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Topic: STEAM (12/03/15)
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TITLE: Endurance | Previous Challenge Entry
By John Esposito
12/10/15 -
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I needed to read this today. It’s so awesome how God reinforces His wisdom and strength through us through His word.
I recently read an article about how churches are losing their members. Memberships have gotten smaller and smaller for a number of reasons, but one struck a chord and really hit home with me.
In the article there is a group of people who are now being called the “Dones”.
They are done with church. Not done with their faith or with God, just done with church. Done with fund-raising, done listening to money matters, and done with bickering at committee meetings.
In the past two years I have removed myself from church ministries. After ten years as being the youth minister I passed the torch. After fifteen years of leading mission trips I again passed the torch. The sermons aren’t speaking to me any more so I wander around the building and wait for Communion. I break bread with Christ and then I leave.
I realized that I am one of the “Dones” and began to cry. I don’t want to be a “Done” or be done. I’m tired; I just want to take a little break. I began to pray and asked for forgiveness, clarity, and guidance.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV)
The following day I got a conference email with news and up coming events. One page read Local Pastors Licensing School beginning in September. That page glowed and I couldn’t go on to the next page. It’s screaming out to email the persons name at the bottom of the page.
I called her and this was our conversation, “Have you taken a lay speaker or lay servant course? Have you put in for your candidacy yet? Have you received a mentor yet?”
“No, no, and no.”
“Oh boy, I’ll have to talk to your district superintendent.”
Now thinking that I don’t have a snowballs chance in hell I get an email two days later informing me that that there is one seat left and that its mine if I want it. Again I prayed.
“Lord if this is your will I will follow through with it, but honestly I feel like I’m way out of my league here.”
“I will decide that.”
“Yeah, but the others are almost done with seminary and some have even been appointed already. They have done it the right way and have come in the front door. I feel like I’m sneaking in the back door.”
“It’s OK I opened that door for you, go take a seat.”
“Yeah but?”
“No yeah buts, go sit down.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes I’m sure, I’m God”
If that isn’t Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV), “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” I don’t know what is.
I was welcomed with open arms and their encouragement was over the top. I could not have been surrounded by a better group of future pastors. It was fun to hear what they have planned for their journeys, and it was fun to share the journeys that I have already been on.
The last weekend that we were together a young man from our class came up to me and thanked me for inspiring him. He also shared with me Titus 2:1-2 (NIV) - You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
So I guess my message this week is that we are never too young to teach and never too old to learn. I pray that where ever you are on your journey that you stay strong and never run out of steam so that you can finish the race.
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The message is "God's plans for us are perfect and according to His time" ---so your time was "now"
Very inspiring! I will share this with my friends and family.
God bless you~
Thanks for sharing.
Prayer helps us see clearer.