low-turnout, lack of volunteers or lack of resources to maximize their potential. It is what it is and I know the struggle is real. There's no condemnation if you are or know of a church in such situations; it's just heart-breaking hearing about them and knowing they exist. And we have a society with an increasing desire for community and sense of belonging while at the same time wanting nothing to do with the church. For every church in ruin, for whatever the reasons, there are a small group of individuals, committed and praying things would be different. Stability. Finances. Community. Ministry. Influence. In their neighborhood. For their friends. For their families. On this #deaconThursday, pray for church operations in ruins. 1500 pastors a month leaving ministry is wreaking havoc and the daily evidence to support it is mounting. They are done, and while its understandable, it's also, largely preventable. Pray for strategies and process to be implemented that will help curb this exodus of pastors and staff. Pray for the miraculous regarding the financial outlook of struggling churches. That debt would be eliminated. That attendance would rise. Pray for a national return to God. For the health of our communities. To reach the lost, the broken, the poor, the suffering & the dying. Pray for life. Pray for health. In our pastors. In our churches. Mental. Emotional. Physical. Psychological. Financial. As the pastorate goes, so goes the church. As the church goes, so does the community. As goes....the nation. -PNC
0 Comments
 I experienced a Dr. Seuss moment of fatherhood two nights ago. Getting ready to put the girls to bed, I uttered the following, in unscripted, unrehearsed honor to the great children's writer...
"Go, pick up your barbies and put them away. Not on your table, not on the floor, not in a big pile right by the door". I'm reminded of a comedian, who tells the story of the listening ability of his children (or lack thereof), yet, when the grandparents came over and Grandpa no sooner stepped in with the announcement, "Now let's if Grandpa has any money for these wonderful children", they heard that and responded. Similarly, so do we as Christians, respond to what sounds awesome, fun and befits our interests and desires. Not so much for the "feels like work" tasks, "do I have to" moments of dread and "it's not my mess" responsibilities. The more I realize I don't have it all together, the more I sense the profound, simplistic truth of the Apostle Paul, "follow me as I follow Christ". As we lead our families, as we lead ministries, as we lead lives honorable to God hoping the world will take notice of the hope that is within us, I'm praying my kids don't remember all the times I've failed in life; but rather remember how I encountered some missteps attempting to follow Gods' lead through Victory road and by His grace, kept pursuit of Him who was leading me. Pray, this #youthPastorWednesday, that there will be a level of continuity between what kids witness in the home and what they see during church services. Pray for the conversations that will take place in both home and church when there are seemingly gap(s) in the living out of faith. Pray for wisdom, for when Pastors are called to address the concerns of their kids. Pray for the integrity of today's youth and kids Pastors, that they remain devoted to pursuing God and fulfilling the call of ministry on their lives. Pray God answers favorable, the prayers they pray regarding the youth they serve and the situations in which they live. Miracles. Direction. Focus. Clarity. Continuity of faith. Handed from one generation to the next. Witnessed. Exemplified. Deemed worthy of pursuing Him. May our kids follow in the paths of good and righteous steps. For the glory of God. -PNC  Isn't this a great picture? If only life's spiritual, emotional, mental and social challenges were able to be solved so easily.
That said, life often requires more than duct tape and WD-40. And as sad as that it is, we always seem to have reasons why the advice offered for someone else or by someone else won't work for our situation. I had a great quote come across my twitter news-feed as I was getting ready to write this post. "Helping others solve their own problems is more effective than solving problems for them." It also, always seems easier to sort out others problems rather than our own. I'm reminded of what Pastor mentioned during Sunday morning's service... that there comes a point in life, where you should both have an older mentor and be mentoring someone younger. I can't imagine a more worthy vocation that would benefit from such relationships than pastors. Providing practical encouragement and support to the next generation while receiving seasoned wisdom and sustenance to persevere from those before us who have paved the way. As we are all under development, we need someone offering effective help in our problems. We need to offer effective help to someone else and their problems. Pray, this #seniorPastorSunday, that Pastors will both find and be mentor in the ministry. Pray for encouragement, wisdom and advice to be well received, whether to the ears of a 20-yr Pastor of a 2-yr Pastor. They encounter so much, so quickly in the lives of the communities they serve. May they know and understand they are not neglected, discarded or unappreciated. May the community of Pastors be strengthened as they work to stick and stand by each other. Pastors...doing life together. Power in agreement for the ministry of preventing 1500 leaving each month. We can't afford them to disappear into the shadows of the known. -PNC  I came to an interesting realization the other day, that I have probably always known, but a particular situation has brought this understanding to the forefront.
