Ephesians 1:3 NLT
All praise to
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms
because we are united with Christ.
Psalm 46:10 NLT
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be
honored throughout the world.”
There
are many times in life where you just have to say “wow” and acknowledge the
presence and goodness of God. I have
called this “in awe moments” in the past when God was working and changing
lives. Those are times that I long for
and each leaves me changed and strengthened to move forward.
The
past twelve months have offered many of those times, and I would like to take
you back through several of them.
Realize that not all of them were positive. In fact some brought huge amounts of stress,
tears and struggle, yet in those times there was great God given growth in my
life. I must remember, and I remind you,
that God will punish and correct the people He loves and as well prunes us so
we can grow even more.
There
was a time in 2013 that I was really questioned what God was going as my heart
was so heavy because of relationships that were strained. It took lots of prayer, seeking wisdom and
confessing where I messed up to get through.
But I learned much, pressed forward and saw God do amazing things.
2013
began with many of our church leaders being convinced that God was going to let
us have the property at 700 Commerce Court in Martinsville, Virginia. It wasn’t until the middle part of May that
this was a reality. We were rejected
several times, but I on believed. My
family was out of town when the call came asking if we still interested in
purchasing the property. The answer was
yes. We had lost an online auction and
had our offers turned down, but then it turned around. We bought it for 22% of the owner’s original
asking price. That remains a miracle and
an answer to pray. We have a long way to
go to get in the property, but we continue to believe.
When
our oldest daughter went into surgery in June, Julie and I waited and waited
for what we knew would be more than four hours of surgery. It was over 7 hours till we were able to see
Rebecca. The months leading up to the
surgery were tough for Julie and our family.
The months of recovered were difficult too. But God always sent us people to encourage us
and bless us. In other words, God showed
up to remind us that He is in control.
I had
to fly a few times this past year, and that is one of my favorite places. That might sound strange. But I enjoy the conversations with the people
that sit around you on plans. I’ve been
able to share my faith, to bless someone in need, to sit and listen to a very
successful Christian businessman and much more.
It was on one of those flights that God began to speak to my heart about
the goals of 2014. I cannot wait to see
what God is going to do. Great leaders
see further, see before and see more than the people who are following them,
and great leaders have people following them because they see. People, I see some awesome, God filled days
ahead. There will be lots of time of
“wow” ahead.
Visiting
the LA Dream Center this last fall was another high time of the year. I had the honor of visiting with some great
people making a difference in the lives of thousands of people. I am always challenged when I visit. Yet one morning was greater. I sat on the second row of church and
listened to my friend Keith share his testimony. 18 months before we weren’t able to find
Keith when his brother died because Keith was dealing with life long
addiction. I listened to this man talk
about dealing with addiction by the grace and with the help of God. In the months since I have seen God do
awesome things through this friend.
There are many people we are able to be with at The Community
Fellowship, and many of them are dealing with addictions of various kinds. Here is a big statement: there is hope, and God is our hope! We were able to start a Christian Recovery
group that meets each Wednesday at church.
I’ve seen God work through some of these people in so many wonderful
ways. There is more to come.
At the
end of 2012 I was able to go on the Emmaus Walk in our area. Julie went on one in early 2013. This spiritual retreat has brought several
new relationships and new reality into our lives as God open our hearts to
accept from Him more wisdom and understanding.
Some of the relationships have gone very deep to help our faith
grow. Some of these have been new
friendship and people who have blessed us.
If you are invited to go on an Emmaus walk, please go. Your life will be changed.
This
list is not all encompassing of the times I’ve heard from and worshipped God
this past year. I’ve heard from God as I
listened to some great people preach the Word of God. I’ve heard from God as I was alone, sitting
and meditating on what I’ve read and heard.
I’ve heard from God when I have been on prayers walks. I’ve heard from God early in the morning and
late at night. I’ve heard from God in
the middle of meetings with people and when reading a book of some sorts. In every one of those places God showed
up. They were “wow” moments.
If you
claim to be a Christ follower and/or a leader, I challenge you to seek “wow”
moments. We will lead stronger after
having those times. We will be better
equipped to share with others when we have spent time with God.
How is
God preparing you for greater days ahead?
He is speaking. This week my
family is out of town with my wife’s family in Georgia. I’m enjoying quiet, unplugged time, but last
evening after Christmas eve worship and dinner I was getting tired and went to
take a nap. I turned on the TV in the
room we are staying in and began to flip channels. I came across a show where Robert Morris from
Gateway Church in Fort Worth, TX was preaching.
God began to speak to some of the questions that have been in my heart
and on my mind the last few months. It
really was a “wow” moment. I cannot wait
to allow some of those moments to sink in and then to share with you.
God
has much in store in the days ahead for you and for me. Seek “wow” moments with God. You will not be disappointed.
Psalm 90:12 NLT
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that
we may grow in wisdom.
1 Peter 2:9 NLT
But you are
not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy
nation, God’s very own possession. As a result,
you can show others the goodness
of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
NOTE:
Would you consider giving an end-of-the
year gift to The Community Fellowship.
Your gift will go a long way to helping those in our community who are
hungry, hurting and homeless. Give
online at THIS
LINK.
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