Sunday Evening Thoughts – From the Edges

After a full schedule of being a Pastor, visiting with the sick, listening to the hurting, managing day to day responsibilities of being a Pastor, it is Sunday evening, and I am trying to catch up with up thoughts. My mind runs 100 miles a minute most of the time. Trying to breath and rest my mind is more and more difficult. I have kept a covenant that I made with God to spend every morning alone in praise, worship, reflection, and discernment. It has been good for the soul.

Today has been the usual routine Sunday – three worship services, preaching, being present, allowing God to use me. Hopefully I didn’t get in the way, if I did Lord forgive me.

I preached today from Isaiah and the protection God gives to the rebuilding process, but also in continuation of Mark 16 – from last week – Whether this is read by the Church, the business world, in our own lives – I heard so clearly from the Holy Spirit – “we can’t plan without a purpose”. The opening verses outlines the Purpose of the three women on the way to the tomb, with one great obstacle in sight, a large stone that needed rolled away. They questioned each other “how will we do it ” and upon arriving at the tomb of Jesus, the impossible had happened, the stone was already gone. What stones have been rolled away in your life and how have you celebrated that victory through the glory you give to good.

The purpose becomes evident to us in Mark 16:14-16, the purpose is to share Jesus. To preach, to teach, to spread the Gospel. We have a real fixation on our plans but do our plans lead us to a place which honors God’s purposes. To do that we have to claim that power that has been given to each and every one of us. Resurrection power that as the song says is living on the inside. But maybe it is time – to show that power on the outside. To all people, in all places, at all times!

Coming back to the plan and purpose gig, are our plans leading us to Jesus. Leading us to a way of life that avoids all the confusion that evil brings and gives us. Do we even know our purpose? In the book by Rick Warren “The Purpose Driven Life” we read this thought “You cannot fulfil God’s purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans.”

So, in addition to purpose and plan, we need surrender. We need surrender! Should I say it again. We need surrender! We will never understand God’s will for our life without surrender, a plan, and a purpose.

In closing I want to say – Pray – pray for what God wants to reveal to you so that you might fulfill God’s purpose for your life. You won’t be able to go much further successfully without it.

Peace to you, as you discover new truths that the Holy Spirit is speaking to you.