The answer to your prayer may involve action and movement on your part that will catch you off guard. If the answer is no, you may be bummed out, but the matter is close,at least for now, and there's nothing you can do. If the answer is yes, then there are some "next steps" that are being laid out that one will need to take moving forward in that answer to prayer. If we don't understand that, receiving the answer may be a struggle to accept, which probably shouldn't be the case, but we're human, so it happens. The effectual, fervent prayer of a man avails much. And he very well has work in front of him, if he receives the desired answer. For over five consecutive months, now, prayers for pastors and churches and community have been posted on this site. And I'm certain, that every affirmative answer has involved more work. Increased favor in business? More work. Financial blessing and wisdom? Tough decisions ahead...and probably some more work. Restored relationships? Some real conversations that require time and effort are probably taking place in the near future. No says "it's over". Yes says, "what's next". Welcome to #effectiveSunday, as we pray that our prayers will be effectual and fervent. Pray that the church and its people will be prepared to act and move in the direction that will unfold as prayers are answered affirmatively. Pray that the unknown outcome of circumstances will not cause us to shy away in our prayers out of reluctance of what it may mean for our participation. Pray the effectiveness and the efficiency of the body of Christ and the church-at-large will not be hindered because we offer lax prayers. Prayer is more akin to spiritual battle than a spiritual walk in the park. Pray that we will be a people that suits up when we go to seek the face of God, prepared for all possible outcomes of whatever answer He gives, whether it's immediate or delayed. May we wait on Him as we go about doing what we know we are to do in the meantime. For the glory of God and the cause of Jesus Christ. Answered prayers. Ready people. Changed lives. On Earth. In Heaven. -PNC  Yesterday was a long day on the road and as usual, I had a great amount of time to pray and ponder the things of God and circumstances in which He is needed. At some point about mid-day as I was thinking out-loud, I simply stated as a response to my own thought,
"I wouldn't put it past Him." (God, that is) So often those are derogatory words... that someone would stoop to that level (for whatever reason) They're just the kind of person, that if I were the betting type, I'd place odds that they would... yeah; you know how those conversations play out. You've had them. Heard them. Perhaps you've even been the one to make the statement. I've said as much myself. God, on the other hand, only stoops down to the level where help is needed. Otherwise, he is stepping up. His thoughts, higher than ours. His ways, higher than ours. His plans, His purposes, all higher. He is able to do greater than we can ask or imagine. Whatever you have need of today, I wouldn't put it past God; to move on your behalf. To work in circumstances for which you speak fervent prayers. Pushing through in faith; holding on with hope. Waiting, seeking, trusting; not in ourselves, but in God. Untypical in that He does not do things the way we do. Typical in that He remains true to His nature and character. Pray this #communitySaturday, as the church engages its' local surroundings, opportunities to present God wholly authentic and genuine to Himself. A Holy and Sovereign God. Truth wrapped in love. Conviction draped in grace. A heavenly Father seeking real relationship with the humanity that He created from His own DNA. May revelation come alive as people hear that God is not willing that anyone perish, but desires all to come to Him through repentance. Pray that many will come to know Christ as He works on the hearts and thoughts of man and moves on their behalf for the realities of life they currently face. Work the miraculous, oh God. That you would be glorified. That all of humanity would be drawn to you. That your name be declared to the uttermost ends of the earth. That none would perish, but all find eternal life. In Christ. Through His death. _PNC  I woke up this morning, and for some reason, quickly began thinking how "finding mission" can be a simple as having open eyes and an open heart, that says, "where is there a need and does it bother me enough that I would want to be a part of the solution."
Enter, Raegan Glugosh, Founder of Touched Romania, a ministry that cares for abandoned babies in Romania. Some 4000 newborns, whose mothers are actually encouraged by the system to walk out of the hospital without their babies. Is that not incredible? One of the ways in which Raegan and her team serve... a holding ministry. It's a simple as it sounds. People come in and simply hold babies... and while doing so, obviously cover them in prayer; for God's plan and purpose for these young lives to be fulfilled. Wow. Now I know what will be on my mind most of the day. And hopefully yours, too. There will always be a need, for even Christ stated to his disciples, that the poor would always be with them. So, the only question that matters is, once a need is recognized, what will people to do to fill it? There's a problem. How will you solve it? A burden. How will you carry it? Open eyes. Open Hearts. Mission: Found. On this #missionsFriday, pray for missionaries fulfilling the call of God on their lives. Pray for Raegan and her team; and others like her... whose mission seems oh so simple in concept; yet is challenging, difficult and emotionally draining with each passing moment. Pray the grace of God in these circumstances, where the inheritance of the Lord has been immediately discarded. Pray for broken political and social systems that have helped create this problem. Pray for broken hearts and the role they play in continuing the cycle. Pray for strength and stamina, grace and peace, provision and protection as missionaries such as Raegan serve and continue to do so, despite insurmountable odds and heart-wrenching situations. May we all find and fulfill the mission God has for us. For His glory. By His grace. For the cause of Jesus Christ. -PNC  Texting my brother at certain points throughout yesterday afternoon, I was sharing my excitement regarding a decision he helped my figure out over the weekend. After some back and forth, I expressed my thanks. He texted back that I was welcome, although he didn't do much.
