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Former things are not now things

Philippians 3:7 (AMP) But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life].

What has happened in our past often has made us who we are today. Paul is telling us the former things really do not matter if you are not moving forward. What are you doing now?

I have been in the ministry life for a little over twenty three years now. I am not the same person I was when I started. When I began I was enrolled in a university and a seminary. Soon after I got married I had to quit the university and go into working full time. I did not have a degree but I was a quick learner and applied myself. I was able to move up in the company pretty fast.

A lot of times we want the same to translate into our ministry life. I am still a quick learner and apply myself, but that does not put me any place higher in the work in the kingdom. Paul was an educated man. Paul was high up in the chain of authority when it came to his old life. However, Paul did not expect that to translate (or even want it to) into his new life. I have heard people not like Paul because they thought he was too full of pride. I cannot agree with that assessment. A prideful person always looks out for self. Paul says it is all worthless for the real purpose of his life.

My husband and I are approached by people who are in or have currently been in ministry. Some even visit the church we pastor. They tell us of all the wonderful things that they have done in their previous churches and how they would like to add to what we are doing here. Do you know what we do? We watch. Something that you have done in the past has nothing to do with what you are doing now. All the good I have ever done is in the past does not matter, if I am not doing anything now. What am I doing now?

Matthew 7:21-23 (AMP) “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’

His commands are for now. Not for when you first got saved. Not for when you get ready to do it and your life is all together. What are you doing now? Yes, He is the God of our past, our present and our future. He is omnipotent and sovereign. I still have a responsibility. I cannot lay it down.

Philippians 3:13-14 (AMP) Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

All the things that I have done in the years of ministry cannot hold a candle to what lies ahead. I look back over my news feeds and rejoice at the souls that I got to led into the kingdom. I rejoice over the hours I have spent with people to mentor and disciple. However, if I stopped today, what good am I. Would I be obedient? As long as I have breath in my lungs I should be pressing forward. We have led our church for ten years. If we stopped leading does that mean we stop putting our hands and hearts to the works of the ministry? I think we miss it when we think we are supposed to keep climbing up, when that is not how the kingdom works. Just because we pastor does not mean we do not put the sign out or clean the floors. Our title is nothing if we do love to serve.

Look at Matthew 7:21-23 again, but in the Message Translation:  “Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our super-spiritual projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’ All you did was use me to make yourselves important. I can do good things without the right heart attitude. My accolades in ministry will bear no weight if I do not serve in love. Why are we concerned with what others think? He is the only one I need to be concerned with. This is not an excuse to be lazy in the kingdom. Get out of slumber, get out of apathy and lethargy and get passionate about kingdom things. Press on!!

Our God, our Creator and our Maker, You are Holy. You are Mighty. You are worthy of honor and praise. We thank You for Your Son, the perfect One. We thank You that He laid down His life for us. We thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can know You more. We desire Your Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. We repent for not following Your commandments and gotten off track in that Kingdom establishment. We repent for letting apathy, lethargy and slumber enter our hearts. Restore to us the passion of our fist love. Restore to us the zeal in establishing Your Kingdom. We are sorry for depending on the past as to why we have not pressed forward to the new. We are choosing to forgive those that we have stated have held us up, not one has done that but us. We are choosing to forgive ourselves for holding onto the past. We walk in Your wholeness today. We choose love today. We choose joy today. We choose hope today. We choose forgiveness today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Friendship Strained

Hebrews 10:24 Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love.

Have you ever had it happen where you knew someone and you did things together, but all of a sudden they dropped off from your life? Being a pastor, we have it happen quite often. It is one of the hardest relationships with people to navigate, but it is also the most rewarding. Like anyone else, if I did not get joy out of seeing the light come on (fresh revelation being revealed to them personally) then I would not be doing it.

Yesterday, my husband and I were walking around a local thrift store. He is a big thrifter and likes to find items to resell. My kids and him have a Youtube channel called Bama Pickin’ and Grinnin (click on the link to see what they have been up to). I saw someone out that I had not seen in years. I went up to them and said hello. I was met with, “I did not know you were in here,” as their eyes darted in all directions but me. I complimented her on some things and then went on my way. I wondered, what had I done to muster such a look of discomfort from an old friend.

