I think the roller coaster is a great picture of life, my life anyway. Maybe I am the only one like this, but there are times that I can't help but rejoice, worship, witness and praise my Lord. Then there are those other times. I feel down, discouraged, stagnant and apathetic. I worry about everything and try to take it all on myself. I wonder why our church isn't growing, why people aren't changing, why preparation is sometimes difficult, why people tell me some things. Why? Why do I do this worrying? I suppose it is like the man said in the New Testament, "Lord, I believe but help thou my unbelief." I know He is my Savior but I suppose at certain times I allow Satan to win the "Joy" battle. I believe in Him and know He is capable of all things, but still I lose focus and forget about the Joy of God.
I wish I could go into the part of my brain that has to do with discouragement and remove it. :) I know this isn't possible but it would be nice. Up for a while and then down for a while gets old! I suppose this makes sense, however, because if we were up and happy all the time then we might not appreciate the blessings and grace of God as we should. Before every mountain there must be a valley!
So...I guess I wanted to whine some. Ha! This is pathetic. I'm going to go do something fun like be happy, talk about Jesus and leave my life, family and ministry results up to my Father!
Later---Preacher out!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
God's Timing
Isaiah 55:8 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 - For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
This is something I have to remind myself of often. Months back I was introduced to a man named, Thanmi Kazingmei. He is a man in India who has a huge burden to share Jesus with lost souls. He lives in a place where this is not a popular message. His life could even be in danger because of his bold stand for Christ. Nevertheless, he presses on to share his faith in Him. God has opened some amazing doors in letting us meet and get to know each other. Our church wanted to meet this man, hear his burden and consider sending him out as a missionary to India. Well, this can be a laborious process and we knew that but God, again was opening doors so we walked through them. Thanmi went to great lengths, spent his own money and put his life in danger just to secure a passport for his wife (he already had one) so that they could come here to share their burden. The day they received the passport they were told by her Dr. (she is pregnant) that she was not allowed to fly. This was discouraging to them and us too, but he decided to come alone. So, he started the visa process. He had his first interview and was denied because he did not have sufficient supporting documents. This was understandable because he didn't really know what he needed. We saw this as a blessing in disguise really because the man doing the interview told him exactly what he did need and that he could re-apply any time. We went to work! We prayed and prepared. He gathered documents and again worked strenuously to do things just right so he could come and share his burden. The second interview was set for this past Monday. He went and what do ya know...They denied him again, however, this time they gave no reason. I can assume it was denied because of the invitation letter saying he was coming to preach in our church, but that's just assuming.
So what now? Well, we will pray and let God work. Am I sad? Yep! Let down? Yep! Is he? Absolutely! Are we hopeless? Not at all! We both know God has ways and thoughts which are higher than ours. His timing is all together different. This often makes me go bananas (as Walker would say), but this is the life of a believer. We, by faith, believe that God has a higher purpose. I will not stop praying nor will I stop working to get this man here. Why? Because why would God put such a peace in my heart about a man I have never sat and talked with if He didn't have a higher plan? No I will not get ahead of God and no I will not take matters into my own hands. Yes I will pray and look forward to the day we can meet and discuss the Kingdom work of God to be done in North India.
Until then, we must understand thus "Saith the LORD."
P.S. Please add this man of God, Thanmi Kazingmei on Facebook if you have not done so already. Offer a word of encouragement to he and his wife, Sereno.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Bone Head
That's me! No this is not in response to Julie's post about me bringing home too many dogs. Lol. It is my admittance to what you all already know. I am a bone head. I know this because I do things like sell my bow and all the goodies which go with it. This seems like a fine idea when it's 110 degrees in July. When it is 44 degrees on opening day of BOW SEASON, however,...thus you have a bone headed decision. Making me a bone head.
