Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Away For A Few Days

Some days I wake-up with what feels like the weight of the world on my chest. Not knowing why I feel what I feel, just nervous and uneasy I have to fight my way through what I know is an attack of the enemy. I have to constantly remind myself that nothing will happen today that God cannot handle. I often wonder how people who do not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ make it through life without the bless assurance that those of us who are save have. My heart goes out to those individuals and fuels my passion to see people come into the saving knowledge of how Christ died for our sins and rose on the third day morning. This along with the fact that the Lord Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for me gives me the strength and the determination to keep moving on

Today, I have a break in schedule during the EK Bailey Expository Preaching Conference hosted by EK Bailey Ministries here in Dallas, TX. This is my 12th year attending and let me quickly say “God is awesome!” He has used this conference to solidify the importance of prayer [not that I didn’t know that prayer was important] but God has been revealing a lack of genuine spiritual growth in our church family. As the spiritual leader I have questioned what could I do differently but I realize that it is not about sermons or lessons it about moving people into to a deep relationship with God through intimate communion in prayer. It has been for a lack of better term ‘enlightening’. I have my work cut out for me when I get home trying to assimilate everything and began this never ending journey of teaching people to live life, to live more abundantly and live on purpose.

My ‘Good Thang’ is with me and that make all the difference in the world in traveling. We’ve been so very busy that it’s been really hard to try to spend some quality time together. This has been a great two days with all the sessions, we’ve found time to share some special moments. In my maturing in ministry my goal is to learn how to relax and be more of a husband, father and grandfather. Entering into ministry as a boy plus being a bit of a workaholic doesn’t make for a good thing. I thank God for my wife and family who have continued to love me but there is a thin line between love and hate.

I was very proud of my ‘Jan’ she hates when I call her that this past Sunday as she stood to speak at the Tabernacle Baptist Church during thier Women's Annual Day. She was awesome as my childhood pastor would say. She is becoming more and more conformable doing what I feel but she denies is her destiny. God has his hand on her life but she’s fight him all the way but I think that what God desires most those who don’t want to go. Some people desire the lime light or the spot light and all God wants is those who desire The LIGHT! Continue to pray for her obedience to God.

This weekend will be the close of our 15th Anniversary Celebration of Pastoral Ministry. I don’t think I’ll ever get use to the fuss [the good or the bad] that come along with this. I know that it is God’s Will but it’s tough because the enemy is always busy. I’m always humble that the church would take out the time but I’m always glad when it is over. I do always enjoy having one of my bestest friends Rev. Raclius Douglas and my pastor Dr. J. A. Reed Jr. to come through the Bethel Church.

Looking forward to the rest of the conference we’ll worship this evening at the Concord Church where my friend Pastor Bryan Carter serves as Senior Pastor. We had a chance to go out lunch and I appreciate him and his wife Stephanie taking the time out of their busy schedules to be kind to Janice and me. Oh, yea I most forgot Rev. Vance Roland and his wife Bev are here with us, we’ve been good for each other.

The maids knocking on the door so I better get going. Later

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