My question was, did I offend them? What stronghold are they holding on against me? Then my heart hurt for them. I never want to spur others to anger. I want to do what the above scripture says. I prayed their hearts would be softened to the Holy Spirit and prayed Luke 6:36-37 (AMP) over them and myself: Be merciful (responsive, compassionate, tender) just as your [heavenly] Father is merciful. Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change].

There are always two sides to a story (more than one perspective). When we do sit down and talk to each other, really listen to each other. Just because a person has a different perspective than you does not mean they are your enemy, or that they are wrong (this is not talking about the Word of God). The body of Christ is stronger when it is unified and not divided in an issue. So let us (Ephesians 4:32 in the amplified) Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Is it really worth holding onto something for so many years? Is it really worth losing compassion? Is it really worth hardening your heart? Christ forgave me, therefore, I need to be readily and freely ready to forgive others.

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A new thing

Isaiah 43:18-19 (AMP) Do not remember the former things, or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

As I was ministering Sunday I said something over my church that I regret. I told them I could not share the complete vision of the next steps because of some of their doubt and unbelief. I regret these words. I repent for these words. Those words are no longer true. Those words came out of a hurt that I still have not worked all of the unforgiveness out of.

Those words came out of a hurt that I still have not worked all of the unforgiveness out of.

My husband and I took over as the lead pastors in 2013. The very last service, that marked the transition, a couple walked up to us and let us know that it would be their last service. They said, “we do not want to attend church with the type of people you will attract.” My husband and I thought, great they stirred up strife anyways.

The next blow came from a couple that left that were big supporters. We did not know how much input this couple had in the goings on in the church before our leadership. When my husband corrected them on coming up to him every service to critique his message, they left. We were in shock.

Then there was our core team. We did our best to listen, and communicate, how the transition was going. We did our best to give them tools to succeed. We were told, “This is your baby, do not expect us to love your baby the way you do.” Most of that “core” is gone now.

Then there were the ones who submitted to the former pastor, not you. They tried it, he was their pastor. If we were really going to change our church, why not use the model of the successful church in town. If you are going to succeed as a pastor, you need to be full time. Eventually, we pulled back. We took a different approach, with very little expectations. If you do not have big expectations, then you cannot get disappointed, right?

Before our property sold in March of 2019, I had gotten a phone call December 31, 2018 about an offer of one third our asking price. I laughed at our realtor and told him, you know my answer is no. That evening we had a worship service to ring in the new year. We had a guest speaker who also operates in the prophetic. It was an amazing night of worship. His message was on point for the vision that my husband had given at the beginning of that year. It was the year of “suddenly.” Then he looked at me and said that the property would sell, not to worry. Then he made a statement that I did not understand, until I spoke my words on Sunday. In two years time, this church will not be in the same place it will look completely different.

Sometimes when we think of a church, we think of a building, a physical structure. Actually, it is a people. When God reminded me of those words, I was reminded that this church does look completely different. God has placed a big dream inside of us for the church in our community. It can be pretty scary and overwhelming from looking at our natural resources. He would not have given us this vision if it could not be done though…”We exist to touch the world through our community.” I have to stand on these words:

Father we do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. Show us what to do and guide us with your hand upon us. Fill us with the knowledge of your will so that we can walk in a way that pleases you. (Paraphrased from 2 Chr. 20, Col.1:9-10)     

Isaiah 43:18-19 (AMP) Do not remember the former things, or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.     

Amos 9 (MSG) Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening all at once – and everywhere you look, blessings!

Father, I want to believe, help me with my unbelief. Help me with my words. Help me with my thoughts. Help me see your people the way you see them. Help me with my unforgiveness. You are the only one who can heal my wounds. You are the only one who can do the work within me, so that your purpose can be fulfilled through me. In Jesus Name, Amen.