"Wisdom & encouragement, bro...priceless." Apparently I had forgotten the often stated sage advice, which he included in his response: "Wisdom comes from experience and experience comes from bad choices." The "haha" on the end of the text made me smile, until I realized, had I made the decision he helped encourage me to make a few yrs ago, let alone 10 yrs ago, things would be very different indeed. Then, I got to thinking about churches. About ministry. About the sovereignty of God. About His hand, turning what the enemy intended to harm and destroy, to bring glory to His name and to work His purpose in our lives. This all confirmed of course, during Wednesday nights' service..."if we knew then what we know", but the problem is had you done things differently, you wouldn't be where you are now, which despite your satisfaction or lack thereof with the here and now, God still has a plan in place for your life, family, career and ministry. So, now...it's just a matter of not living in the past, not letting bad decisions get the best of you and not allowing the frustrating consequences of those decisions that are now present day reality detour you from making good decisions moving forward. "If God be for us, who can be against us. We can live in victory today." - DeGarmo & Key Pray, on this #deaconThursday, for those in churches and ministries, struggling with today's reality because of yesterday's bad decisions. Pray for those having difficulty understanding the how and the why of God's desire and ability to use our mistakes for His glory. Pray for those exhausted, from "everything" seemingly going the wrong way in their lives at nearly every turn. May they realize the break they need in life, is found in Christ and the breakthrough ready at God's command. Pray for those tempted to give in to the victim mindset; that while the struggle and challenge is real, may the have the mind of Christ... knowing, understanding and fulfilling the truth, that greater is He who is within me, is greater than he who is in the world. Bad decisions. Useful. For the glory of God. For those whose hearts are set on Him. Notice King David...a man after God's own heart; not a man's decisions after God's own heart. David's heart knew His place with God, even when his decisions failed to line up. He paid the consequences, yet he died, having fulfilled God's purpose in his generation. Likewise, let it be said of us. -PNC  I had an interesting morning, yesterday. Driving along, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through me as I prayed over situations and family and friends.
Then, the prompting hit...prayer's catch. A college friend came to mind and the prayer began. And when I thought I was done praying... no, you're not done yet. Continued praying some more. Thought I was done, but no... no release. Some 8-10 minutes later... I finally felt a release of the Spirit; to pray about other people, other matters. But not until there were tears on my face as I sat in traffic, waiting to proceed through a construction zone. So often we pray and it's easy to move through situations and individuals and on to what or whoever may be next. I had opportunity late last night to find the friend online and encourage them, that they were doing good work, faithful to the plan and purpose God had for their life; that they should keep the faith and continue to fight the good fight. Nobody likes being passed over, nor readily dismissed. Neither should our prayers take on similar characteristics of our time and consideration. Consider the massive amounts of people and circumstance that flood the church offices on any given day. In a place and time where it would be easy to offer a quick prayer, a short Scripture and a succinct piece of advice; care and compassion are paramount in expressing and revealing Christ to those in need. That takes time, even when the time is hard to find. It must be found. People's faith, how they handle their fears and how they face the facts of their reality hang in the balance. On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray Pastors would be effective managers of time. May they have a keen awareness peoples needs and the time & investment needed, albeit, in light of other responsibilities. Pray a continued willingness for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide, even when it messes up schedules; to pray, guide and advise situations with compassion, knowing that people need to understand they are important in light of eternity and should not be easily dismissed. We need a move of God in our lives, our nation and our world. May the effectual, fervent prayer of man avail much for the glory of God and the cause of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter if it last 70 seconds over 70 days, or 70 minutes over 700 days, we may never quit believing God to perform the miraculous through the power and the gift of prayer; especially when we following the prompting and leading of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to make intercession for us, when we don't know how to pray. -PNC  In days when authenticity and genuineness are quickly disappearing, they are also character traits that are more readily recognizable because they seem so infrequent.
