As the time draws near for one season of my life to end and the next season to begin, I am forced to reflect on what God has done along the way. Over the past 4 years I have served in a secular job while volunteering in different ministries at our church. I have seen God stretch me, teach me, and grow me into who I am today. My wife and I knew that when we moved down here in May of 2004, we were called to plant a church. Little did we know what that journey would look like. Throughout the last 4 years we have had several opportunities to move into pastoral roles in other churches, but God had a different plan. He shut all of those doors and kept us on the track of lead pastoring a new church plant.
God’s call has been confirmed in us in many ways. The most significant was just a few weeks ago. Now I am not one to wake up early. I like my sleep. But this particular Saturday morning I was awake at 6:30 am and could not go to sleep. As I laid there I heard the Lord say “get up I have something I want to show you”. Wrestling with the fact that I wanted to go back to bed, I knew that if I did not get up there was something major I was going to miss. So I got up and went downstairs with Bible and journal in hand. He pointed me to the reading that I had been going through and told me to continue reading where I left off. As I spent some time in the Word, He gave me some things to write down and record in my journal. I then prayed and closed my Bible. Yet again the Lord spoke to me. He said “get dressed and go outside for a walk, I have more for you.” I couldn’t believe it, I had already had a deep time with Him reading the Word and He had more? I quickly got dressed and walked outside. I began to walk around my neighborhood and said “here I am Lord”. He began to show me things and tell me things that completely confirmed what we were doing. I believe he gave the area of the plant and He gave me a new confidence that He was working His plan.
So, next week I begin a new journey, the journey to planting a church. The title of my blog is a church planter’s journey. And that is just what it has been, a journey. I know that this journey is only beginning and that God has great things in store for us. So I am writing this post to encourage all of you who are waiting patiently on the Lord for and answer, direction, and/or timing. My advice, dig in and don’t give up. God’s timing is perfect and He will work His plan. We must understand that God’s plan is the right plan, and His timing is perfect. We too often try to work our plan and then ask Him for help. We must ask Him for His plan and as He gives us the pieces, then work that part.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Pr. 16:9
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Pr 19:21
Filed under: Church Planting, My Journal , Bible, Church Planting, God, god's calling, God's hand, God's Plan, god's will, Jesus, Relevant Church Charlotte, Religion
Recent Comments