It's me again!

I know that you have probably wearied of my neglect on this blog. All I can say is I'm sorry. This has just not been a priority! This year has been interesting to say the least. I am blessed to have family and friends who love me and share with me their encouragement and opportunity to fulfill the plan of God for my life.

I walk each day as though it may be the last. I have found that we just really don't have a clue as to when this life will come to a close, so I am challenged to make the most of the life that God has provided for me.

Ministry is a priority to me and during these past few months I have had the joy of spending time with young pastors whose ministry is reaching out to their communities with compassion and love. We have laughed together, wept together, strategized, restructured, and refined their dreams in the light of nearly a half century of ministry experience. Most of the time, I remember the frustration of the things that they are experiencing for themselves. I would like to shelter them, and guard them from such things, but each of us must be strengthened by fire to fulfill the furture that God has for me.

As I sat across the table from a dear friend several weeks ago, I listened as he talked about the situations that he was facing. As I sat there, I remembered the thoughts that I had earlier concerning this young gifted brother. I remembered when he assumed the pastorate of the church that he now serves. It seemed that his ministry had skyrocketed past the humble beginnings of most of his peers. But as I sat listening, I realized that he had come to this place in his life through many sorrows. Things are not always as they seem. We preachers have learned how to put on a fascade that hides the pain of our lives.

It takes a real and genuine committment to serve people. Bishop T.D. Jakes shared this morning a message that included this statement: "There is only One Master! The rest of us are mere servants!" It is easy to become arrogant in our positions of leadership. It seems that the light shines upon us and we get accustomed to the limelight. If it happens to fade for one reason or another, we start tunning toward the light, so that we can be showered with the "attention that we so richly deserve"!

But we must realize that we are mere servants of the Master! John Maxwell shared in a conference a few years ago, that He had come to look into the crowd and ask the Lord to allow him to see the people the way that the Master viewed them. It is amazing how Jesus will allow you to see the hearts of those that are in the audience.

Our churches are filled with people who are struggling with the issues of life every day! They are not just facing the reality of life on Wednesday, but they are facing the challenge of life every day. They feel the pressure of performance on the job, in the home, at the church, and among their friends. They paint the picture in as friendly a fashion as they can, but life is an continuing saga. We face hardship as well as blessing. We endure pain as well as we enjoy victory. We cry in anguish as well as we wipe tears of joy at the birth of a child. Life is complex!

There is only one thing that will balance it all. That is an intimate walk with the Master! Jesus is our Mentor, our faithful Friend, and our living Savior. Make this the prayer of your life for today:

Dear Lord Jesus, I want to live my life with joy as I serve you and those who are around me this day. Forgive me of my sin, renew my faith in You and enable me to be a blessing to those who surround me by displaying the love of God. In Jesus Name, Amen!

Yesterday I sat with a friend in a restaurant having lunch. Our waitress was very inattentive to our table and every time we needed a drink refill we had to ask. When we would ask, she would grunt out, "You'll have to wait your turn!" We looked around and there were 25 empty tables and 3 full tables. So we patiently waited our turn. When we went to leave, we both made it a point to leave a generous tip for her. As we checked out, she said, "I overheard your conversation and wondered what church you attend". We responded with our information. Then we were amazed as she told us that she was a faithful believer of a sister church in the area. It actually stunned us as she identified herself as a believer. As we walked out, I told my friend that it was a good thing that she told us that she was a believer. We would not have known by any other way. How will those people that you meet today percieve your testimony? Serve the Lord with gladness!

Just a thought.....

By the way, Merry CHRISTmas!