Failures in ministry and a lax spirit in Christendom regarding the ability of its people to relate and share the faith in tangible ways to a lost and unbelieving culture has led to a great deal of skepticism when it comes to spiritual matters. Interestingly enough, even people of faith are becoming increasingly aware of those who have a genuine and authentic faith in God versus those who are in the church... for lack of better words, playing church. However, one never wants to think or believe that this is possible from ministry leadership. Yet we all have our doubts and suspicions, that when you look at ministries, something seems amiss, that can't quite be pinpointed. That said, for those in ministry whose faith is seemingly unshakable (not that they haven't had insurmountable challenges), for those who love serving others and the body of Christ large, for those who have a heart and passion for people to have a genuine, ongoing encounter with God... these servant-leaders can not be missed. By anyone. These are the men and women we need in ministry. These are the people we can't afford to burn out. These are the individuals and families we need to continue to serve the church and the local community. These are leaders that must know they are appreciated, supported and needed. And above all, they are covered in prayer; brought before the throne room of heaven, daily. On this #seniorPastorMonday, pray an increasingly authentic and genuine spirit from those in the pulpit. Pray for the situations and circumstances they face, personally, at home, regarding matters that perhaps only a select few within the church will ever know. Pray, a spiritual hedge against moral and ministerial failures; that healthy relationships and healthy boundaries would come together and remain strong, that they would live and lead above reproach. May God continue to pour out His spirit, anew and afresh on these servants as they faithful give of themselves to the cause of Jesus Christ, relying not on what they can give of themselves, but on what Christ gave of Himself for us all. Finally, pray for those ministries, that at times, seem suspect, that something is "off". Pray for a spirit of discernment, wisdom, correction and reconciliation come into being, if and when time and place of circumstance demand those elements. May the grace and love of God abound in such circumstances, and God, not willing that any should perish, bring them back into right relationship and proper alignment with Him in due season. Bless your servants, who lead us closer in our walk of faith with God. We do not live life alone, not one of us. Thank God. -PNC  My brother and I loved playing this game when we were kids. I remember at least once, we had a game last about a week, as we would play it after school for a while, then slide it underneath the couch until the next day. So much fun!
I called him Friday night to get his input regarding what was on my mind. Always a man with great insight (through his own experience and observations), he replied to my concerns, this is how we do it and it makes things so much easier. I explained my concerns in taking the risk of that decision, and that while I knew he was right, it made me nervous in actually following through on his advice. Partly, because it was a step of faith to continue to trust God that He was with us in this area of our lives. Saturday morning, I took his advice, made the decision, followed through on it and took the time to go through where everything should go. Later in the morning, I had to call..."brother, you were right! I can't tell you how different this feels! What a peace of mind!" So it goes,with most of life, whether in the marketplace or in ministry. There will always be risk; but having someone whose counsel and advice can be trusted because the person from whom it comes, has traveled that road and while the road has been challenging, they have safely traversed it Granted, we've all made the wrong decision and at times paid for it dearly and literally... but that shouldn't dissuade us from trusting again, that God has a plan and a purpose for us and that He is able to take our bad decisions and our experience, even the misfortune, and use it to create opportunities where He is glorified, lives are changed and challenged and that peace in this life is possible. It requires prayer as you seek the face of God, sound advice as you seek wise counsel and trust that God will help you make the right decision for what He has in store for your life. Pray, this #effectiveSunday, for those in ministry (as well as the marketplace) whose life experiences are causing them to hold back from making decisions through which God desires to accomplish something great. Pray that fear and worry and anxiety not overtake them to a place where delay and indecision causes further damage and irreparable harm. Pray for a return and continual positioning of ourselves, to seek the face of God, first and foremost. Pray wisdom, will indeed come from those who ask of God, who gives generously. Pray for sound advice from those whose counsel we seek, from people who place their trust in God, where God has worked through miraculous through their own decisions, good, bad and devastating. What the enemy intends to use to harm and destroy us, would God use to accomplish the miraculous to protect us and restore us. For His name sake. For the glory of God. For the encouragement of the body of Christ. Risk will be rewarded. -PNC  ...prayer only works when you actually do it.
I've had a number of people in the past few weeks that God has brought to mind to pray over their lives. I have to tell you... the look on their faces, for the few of them that I've seen in person, asked how things were going and tell them I was praying for them, has been meaningful. To know and hear that one is being prayed for without them coming to you specifically with situations and requests of "I need prayer", is powerful and meaningful. Then today happened. A close family member has been blessed with a great career. It blows my mind how God has worked in his life. Over the past few days, I felt lead to pray for creativity in generating new business. When I asked him how things were going because I had been praying for him, he comes back with their having found some good 4th quarter opportunities, despite things slowing down, effectively, industry-wide. WOW! How cool... so you're getting some nuggets. That's awesome. To which, he essentially replies, a couple are more than just nuggets. Now, that stuff has probably been in the works before I started praying. Maybe it wasn't. I may never know and there's a list on your prayer focus that you may never know either. However, you don't know what's not happening through one's lack of prayer, just as much. Prayer works. I can't help but wonder what's happening in the lives of those that come to mind as I go through my day. It made my day, hearing the report of my family. And thanks to all of you making October 2015 the highest traffic month of Bring Me 70, since it's inception, I can't wait to hear of what God is accomplishing in pastors, churches and ministries as a result of these daily calls to prayer. I may not know this side of eternity, but that just makes heaven all the more worth the wait. Thank You. Pray, this #communitySaturday, for a greater desire to pray. For family. For friends. For pastors and churches. For politicians and communities. May we have a heart to hear and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, as people and situations are brought to our remembrance; for situations unknown, yet God places a sense of urgency. Pray an awareness about our lives, that we would know how to pray; not for the sake of being "in the know" or having an "inside scoop" on a situation, but for the purpose being able to pray specifically, earnestly. An effectual, fervent prayer that avails much. For the glory of God. For the betterment of community. Regardless of the outcome, post-prayer, what God does in the person who prays, the focus of the prayer; the perspective and lessons obtained...prayer allows God to work as He sees fit. To work the miraculous in our lives, according to His sovereign plan and divine purpose. -PNC  It never ceases to amaze me, how God uses a life-altering event, whether through trauma, disaster or moral failure to accomplish His purpose, as the resulting testimony reaches people who might have never heard the power of God and the grace of the Cross at work in the lives and affairs of man.