I don't know why I am using this term "bone head" so often these days, but you understand. Haha!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Signs of Aging
1. I wear glasses now
2. I hurt the day or days after I play ball
3. I detest loud music, sagging britches and loud motorcycles
4. I refer to pants as britches
5. I understand that people who shop at Dollar Store (even for clothes) aren't poor they just don't want to
spend the money they have :)
6. I dream about taking naps
7. My nose hair is getting obvious because it is longer than my nose
8. When I get my hair cut she also trims my brows
9. I am slower than I once was
10. When I go visit folks in the nursing home I find myself thinking, "this really is a nice place to live."
2. I hurt the day or days after I play ball
3. I detest loud music, sagging britches and loud motorcycles
4. I refer to pants as britches
5. I understand that people who shop at Dollar Store (even for clothes) aren't poor they just don't want to
spend the money they have :)
6. I dream about taking naps
7. My nose hair is getting obvious because it is longer than my nose
8. When I get my hair cut she also trims my brows
9. I am slower than I once was
10. When I go visit folks in the nursing home I find myself thinking, "this really is a nice place to live."
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Papaw Said...
I have the greatest "job" on earth. When I was 15 years old I announced the calling of God in my life to become a preacher. (Remember the following statement for later)My grandfather once told me that there is a difference in a man announcing his call to preach and him actually surrendering to that call. I announced my call on July 8, 2000.God used me. I traveled many miles and preached at many places. Seems like every Sunday I was somewhere preaching. Then there were revivals from time to time and other special events. I had many ups and downs in my life following this announcement. I lived for God now and then but mainly did whatever I wanted to do. Everything was about me. Yes, I was preaching but not wholeheartedly. Do I expect to answer to God for that one day? Absolutely! Anything I can do about the past now? Nope. While living this self-centered, worldly life God reminded me often, even daily, of His calling in my life. God never left me. The calling of God never lifted off of me. I wasn't living like I was created to live. I wasn't meeting the calling which God had given me. He counted me worthy and placed me in the ministry, yet I took it lightly and disregarded his call. I had announced but I had not surrendered!
In 2004 God grabbed my attention and focused it on Him. He allowed me to get myself in a series of circumstances of which only He could get me out. He let me get myself to a place where the only way to look was up. He used many ways and many people to get me where I needed to be with him. Some of those ways I didn't like, but I thank God He cared enough to get my attention. I was in a "me lifestyle" of which I never should have been a part. Everything was about me and what I wanted to do. Believe me I know exactly how horrible of a person this sounds like. You mean you preached in churches but weren't living for God? Yes. You often times put on a front? Yes. I was that guy. I am not proud of it but that is the fact. Many probably thought all was good when in all actuality all was far from good. Far from God would be more like it. I never doubted what God wanted me to do, but it sure didn't match my plans. So I appeased the flesh and soothed the conscience. That's right...Announced but didn't surrender.
Remember the saying my grandfather told me? Well, 2004 was when I proved my grandpa right. I had announced my calling in 2000 but I didn't fully surrender until 2004. It was that year that God opened a life changing door to someone who did NOT deserve it, me! He allowed me the awesome privilege to serve as youth/associate pastor of Eastside Baptist in Minden, LA. I never knew how much that church family, her pastor and those children would change/impact my life. Bro. Richard Methvin (the pastor) was upfront, honest and harsh when necessary. He scolded me, taught me, rewarded me and prayed with me. Today he is a father in the ministry to me and a best friend. God's blessings began to flow when I decided to surrender to His call and live an honest, dedicated, God-centered life. Just when I thought it couldn't get better, it did. God gave me a woman. Beautiful, funny, loving, kind, caring and forgiving doesn't even begin to describe this woman. She was all these and more, but one thing she didn't deal with was my old life or the people who wanted me to stay in it. She laid the law down to me, them and anyone else who got in the way. She wasn't possessive, jealous or crazy in any way. She loved me! She knew God put us together to be one and she wouldn't let Satan mess it up. I remember one night specifically when we stayed up until 3am so I could sit and tell her about all the bad things I had done, poor decisions I had made and messes I had gotten myself into. I knew for sure she would be gone after that night. However, she loved me, listened to me and has never held one thing against me. That night was the last night we talked about many of those things. To her they were my past and she was willing to let them stay there, in the past. God gave me a woman to help me understand my grandpa's saying. Between her, Bro. Richard, my family, church family and the kiddos God gave me in the Eastside youth I finally understood it was time to surrender. I enrolled in seminary that year. In 2005 I married the woman who I say "God used to save my life and ministry." God has been so good to allow me the privilege to live, learn and change.
