to everything turn, turn, turn...there is a season

Yeah, so I just got done reading some of the recent posts on our on-line discussion forum and I am as emotional as a kid on Christmas morning. The past two weeks have been a roller coster of excitement and hardship, joy and pain. It has been such a blessing to see fourteen people come to know Christ at Freedom Life in just eigth days. At the same time, I have been facing some definite places of growth both personally and professionally. Someone once told me that you should not go into ministry if you can be happy doing any other thing on the planet. I didn't fully understand what they meant at the time, but over the past three years I have begun to see it more and more clearly. It is an emotional rollercoster! It is a constant battle between good and evil and you are thrown right into the middle (along with your family and closest friends). It can be the most amazing and uplifting experience in the world, and absolutely confining and lonely in the same week. On one end you can be experiencing a move of God that is so powerful that you are brought to your knees in humility at the very idea that God has allowed you to play even the littlest role in it. Then on the other end, you can be under such persistent attack of the enemy that you are brought to your knees in utter frustration as you cry out to God to vindicate you. In the same eight days that our church has seen fourteen people come to know Christ as their Savior, I have experienced so of my roughest opposition yet from the devil. He is smart enough to not come at me directly- because I understand who I am in Christ, and it would be an ugly encounter for him- see Colossians 2:13-15, and Ephesians 6:10-17. But he has been very active through situations in my home and church. But at the end of the day, no matter how encouraged or discouraged I feel, and no matter how excited or not I am, I just rest in the fact that I am simply doing what He has called me to do, and that He will take care of the rest. Then I hear from the hearts of the people in my church, about what God is doing in their life...and it reminds me that it is all worth it! Who cares about temporary frustrations when there is eternal rewards! And this is why I must remind myself that the calling is not based on how I feel, but on what He has done. It is not based on who I am, but who He has made me. It is not based on my inability, but His ability. It is not based on how this week or that week has gone, but on what is of eternal value. It is not based on me...BUT on HIM! I am so thankful for what He is doing in my life, my family, and my church. He is so worthy, and I cannot image being at all satisfied doing anything else on this planet than what I am doing right now. I thank God that He blessed me with the privilege of serving as the pastor of Freedom Life. So bring on the rollercoaster. I am buckled in and ready for the ride. In fact, I even brought money to buy the overpriced pictures at the booth afterwards. In the words of a famous wrestler, "Just Bring It".

(to the reader) If you are reading this and have been experiencing discouragement as you try to do what God has called you to do, let me share with you one of my favorite scriptures,
" I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus" 1 Timothy 1:12-14. That scripture tells us that before God ever called you to something, He looked at your entire life and decided that you were faithful enough to handle it. So don't believe people or opposition...Believe God! You can do it.

"Thank you for choosing this rollercoaster today. Be sure that your saftey belt is securely fastened and your saftey harness is locked. Please be sure to keep your hands lifted in praise to God. Have a nice trip and enjoy your ride..."