People in my own life, who when I think about what they have gone through and how God has worked the miraculous; people in the lives of my friends whose stories are mind-boggling at the start; yet heart-warming in the end. One such story is that of Hal Donaldson, Founder of Convoy of Hope. There are many organizations outside the church doing great work for the cause of Christ and the advancement of the Kingdom. While we must guard that such organizations don't take the place of the local church, those who understand their purpose and place in coming along-side to aid in the mission of the church-at-large can have and in fact, do have, incredible, eternal impact. Donaldson's parents were in a head-on collision when he and his siblings were young. Dad was killed, mom incapacitated for quite a while. Neighbors took them in that night, launching the sense that one day, having been in a place of incredible need, they would one day, help meet the incredible needs of others. Disaster relief, feeding programs, helping churches in rural communities in America and more... Convoy of Hope is just one of many incredible, "along-side the church" organizations meeting incredible needs. After 20 yrs, in 48 states, 113 countries and phenomenal amounts of food, resources and finances, Convoy is, indeed, missions-minded. Partnering with churches to extend their reach, beyond what they could accomplish on their own. www.convoyofhope.org Pray, this #missionsFriday, for organizations, such as Convoy and others, fulfilling a need within the body of Christ that extends the reach of the local church. Pray that through meeting physical needs, the doors will open to meeting spiritual, emotional and financial needs as well. Pray for creativity and wisdom as to how organizations can increase their impact, such as Convoy's partnering with rural churches (244 out of 250 of the consistently-ranked , poorest counties in America are rural). Pray for wisdom and guidance in their allocation and use of resources and finances; that they would be efficient, yet effective, maximizing their potential without minimizing the quality of their service. Nobody thirsts for dirty, contaminated, nasty-tasting water, even if it is cold. Pure, refreshing, renewing, energizing water...for the body, mind and soul. Given in the name of Jesus Christ. The ice-breaker to sharing how God used one's life-altering event on earth to reach others experiencing the same, in order that the end result is a life-altering decision for eternity. For His glory. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Thank you, for life-redeeming, life-sustaining, ever-lasting Water. -PNC  Something clicked as I stood during the worship portion of last nights' service. Listening to the music come through the speakers, I though to myself, this is world-class.
I'll write this cautiously, as I know there's been great debate in church trends of late... creating environments to "compete" with other venues and events that have little to nothing to do with spiritual matters this side of eternity That said, here are some things to consider...keeping in mind, not all churches are revamping their sanctuaries to follow whats trending... 1) If a church changes its environment to "compete" instead of creating a place that will usher in the presence of God, they shouldn't change. 2) The environment of Heaven, in which we will experience the glory of God, is head & shoulders above anything man can design here on earth. Remember, while earth talks about "the gold standard", gold in heaven, is a baseline. The streets are paved with it. 3) Colossians 3:23. The Message Bible writes it in this manner: Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work. Churches can and should minister with excellence. Preachers should deliver the Word of God with excellence. Worship expands a range of elements, from standing in awe of God, to dancing before the Lord as David did, but whatever the experience, do it with excellence. But in all of these things, be careful that the method does not overshadow the message, of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God, to stand in the gap of sinful man, a perfect sacrifice, lived with excellence, setting an example for all to follow. Pray, this #deaconThursday, that regardless of the environment, ministry will be done with excellence. Pray that communities and their people will be served, as though it was indeed, a "world-class" moment. Pray, that while the methods of church services may change, the truth of God's Word and the application to our lives will be paramount. Pray that the Body of Christ will carry out the mission of Heaven, will excellence; bringing glory and honor to the One who gave His very best for all eternal benefit. May we not waste our second-chance at eternity on second-rate living a life meant to glorify God and lift up the name of Jesus Christ. For the glory of God. Humble servants for the cause of Christ. Reaching the lost for eternity...with heaven-class excellence. -PNC  So this is triple word meaning day.
