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RE: Waiting on God? - 8/29/2008 4:23:37 AM
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Lrenee
Posts: 10
Joined: 8/26/2008
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So what changed your mind between the age of 17 and now? Were those years for nothing? Do you think that all of that work and service is disqualified because two men thought you were unfit? And by a show of vote booted you off of the island? Has their vote put you out of God's good work? Did you place so much importance upon what actions were taken against you, and not upon what God Himself really had to say about all of this? You are still thinking about what these two men did, and you're reliving it each day in your mind and it's convincing you that if they thought that, then they must be right. I think that's what you're realling saying even if part of you says the opposite. Or maybe you think if God allowed that to happen to me then God must not feel that I am fit for this work. And you keep playing those thoughts over and over again in you mind and those thoughts are the thoughts that you call "feeling so discouraged." I would feel discouraged too dear pastor if all I could do each day was try and make sense of what had happend instead of just moving to the next step in my walk with God and letting go of that great offense, that rejection, that de-throning in a sense. But to illustrate this clearly for you pastor, I am going to remind you of one of the most monumental stories in the bible. You don't know me, but this story is also my story. And that is why this story is living and breathing to me and no doubt after reading it, I think you will find it will breath back a new sense of purpose in you. Let it minister deep in your heart. And search God out on this one, because I do believe that there is a wonderful message in this story, a message specifically for you.
Peter, so human, so wanting. So weak with many human imperfections reminds me of me and all those who try as they might fail often. Well even pastors fail. They aren't perfect and if they were maybe God just might take all of our perfect pastors to heaven. But of course that isn't true. We all grow. And we all grow differently. Well Peter he loved his Lord. I mean, he really really loved him. You couldn't find a more devoted man. Where Christ was, well there you would find Peter following right behind. But the story does change. It gives us reason for pause as we would find that Peter the man we cheered for would show his human side.
Oh, but I love the story no matter how tragic for Peter at one point. When we thought at last it had ended for poor Peter, it picks up. Oh what promise, what sanctifciation, what forgiveness what grace. It leaves no dry eye if you have ever fallen under the beguiling power of temptation and been loving restored to your former self.
Let's forward to the scene: It's in the tomb where they lay Jesus. But Jesus is gone. Risen. And the only messenger, an angel that God has sent to carry out a commission for the disciples and for Peter. The angel of Lord told the women to tell the disciples, including Peter to hasten to meet Christ after He had risen. And Peter if not believing that the angel spoke from authoirty and commission given him to include him in that roll call that day, might we have many of the good works that Peter did after he was converted? Peter could have found reason, good reason to disqualify himself, I mean need I remind you of the things that he did while staring into the face of a friend and savior who had called upon him to wait with him that night in Gethsemany to stay up with him for one more hour and he could not?
But Peter took the roll call to heart. He didn't argue. What he did do was respond to that sweet invitation. Yes he made sure he was present to meet his savior. I can picture him now, anxious to meet Jesus. To see what Jesus might say after what happend. Was Peter running to meet his savior. I'd like to think so. I know I would.
One of the greatest redemption stories after Christ rose again, to me was Peter's redemption. It was to me the greatest proof that after a man could spit in the face of grace, and find he was still a disciple, still needed in the service to convert souls, that we too, even me, can find that God can restore us to our former position after we have fallen.
Our proof, that He can still use a willing yielded vessel. Now what was the end result of that encouter with Jesus? Peter went right to work. Back to his former commission. Did he let that night and dawn at calvary go. He didn't argue what he'd done he knew full well what had happend, a moment of weakness, tempation, doubt, fear, not being ready to be confronted with having to lay his faith on the line, not ready to committ. He knew himself as he stared into the face of Christ. And Christ looked into Peter's eyes and what did He do? This is real important. For Christ could have rejected him. He could have said, "Peter I called you back here to make you an example of what not to do when you're dealing with things of grace". He could have been put to shame in front of the other disciples. We already saw what happend with Judas Iscariot. Adn that ended very tragically. In fact it may have been fresh on Peter's mind about how serious this meeting was and how much it would mean to really know Christ in the capacity that He'd always been but so much more obvious now that Peter was on the recieving end of that awesome and wonderful grace!
There in the cool of the morning, Christ proved that what He'd done secured all men, even Peter.
And Peter asked for no proof. He knew the power of that promise for it secured his authority as a dicsiple once and for all. If he were to come up against any power, principality, argument, or doubt, he now knew deep in his heart that Christ had not forgotten that at that cross Peter's denial was layed there to rest once and for all. And Christ being the genetleman that He is, didn't bring it up. He knew Peter's heart was changed. He knew that the conversion had taken place. He knw that He could count on the fact that the lesson had been learned and now Peter could apply it's template to all things for the rest of his life. Peter bowed in a new reverence to his savior. It had personal meaning to him.