God has brought us so far since then. I say us because as of November 19, 2005 me and momma became one flesh and there isn't a me anymore. It's us from then on...We worked at Eastside 2 years, Calvary Baptist in Hamburg for 2 years and Calvary Baptist in Magnolia for going on 4 years now. I graduated 5 years of seminary 2009. He has been faithful through it all. We have the 2 beautiful, healthy children and more CBC family and friends than I can name. I apologize to my Lord often for failing Him for so long. I tell Him I am sorry for Announcing the Call but not Surrendering to it. He has forgiven me and I can't stop praising Him for it.
Again, I have the greatest "job" on earth. It really isn't a job. It is a calling of God. A calling which I didn't appreciate for about 4 years but one I wouldn't trade for all the world now. There are ups and downs. Fun times and times like today when I talked to a lady about her husband's cancer which might soon take his earthly life. The blessings of God, however, always dim the view of the bad times. Some see this as a job but it isn't. The calling to preach the gospel is the highest calling on earth. It isn't extended to every man but it is extended to some unlikely candidates like myself. I am not any more special than anyone else. I don't know why God would or how he could use someone like me to bring Him glory and care for His people. I am glad He gave me the time to experience what it is like to surrender to His calling though. I have so much to improve on as a preacher/pastor. The road ahead is long and there will be many twists and turns, but we won't travel it alone. Thank God, He won't leave us! With the high calling comes high responsibilities. Much has been given and much is required, so pray for me. Pray for all men of God! Pray we will surrender and stay that way! I'm not sure if anyone will read this but if so and if you are where I was, know this, God won't stop calling, so you better start listening!
Loving God and His People!
In 2004 God grabbed my attention and focused it on Him. He allowed me to get myself in a series of circumstances of which only He could get me out. He let me get myself to a place where the only way to look was up. He used many ways and many people to get me where I needed to be with him. Some of those ways I didn't like, but I thank God He cared enough to get my attention. I was in a "me lifestyle" of which I never should have been a part. Everything was about me and what I wanted to do. Believe me I know exactly how horrible of a person this sounds like. You mean you preached in churches but weren't living for God? Yes. You often times put on a front? Yes. I was that guy. I am not proud of it but that is the fact. Many probably thought all was good when in all actuality all was far from good. Far from God would be more like it. I never doubted what God wanted me to do, but it sure didn't match my plans. So I appeased the flesh and soothed the conscience. That's right...Announced but didn't surrender.
Remember the saying my grandfather told me? Well, 2004 was when I proved my grandpa right. I had announced my calling in 2000 but I didn't fully surrender until 2004. It was that year that God opened a life changing door to someone who did NOT deserve it, me! He allowed me the awesome privilege to serve as youth/associate pastor of Eastside Baptist in Minden, LA. I never knew how much that church family, her pastor and those children would change/impact my life. Bro. Richard Methvin (the pastor) was upfront, honest and harsh when necessary. He scolded me, taught me, rewarded me and prayed with me. Today he is a father in the ministry to me and a best friend. God's blessings began to flow when I decided to surrender to His call and live an honest, dedicated, God-centered life. Just when I thought it couldn't get better, it did. God gave me a woman. Beautiful, funny, loving, kind, caring and forgiving doesn't even begin to describe this woman. She was all these and more, but one thing she didn't deal with was my old life or the people who wanted me to stay in it. She laid the law down to me, them and anyone else who got in the way. She wasn't possessive, jealous or crazy in any way. She loved me! She knew God put us together to be one and she wouldn't let Satan mess it up. I remember one night specifically when we stayed up until 3am so I could sit and tell her about all the bad things I had done, poor decisions I had made and messes I had gotten myself into. I knew for sure she would be gone after that night. However, she loved me, listened to me and has never held one thing against me. That night was the last night we talked about many of those things. To her they were my past and she was willing to let them stay there, in the past. God gave me a woman to help me understand my grandpa's saying. Between her, Bro. Richard, my family, church family and the kiddos God gave me in the Eastside youth I finally understood it was time to surrender. I enrolled in seminary that year. In 2005 I married the woman who I say "God used to save my life and ministry." God has been so good to allow me the privilege to live, learn and change.