1) As a dad, I am rarely right.(often trumped by my wife and 2 daughters) My dad, a great man, is usually more right than I, although I'm pretty sure that's the voice of experience more than his masculine state or marital status (still often trumped by mom, even though she was the one outnumbered in our house). Our Father God, Creator of all things, always right. And while we may not always be right, we should strive to do right. By God. By man. By our own self. 2) I thank God for the framers of the U.S. Constitution. Rights have their time and place, but spiritually speaking, we need to take a step back, or 5-10, when staking our right to be right puts us wrong with God. That bears repeating. Be very careful, that your right to be right doesn't place you wrong with God. 3) God stands strong, firm and consistent. He remains true to His self. To His very nature. He is never out of alignment, out of place, out of sync, with His plans and the execution thereof. Whatever God does, He must remain true to His character This is what makes living out one's faith so challenging; the very essence of the struggle over man's soul, is the battle for his rights (regardless they be right or wrong) or submitting to the sovereign authority of Almighty God who knitted you together in your mothers' womb. Puts a whole new spin on "honor your father and mother" just thinking about that, doesn't it? Do you desire to be right? Do you desire to demand your right? Do you desire to submit in order to be in right standing with God? The first may occur on occasion. The second may have legal precedence. The third impacts eternity. I'll be the first to acknowledge, I need help raising my kids. Would I rather them hear about my being right; having rights or being right with God? My answer determines what kind of adults society will deal with. Are they going to be a lost cause to the culture, or declaring the cause of Christ to a culture who has lost their way? Pray, this #youthPastorWednesday, for this generation of young people that kids and youth pastors are watching live life. In this "right to be right about my rights" mentality, pray for wisdom and guidance as they work to bring clarity and truth to a generation focused on following self rather than Christ. Pray for strength and renewal for those tired of the superficial drama that comes from "all about me" attitudes. Pray a spirit of compassion as pastors work through the emotional, psychological and spiritual barriers as they bring the truth of a loving, sovereign God who desires right standing with Him. Relationship with God through the price paid by Christ's sacrifice of self. If any one being, was in a position to demand His "right to be right about His rights", it is Jesus Christ. Yet, even the Son of God, chose wisely, to be in right standing with Father God. A decision that impacted eternity for all of mankind, for all of eternity. For the glory of God. For the cause of Christ. One Father. Right in His Righteousness. Desirous of right standing with Him. -PNC  In an ever changing, fast-paced society, its easy to continue looking at major decisions and what's next opportunities with anticipation of how things could be better when compared to the frustrations and concerns of our present position.
It's why they call it "climbing ladders." Should anyone stop moving, everyone coming behind who is also trying to make progress gets stalled by the one who decided not to continue, at least for the time being. That said, there's incredible value and merit to staying put. There's a great piece of advice in the movie Facing The Giants, where a seasoned Christian man encourages the football coach, facing potential firing, that God is not done with the coach... that until God moves him, the coach is to grow where he is planted. It's certainly a balancing act, as one should guard against complacency, yet, I surmise that stability fosters greater growth at a faster pace, than "constantly" changing environments. The key to success here, is to continually seek the face of God of what He desires to accomplish in and through one's life and purpose from their current position. We always think we have to be "somewhere else" in life for God to accomplish His work, while He says, where I have placed you works for what I have in mind... keep moving and it won't. Said every parent to every kid ever...."STOP MOVING!!" Sometimes, I think God just folds His hands, looks at man and says, "I'll wait. I'm not going anywhere." And we play the typical prodigal... having to find out our way is wrong, before we realize how great it was with what God had going on. So...pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, for those "consume" by what's next in their ministry, their family, their finances. Pray that they continue to seek God and how He plans to use, grow and develop them in their current position. Pray they not be distracted or tempted to move where God is not leading or directing, simply because their is an appeal of some nature, that looks better than the challenge or difficulties that are wearing them down. Pray they remain true to the plans and purposes for which God has called them; trusting that by staying planted where they have been placed, that God will honor their faithfulness and obedience in ways they don't expect. Finally, pray, that should they be facing a time where a transplant is on the table, they will again, seek and trust God and whatever weighs in the decision process, they will follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the fulfillment of God's will and not just the "greener" aspects of what's next. LIFE... for those planted by Living Waters. Divinely placed and positioned by the hand of God. For His glory. By His grace. The sovereign Hand of Providence at work in our lives; where stability fosters growth leading to greater effectiveness for the cause of Christ, we pray. -PNC  An interesting and profoundly true statement was made during yesterday mornings' worship service. Its' that you will "run out of words" in your attempts to describe God. Consider the futility of one who is in a word, finite describing one who is all-knowing, all-seeing, all-present, all-powerful, unbound by both time and space... in a word, infinite.