Christ wasn't remiss in fortelling of all of the things Peter would endure. He told him up to the very hour in which he would be betrayed. And he also gave him a promise, though it's likely Peter forgot until he saw Jesus again. He told Peter, "satan has desired to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith fail not, and when you are converted strengthen thy breathren." We all are sifted. Our faith is sifted. But we have a promise that when we are converted strengthen our brothers and sisters. So I encourage you today, to take heart in this simple but profound story of a man that fell, but grace redeemed. A commission of God is one of the most wonderful things in all of the world. But we must protect that commission. Not to allow it to be laid in the dust of yesterday, but to picke up and renewed. It's a simple matter of going to God, beseeching Him, and as Peter did accepting it.
My the things that Peter did! God had a plan. And he used something devistating for Peter to really drive it home. I am so glad that God thinks with such wisdom. Adn with such compassion. His thoughts are past finding out. ARen't they? But oh, when you are on the recievng end of such goodness, it transforms your life. Let your mind be transformed today. Let your spirit be renewed. God wants to use you. Won't you allow Him to. Take time today, to bow before Him, with an open heart and mind. Pour out your heart for Him. And let His Spirit guide you. I pray Lord that you would touch this pastor's life, to let the past now become a thing of the past. And open his heart to the wonderful promises you have in store. Let his life begin today. Touch his ministry. And prepare him now to walk in a heart of acceptance. That the door that seemed closed has been thrown open and he takes that first step and walks through. Amen. Thank you God for your goodness. Thank you that you never leave us confounded. Thank you that your tender mercies are new everyday. And that in you are Yes! And Amen!
< Message edited by Lrenee -- 8/29/2008 4:42:54 AM >
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RE: Waiting on God? - 8/29/2008 9:00:57 AM
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2Preacher
Posts: 142
Joined: 2/7/2008
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Lrenee:
Your words concerning Peter are encouraging to me. I will try to take them to heart. I know that God is not finished with me yet. It is not God who has changed, it is me. I feel so far away, but I know where to go to find home. God, thankfully, has not changed his address.
2Preacher
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RE: Waiting on God? - 8/29/2008 5:00:24 PM
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monk-monk
Posts: 29
Joined: 8/27/2008
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Rest is so very important, as you know GOD himself rested on the 7th day.
We cannot be and do our best when we are tired, maybe this is your rest time, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I know in my season of rest, God is wanting me to be still, and listen to HIM, He has lots more to say to us, than we do Him.Can we really give someone our attention if we have our mind on other things, and trying to firgue out what God wants?
Maybe you need to be still, and get before God and wait on HIM.
May God's blessings and His will be upon you.
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RE: Waiting on God? - 8/29/2008 5:09:39 PM
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monk-monk
Posts: 29
Joined: 8/27/2008
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I have been where you are now, and stayed there until I realized that the shattered glass of my past was still there-- IN THE PAST--and if I was still stepping on it, I had to be in the past too. Start walking forward and away from it, the enemy would love to keep you where you are, but Jesus wants us to move forward with Him. I know that when you ask which way to go, He will tell you. "We have not, because we ask not."
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RE: Waiting on God? - 9/6/2008 5:55:33 PM
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2Preacher
Posts: 142
Joined: 2/7/2008
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What happened, did you guys just go away?
2Preacher
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RE: Waiting on God? - 9/6/2008 6:40:39 PM
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PopsiLufsJesus
Posts: 5055
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I'm still here waiting...
700!!!!
_____________________________
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” ~Matthew 9:37-38 
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RE: Waiting on God? - 9/6/2008 9:20:36 PM
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2Preacher
Posts: 142
Joined: 2/7/2008
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Popsi:
I am not sure what happened. I thought things were going well. I have been taking some time to take all of this in and think about it. That's why I took so long in posting.
Did you like the poem I wrote? It is a song. I wrote it about 5 years ago when I was contemplating a move in ministry and did not see exactly how things would work out. All I knew was to trust God and he would work it out.
There are a lot of times like that in life. I am still learning to trust the Lord like I should. There really is no reason not to trust, but I always seem to find one. I need to stop that .
2Preacher
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RE: Waiting on God? - 9/6/2008 9:26:28 PM
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PopsiLufsJesus
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I did like it! Nicely written!
What do you mean, you don't know what happened?
