I like living! As a matter of fact, I love life!!
I’m a “cup is half full” kind of guy. One of my mentors in the ministry told me one time that the key to effective pasturing is to “love Jesus and love people.” I got those cover with change to spare.
But, everyone faces sad times -- including me. In fact, I’m facing a really sad time right now. One of my closest friends here at MBC (or anywhere) passed away Saturday night. Warren Wilkin was one of the greatest Christians, one of the greatest leaders, and one of the sweetest friends I’ve ever known.
I know he is in Heaven and that is a GREAT comfort. His sweet wife knows that. Yet, it’s tough to lose a man of that depth and closeness – anytime.
When I picked up my wife at the airport, when I saw my daughter Sunday afternoon, when I called my dad – all of these moments meant just a little more than ever because I am reminded that in this wonderful “rat race” called LIFE, it’s people and relationships that matter most.
Jesus tells us over and over in the Bible, that God loves us and wants a relationship with us. I preach that all the time. And from time to time, life reminds me of how true that really is.
The last time I saw Warren before he went home to Heaven, we prayed together. I told him how much he meant to me and my family. I rejoice in his homegoing, and in him memory, I’m desiring to establish more relationships with more people as we live each day for Jesus.
rp
Monday, July 23, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Landmarks
All of us have milestones in life. People, events, situations that are "markers" in life for us. Our wedding, the birth of our kids, certainly our salvation, etc. There's a verse in the Old Testament that talks about remembering the "landmarks" in life.
For me, here's a partial list of "landmark" events for me: My salvation, my baptism, my public and significant rededication, my ordination to ministry, my first sermon, my wedding. There are others but those are pretty important events that God used to help shape my life.
ALL THOSE LANDMARKS happened in ONE PLACE - really, one room. Yesterday, on vacation in Spartanburg, my home town, I visited my home church with Heather and Kayla. I opened that back door of the worship center at the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg and stepped inside the sanctuary (that's what we called it back then.)
I stood there - motionless, speechless, - all I could do is just stand there in awe as my heart smiled.
I wasn't in awe of the building or the room, just in awe of how God has blessed me and my family in so many ways.
So much of it is because of commitments and decisions I have made in that room. They have defined my life even until today.
Often, we forget that the decisions we make largely define the course of our life. God chooses to bless us or remove His blessings from us largely because of the decisions we make either to commit to Him or not to. My life has been far from perfect - but I am overwhelmed by His blessings and I am tremendously grateful that I have chosen HIM as the focus of my life - my total focus. His blessings have been worth it by a mile.
Make your choices - for Jesus, in little ways and in big ways. A devotion time each day is a little thing - a life commitment is a big thing - each is a "landmark" that pays big dividends of blessings from Him.
Be blessed today - landmark this day for Christ.
rp
For me, here's a partial list of "landmark" events for me: My salvation, my baptism, my public and significant rededication, my ordination to ministry, my first sermon, my wedding. There are others but those are pretty important events that God used to help shape my life.
ALL THOSE LANDMARKS happened in ONE PLACE - really, one room. Yesterday, on vacation in Spartanburg, my home town, I visited my home church with Heather and Kayla. I opened that back door of the worship center at the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg and stepped inside the sanctuary (that's what we called it back then.)
I stood there - motionless, speechless, - all I could do is just stand there in awe as my heart smiled.
I wasn't in awe of the building or the room, just in awe of how God has blessed me and my family in so many ways.
So much of it is because of commitments and decisions I have made in that room. They have defined my life even until today.
Often, we forget that the decisions we make largely define the course of our life. God chooses to bless us or remove His blessings from us largely because of the decisions we make either to commit to Him or not to. My life has been far from perfect - but I am overwhelmed by His blessings and I am tremendously grateful that I have chosen HIM as the focus of my life - my total focus. His blessings have been worth it by a mile.
Make your choices - for Jesus, in little ways and in big ways. A devotion time each day is a little thing - a life commitment is a big thing - each is a "landmark" that pays big dividends of blessings from Him.
Be blessed today - landmark this day for Christ.
rp
Friday, July 6, 2007
Anyone who knows me (and perhaps even those who don't) knows that family is very important to me.
I pastor a wonderful church family, but my primary responsibility is my own family. I take BOTH very seriously. These last few days have been days where I have had the joy of having my whole family together.
Heather (our oldest), husband Andrew, and grandson Aidan are here from Virginia. Alan (only son) and his wife Brycie are here from Los Angeles. Kayla (youngest) is with us for the whole summer from college. LuAnne and I have all of our family together for a few days. Awesome!
We are at Myrtle Beach - all of us, together, in one house, a very small house, all of us - together!!
It is WONDERFUL.
It simply reminds me of one of God's best blessings - the gift of life, the gift of love, the gift of family.
I grew up in a large church where -- remember this was many years ago -- we used to sing the Doxology every Sunday as the ushers brought the offerings back down the aisle and put them on the Lord's Supper table for everyone to see. I guess the Pastor and church family were thanking God for the offering. I get that.
But for me, I break out in a silent doxology of the heart for this blessing of being with my most precious human blessings - my wife and kids, and now spouses and grandson.
I believe I am one of the most blessed of God men that I know - God is WAY too good to me. I'm reminded of that often - especially these last few days.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.
rp
I pastor a wonderful church family, but my primary responsibility is my own family. I take BOTH very seriously. These last few days have been days where I have had the joy of having my whole family together.
Heather (our oldest), husband Andrew, and grandson Aidan are here from Virginia. Alan (only son) and his wife Brycie are here from Los Angeles. Kayla (youngest) is with us for the whole summer from college. LuAnne and I have all of our family together for a few days. Awesome!
We are at Myrtle Beach - all of us, together, in one house, a very small house, all of us - together!!
It is WONDERFUL.
It simply reminds me of one of God's best blessings - the gift of life, the gift of love, the gift of family.
I grew up in a large church where -- remember this was many years ago -- we used to sing the Doxology every Sunday as the ushers brought the offerings back down the aisle and put them on the Lord's Supper table for everyone to see. I guess the Pastor and church family were thanking God for the offering. I get that.
But for me, I break out in a silent doxology of the heart for this blessing of being with my most precious human blessings - my wife and kids, and now spouses and grandson.
I believe I am one of the most blessed of God men that I know - God is WAY too good to me. I'm reminded of that often - especially these last few days.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.
rp
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
