I’ve been thinking this week about a lot of things both present and past while I eagerly anticipate the future.

One thing I have thought over is my ministry life so far and where it has brought me as well as what has been accomplished.  The memories have been bittersweet.

That night when I visited that coffeehouse and discovered how badly I needed a Savior, my life was changed. I started onto a road that has been amazing in a lot of ways. So far this journey has given me experiences beyond what I could have ever expected. I have felt unbelievable pain, joy, peace, brotherhood, friendship, betrayal, love, and just about every emotion you can list, I have felt it in its full form. I’m not the “thrill seeker” type person but if I were, this might be just what I would look for. It is definitely a rush sometimes.

You know, almost every thing I am speaking of whether hard to cope with or on the positive side has had a lasting effect on my life. It has ALL worked itself out to mold me into a better person, and I hope, a better representative and defender of the Faith. Even though I am a better man for it, these have not come without ransom. A great price was paid for my salvation and it cost me nothing. To live according to my calling and to make the most of what was purchased does sometimes have costs.

As I reflect, I can see many times where groups sharing the journey and cause with me were moved. Sometimes it hurt, sometimes it was a joyous occasion. The point is, God’s people should always be on the move striving towards our individual duties. As we travel along towards the common goal, my duties may change or yours may change which will take us away from each other for a time but to be reunited later.

I had some close friends and we were an amazing team working for the cause of Christ on a world-wide scale. As circumstances changed in our ministry, the team separated into 2 distinct groups each with their vision and tasks but on different paths to the same destination. There was some bitterness between some of us during this time of division and for a long time it was hard to accept. That is until I realized what I am writing about today, that God moves his workers around and we must embrace that and realize we’re all still on the same team although our place is changing.

Whatever brings on the change has to be overlooked in acceptance of the fact change is taking place for God’s purpose and whether it feels like it or not, God is very much in control of it. He is never out of control of our chaos. NEVER.

What would I change if I could go back and change anything considering my perfect hind-sight?

I’ll tell you because I have thought plenty about it over the past couple of years. I would absolutely stand against hell and the harsh words spoken to save the Godly relationships that were martyred to the changes in my life and ministry. The brotherhood I had with some men in my life was destroyed by harsh words and fighting for who’s right and who’s wrong. At the time I did not understand that no one was wrong, it was just time for our workers to stop occupying the same place. It was about placement, not power or right and wrong.

Right now those men are about their work doing what God has them to do and we are about our work doing what God has us to do. There is no hatred for one another but the bond we shared was broken through the process because neither side accepted what was happening as divine intervention. Each of us saw it as a struggle for place. NOW, I can see that my placement is just right. Now there are different ministries happening that would not be happening if not for the movement.

Wherever you are in your life or ministry, take comfort in knowing that God is so in love with you and when you feel like you are being opposed or betrayed by a co-worker in Christ, just try to realize that however unorganized or chaotic it feels, God has your place already secured and it will not be behind you, but ahead of you. Even though it hurts, it is progress. Accept some hard-learned wisdom today and do whatever it takes to save the relationships you have earned along the way. There WILL be a day when those paths will merge again and it will be great to truthfully embrace your friends and say it’s good to see you again!

Whoever said the Christian life, and especially the minister’s life was easy was probably as lost as a blind hog. It is not the easy life, but it is real life and not just a worthless existence with no eternal significance.

Last night I watched Kingdom of Heaven again for the 4th time. I love that movie. In the blacksmith’s shop the beam is carved to read, “what man is a man who does not make the world a better place?” We don’t make the world better by saving the dogs or cats or whales. We don’t make the world better by buying carbon offsets or stopping cruelty to animals. All those are great causes and they improve our environment. But, we make the world better by investing into people and building relationships that impact lives on an eternally significant level. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize and not let the enemy deceive us into squandering our most precious assets in the fight, our relationships.

May God bless you with an abundance of peace and discernment to remain victorious in your quest to further his Kingdom.

John

Posted under FROM THE HEART