God has brought us so far since then. I say us because as of November 19, 2005 me and momma became one flesh and there isn't a me anymore. It's us from then on...We worked at Eastside 2 years, Calvary Baptist in Hamburg for 2 years and Calvary Baptist in Magnolia for going on 4 years now. I graduated 5 years of seminary 2009. He has been faithful through it all. We have the 2 beautiful, healthy children and more CBC family and friends than I can name. I apologize to my Lord often for failing Him for so long. I tell Him I am sorry for Announcing the Call but not Surrendering to it. He has forgiven me and I can't stop praising Him for it.
Again, I have the greatest "job" on earth. It really isn't a job. It is a calling of God. A calling which I didn't appreciate for about 4 years but one I wouldn't trade for all the world now. There are ups and downs. Fun times and times like today when I talked to a lady about her husband's cancer which might soon take his earthly life. The blessings of God, however, always dim the view of the bad times. Some see this as a job but it isn't. The calling to preach the gospel is the highest calling on earth. It isn't extended to every man but it is extended to some unlikely candidates like myself. I am not any more special than anyone else. I don't know why God would or how he could use someone like me to bring Him glory and care for His people. I am glad He gave me the time to experience what it is like to surrender to His calling though. I have so much to improve on as a preacher/pastor. The road ahead is long and there will be many twists and turns, but we won't travel it alone. Thank God, He won't leave us! With the high calling comes high responsibilities. Much has been given and much is required, so pray for me. Pray for all men of God! Pray we will surrender and stay that way! I'm not sure if anyone will read this but if so and if you are where I was, know this, God won't stop calling, so you better start listening!
Loving God and His People!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Hunting Seasoning
That's right! I am hunting seasoning some things. What's that mean? Well I took the bed cover off of my truck so that I can fit larger items (like deer with huge horns) in the back. I put rope, ratchet straps, tools, etc in there. The day is soon coming that we will be allowed to arise, kill and eat! I have gotten out my boots. I've made sure my back pack has all essentials in it. I am going to take camo clothing inventory. This is all part of "hunting seasoning." It's just what a man does to get all things prepared for the big day!
Probably the most exciting part about hunting season this year is that Walker is chomping at the bit to get in the stand. That makes me happy! I love being a dad and so thankful for my dad and grandpas. Thankful for their willingness to take me in the woods and teach me about the outdoors that God created for us to enjoy.
Probably the most exciting part about hunting season this year is that Walker is chomping at the bit to get in the stand. That makes me happy! I love being a dad and so thankful for my dad and grandpas. Thankful for their willingness to take me in the woods and teach me about the outdoors that God created for us to enjoy.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
She did it!
JULIE WENT TO THE WOODS WITH US!!! We just got back in from out outing to the deer lease. You read it right too. Julie went with us! Me and the kiddos loved it and I think Julie did too. She is such an awesome mom and wife. God has given us a beautiful day and beautiful family. I could not think of anything I would rather be doing than enjoying God's creation, both family and nature. Have I said lately how blessed and undeserving I am? Well, I AM!
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