Of course, with my seemingly, growing perspective to see life through the scope of pastors and ministry, I heard the phrase "run out of words" and knew it was as just an accurate description, albeit negative, about what transpires when a pastor burns out. For the burnt-out pastor and others in ministry, by the very nature of burnout, they have in fact, run out of words. They feel they have nothing left to give or to say, that it's not working or improving lives. Perhaps they've run out of words, because they are struggling to rely on God for what He has for their life and the lives of their church. Whatever their take on the matter and however it has come to be, when there is no longer the power of God in the words from the pulpit, wisdom in the words during counseling, or compassion in the words during loss or suffering, the body of Christ and the community suffer. Those who walk in for the first time, will sense something "not quite right" if they can't pinpoint it. Regulars and members, will certainly notice something is amiss. Maybe not right away, but long before one runs out of words, the words they use make less of an impact. They become so obscure that nobody knows what's being preached on; perhaps the delivery won't be up to par or the words simply fail to land on the hearts and minds of the listeners in a way that elicits a response. God is not one for empty promises; He does not call people to deliver an empty message. We pray for you, this #seniorPastorMonday, may God place in your heart, the words necessary to prompt you to keep going and not quit. You are of great value to your church, your community and the kingdom of Heaven. Pray that God strengthens and encourages Senior Pastors to draw closer to Him, with greater confession, great conviction, and greater courage; to call out to Him; to trust and rely on Him anew and afresh. May the sustaining power of all-mighty God refresh and revive pastors this day, daily from this moment forward. Pray the message of Christ be not delayed as Paul experienced during his travels, but that the Holy Spirit would go before pastors, paying the way to take their church and the ministry to new levels. We need you to keep going. And for the times you can't, stand firm. Let God refuel you, lest you run out fuel.... and words.  Two guys working in the dark. Three friends holding a handful of smartphones with the flashlight app on each of them. One friend capturing the moment...on his phone, of course. Another friend stands in the background, watching in appreciation, the body of Christ coming out to help her with an issue on her property. Welcome to "doing life together".
While we had a great time for the two or so hours we were there, we had a good few moments where the comedy came so easily, it didn't feel like work. Reminds of me of the advice, if you enjoy what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. The same is true for helping friends, family and even strangers in their time of need, whether its one of life-threatening seriousness or the mundane, can't do it by myself task. Either way... if you truly enjoy helping out when someone puts forth a request, then it's really no big deal to respond. But to the friend in need, appreciation extends from the depths of the heart. Healthy friendships foster healthy lives. Strained friendships foster broken lives. Maybe not to the point where a person can't function properly, but someone will sustain damage to their heart, mind and perspective where it will affect future interaction with people, whether in social settings or professional. You'll feel burned and reluctance and bitterness will keep you at bay from being a blessing or receiving one, should you be the one in need. Amazing how God works...I'm typing this, as Phil Keaggy's video on YouTube, "Worship and Song In Guitar Artistry" is playing. He's closing out the performance at Wheaton College, with a song from The Salvation Army Band, singing the lyrics, "heart to God, hand to man". This is friendship. This is community. This is the body of Christ. Love God. Love your neighbor. Show yourself friendly. Be the kind of friend that others will wish they had. Be the kind of friend others will be inspired to be by your example. Pray this #communitySaturday, for healthy friendships to dominate our culture and society. Pray for broken people to be made whole through the power and blood of Jesus Christ, for while hurt people hurt people, those who have been healed and restored offer healing. Pray those who have been shown grace will show grace. Pray that in this "woe is me" mentality, people will use discernment with their friends, as not to spur them towards regret and retreat from for being friend, both now and in the future. Pray God is glorified through people coming together, sharing life, sharing truth, sharing a cup of cold water with those in need, happy to help, able to do so, willing to be a friend, grateful to have a friend, all accompanied by the words, "be blessed in Jesus' name" for whereas we have received from Him, I now give to you. Love, compassion, forgiveness, hope, healing, restoration. For the glory of God. For the sake of our friends. Community. Hard at work. Even at dark. The Light of the world, with the help of some apps from our smartphones. -PNC  "God does not waste pain... nor mistakes."