_____________________________
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” ~Matthew 9:37-38
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RE: Waiting on God? - 9/6/2008 11:17:50 PM
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2Preacher
Posts: 142
Joined: 2/7/2008
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Popsi:
I have been watching the thread for a few days and had not seen any posts. Just wondered where everyone was . That's why I wondered what happened?
2Preacher
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RE: Waiting on God? - 9/6/2008 11:20:59 PM
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PopsiLufsJesus
Posts: 5055
Joined: 5/6/2008
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Oh okies... I got ya
_____________________________
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” ~Matthew 9:37-38
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RE: Waiting on God? - 10/2/2008 1:10:27 PM
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Marksman
Posts: 276
Joined: 6/7/2007
From: Drouin, Victoria, Australia
Status: offline
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In situations like this I try to use discernment (gift of the spirit) rather than just say what I think. As I read your posts, what seemed to be forming is an impression that you have this idea that you are acceptable to God through you qualifications and ministry and if you are not in "formal" ministry, you don't have a relationship with God.
That being the case, what usually happens is that when we have outlived our usefulness in man made activity, God pulls the carpet out from under us so that he can begin to have a relationship with us, not our ministry.
It sounds to me that is just where you are at so stop praying and looking for jobs and concentrate on just being.
God told me one day that he was crazy about me. When you know that, being a pastor, music leader, bible study group leader is totally irrelevant. All that matters is that God is number one in my life and he wants to be a dad to me. He doesn't need me to be man ordained for that to happen.
You're out of the ministry because that is what God wants. He wants you, not your ministry. Until he has you, he won't give you back your ministry. When he does, do not be surprised if it is quite different to how it used to be.
I shun any form of "ördained" leadership as I know that it creates more problems than it solves and it prevents me from being subject to God's will and purpose as in most cases the denomination or church want you to take your instructions from them and if God says anything different, too bad.
Wild horses would not get me back into the ministry because I am annointed by God so I already have a ministry given by him so I don't need man's approval.
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God Bless America
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RE: Waiting on God? - 10/3/2008 12:36:01 PM
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pstrdebi
Posts: 739
Joined: 4/28/2008
From: So. Oregon, by way of So. Cal.
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quote:
ORIGINAL: 2Preacher
Ever wondered why it is so hard to wait on God? I can tell you that it is the most difficult thing I have ever done. I've gone through all of the emotions and thoughts that come to your mind. Anger, questioning, wondering what is going on, you name it I've been there.
I am a minister and have been one for 20 years. I've pastored 2 small churches, gone through 14 years of College and Seminary training, raised my family, and now, at 46 (soon to be 47) years of age - it seems I am stuck? I'm in between churches and it seems that nothing is on the horizon for me. I've been told to go start a church somewhere. I have been told to just keep waiting on God and he will bring me back in his time. I only know that I want to serve and I am tired of feeling like I am spinning my wheels and getting no where.
Does anyone have any advice for me? I feel that God is trying to teach me something, I am just not sure what it is.
2Preacher
Wow. When you get the answer... can you let us know what it is? 
We have been going through the exact same thing, feelings, etc. It is VERY HARD to wait and wonder. For us... God has been so silent. 
God bless you as you wait... we'll pray for you in this time.
Pastors Dave and Debi
_____________________________
"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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RE: Waiting on God? - 10/4/2008 4:18:31 PM
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Little_1
Posts: 1452
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quote:
ORIGINAL: 2Preacher
...... It is a poem that I wrote and put to music. I am still learning it's full meaning.
I know God will make a way,
He is faithful every day.
On His promises I'll stand,
I'll keep holding to his hand.
Though the way seems long and drear,
My heart knows that he is near,
And I know God will make a way for me.
When you cannot see the light,
Through the darkness of the night,
Just remember, He is there.
Our God always answers prayer.
He will make a way for you,
And He will see you safely through,
I know God will make a way for you.
When the race of life is run,
And the Victory is won,
We will stand on Heavens shore,
We will hear Him say well done.
Looking back through years of time,
I'll see his footprints next to mine,
And I'll know God has made a way for me.
God is faithful.
God is true.
What he promises, he'll do!
Where he sends, He will provide.
In his love I will abide,
And I know God will make a way for me.
@copyright, 2003
What a beautiful poem. It is a beautiful thing when God gives you a poem / song and the meaning of what God gives you starts to unfold in your life thereafter. During a difficult period in my life, the Lord gave me a poem / hymn which He is walking me through even today (almost 22 years later). It has challenged me over the years but never more so than this past year.
God bless you for sharing this special poem. It really is very beautiful.
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