I read a strong reminder for those of us that have the responsibility of preaching God’s Word, but I think it’s applicable for all of use. These are Jesus words to us from The Message Version.
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In the Biblical days of Solomon, bird hunters would spread a net on the ground, baited with food for the birds. As the birds would fly down for dinner, the hunters would pull up the nest quickly, capturing many of the birds. Birds are smarter than one might think, though. If they saw the hunters laying down the nets, they wouldn’t land and so they wouldn’t be caught by the trap.
Recovering after a mistake or a fall is what keeps a lot of people from ever accomplishing much in life. Failure does not have to stop you from achieving your dreams and goals. A lot of bouncing back depends on your response to the fall.
By all practical standards if I live a normal life, at the current age of 45 years, I’m at or past middle age. Maybe it doesn’t happen to everyone like this, but my middle age crisis has caused me to reflect on life thus far… (Certainly better than some crises I have heard)
We have had a busy season at Grace Community Church. Fall is the time of year when most churches ramp up their ministries, which tracks with back-to-school schedules and the change to cooler weather. Our church has been in a fast growth mode since day one, but we seem to be in a unique place of extraordinary growth right now. In addition to this growth we are launching new small groups, a college ministry, gearing up for our annual community outreach ministry, and adding a third service, along with numerous other changes occurring this fall, some that we are not ready to talk about yet. Some days it seems we have just enough energy to get through another week and all our time is focused on the next Sunday.
When I meet with people who have made mistakes in life in my role as a pastor, I am always less concerned with where they have been or what they have done wrong. I am always more concerned with where they want to go in life and how dedicated they are to get there. My dad is an example of someone that wants to end well. I believe his legacy will prove he achieved his goal.
Today, maybe even for just a couple moments, I am reminded that I can take God all my burdens…He can handle them without fret, with complete patience, and without getting angry at my insufficiencies.
It doesn’t get any better than this. Standing on the streets of Chicago saying goodbye to Nate was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Reading this kind of Twitter reminds me why he’s at Moody.
Perhaps you have been trying to “help yourself” so that God would “help you”? Why not be still, do nothing, wait on the Lord, and let Him help you, in His timing and with His plan, just because you are His child! The greatest way you can help yourself, might be to humble yourself before the God who wants to bless you.
In his day Nebuchadnezzar was a king. He was a well-known King that brought havoc to the Israelites. He was a greatly feared and powerful leader. At his word nations and people’s could be destroyed (except where God intervened of course). As greatly as he struck people in fear and awe in his day, I am not too afraid of Nebuchadnezzar today. The fact is he is dead. No more. Gone. Out of sight. As big and bad as he was then, he is no longer a threat today.