- Rhonda Trask, Lead Pastor, Brighton Assembly of God The amazing character trait of God's sovereignty is found in the simple truth that He has no plan B. Like any good Father, you want your kid to make the right decision, but knowing their nature, you plan for what you know they will choose. Nehemiah, in preparation to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem reminds God of the promise He made to Moses regarding the promised land, including "even if you are exiled", meaning God knew the outcome should the nation of Israel continue on the trajectory of their decision making. And they did continue and paid for it. And when the time came, God was ready and Nehemiah's purpose comes to the forefront. We've been talking the past number of weeks about decision making in day-to-day church operations. The stuff that may or may not get noticed when everyone shows up on Sunday morning. The activities, events and ministries that are prayed, planned and implemented consume great time and effort, long before they are announced. And along the way, conversations that transpire from past experiences, struggles, problem areas, bad decisions, mistakes and the resulting aftermath that still hurts when highlighted. HEAVEN HAS NO TRASH RECEPTACLE! THE BOOK OF LIFE HAS NO 'FILE 13' SECTION. THERE IS NO STORAGE CLOSET OF LIVES THAT NEVER WORKED RIGHT OR GOT THEIR ACT TOGETHER. THERE EXISTS NO WALL OF SHAME FOR THE MOMENTS WE REGRET. NO LIFE IS DISCARDED ON HEAVEN'S FLOOR AWAITING AN ANGEL CHILD TO SWEEP UP THE UNDESIRABLE. HEAVENS' STREETS HAVE NO SWEEPERS!! (capitalized for those who read the opening quote and thought you were an exception!) As for you deacons, admins and staff... We pray this #deaconThursday for your lives... while congregations and visitors may scratch their heads and "what were you thinking" comments, we pray for wisdom, guidance and discernment in the decisions and situations you face; not for the purpose of everyone agreeing with or liking you or the outcome, but that your church operations would be in alignment with God's Word, His Will and the mission and vision He has for the community in which He has placed you. We pray God's grace on your lives... past mistakes, bad decisions, the aftermath, the fallout, the regret of the act and the consequence... may grace abound with the blood of Christ that covers a multitude of sins and the stuff that stands in the way of a stronger, closer, healthier relationship with God. We pray encouragement... God has not overlooked you, neglected you, forgotten about you or turned from you. He has not discarded you, tossed you or thrown you away. He does not play trash can basketball with His creation. May you be reminded today...you are loved, needed, respected and appreciated. Sunday would look vastly different without your work Monday-Friday. -PNC  Listening ears is a "game" we started playing with our daughters, to figure out a way to capture their attention in hopes that they pay attention long enough to hear and understand what we wanted from them.
Needless to say, it still gets played daily. However, unlike real games, where if played long enough, you actually get better, this continues and seemingly takes more effort with every passing day. I keep having moments back to my childhood, whether I don't remember what I did wrong and the times I got in trouble, at least in my pre-teen years. or...I'm not sure. Whatever happened from me to them, these girls are a trip. Then I consider God... in His genuine, loving, compassionate nature, looks at His creation and in a moment of Fatherhood, experiences the smile that accompanies the "face-palm". It truly sheds light on how we should respond to our earthly children. It does in fact, shed great light on how we should respond to our Heavenly Father. Despite our moments of failure, the frustration we cause, the fear that encroaches to affect future decisions and behavior... all of this on top of the times we forget or neglect to "turn-on" our spiritual listening ears, God remains constant and patient as He waits for our attention to be fully turned to what He has for us and what He wants to speak into our lives and reveal into our hearts and minds. Pray, this #youthPastorWednesday, that the difficulty and frustration that comes from kids and teens who've turned off their ears will not weigh so heavy as to prompt burnout. Pray a grace and understanding that's often hard to remember... life happens in seasons. Pray in this high-speed, hi-def graphics, digital theater surround sound, instant access culture, that the human spirit does not loss its ability to wait on God, to be a peace with the silence of His presence and to be ready and expectant to hear His still small voice. Pray pastors and parents alike, learn from what they are trying to instill in the kids they are raising and reaching for Christ... the importance of spiritual ears, ready to hear what the spirit is saying to the church, that is the body and the Bride of Christ. The sweet nothings that accompany love and affection, from God, are everything we need to sustain us and keep us, guide and direct us, prompt us and warn us, of the plans and purposes ordained in advance for us to accomplish for His glory. Let him who has ears, hear. Daily. If he will, but keep them turned on and attuned to the things of God. To the Word of God. To the voice of God. To the prompting and leading of the Holy Spirit. For the cause of Christ. -PNC  Who wouldn't and doesn't expect a return on their time, their treasure or their talent?
Effective product design, hard-earned money and the life of one who is capable of so much more if only one would take the time to make a contribution in them. It matters not what will remain here on earth with our name on it after we are gone. That said, giving is the currency of heaven. What is done in this life as an act of love on behalf of Jesus Christ counts as a transaction in heavens' registry. The difficulty is that, while that's true, it is difficult at best and excruciating at worst to watch someone in their faith experience constant frustration in this life as though prayers and efforts are landing seriously short. However, much like Wall Street, to witness long-term gain, you have to stay in the market. On this #associatePastorTuesday, pray that all pastors and associates in particular, will trust God anew and afresh, finding the courage and the staying power to remain in the marketplace of ministry. Pray they will see tangible, life-changing moments that will alter peoples' destinies for eternity. Pray for breakout and breakthrough for those issues that have held people captive whereby they have struggled to experience life with a positive outlook, having the joy of the Lord at the very root of their being. Pray pastors will witness the yielding of much fruit in the lives of those they minister, recognizing that through their sacrifice and willingness to serve, God is utilizing the message of the Cross to change their communities, in order that none would perish, but all would come to repentance. For the glory of God. Through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. With the help of the Holy Spirit. An incredible, eternal reward awaits. An earthly investment. A heavenly return. An eternity changed. One life at a time...and we've none to spare! -PNC |
AuthorJust a man, attempting to fulfill God's plan. Husband, Dad, Dreamer. Blogger. Archives
February 2019
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed