“My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” –1 Corinthians 16:24
I’ve enjoyed my time at the conference this week and have been challenged and edified by some of my fellow pastors. The teaching has been strong, substantive and perfectly timed as I am now realizing how discouraged I was becoming before leaving for the conference on Thursday. We are still scheduled for about a half-dozen more sessions after tomorrow’s worship time and I’m waiting on God as He seems to be joining fragments from each learning session with the others and compiling His own personal message to my heart. How amazingly gracious He is to take such tender care with His own. I long to have this same kind of commitment with those in my life and ministry.
Tomorrow will certainly be a day with a fair amount of division in my heart. I’m very content to be among the pastors here and becoming reacquainted with what it is like to be on the learning and receiving end of a Sunday. On the other hand I will recognize early tomorrow that I am not situated geographically in the place of my ministry calling. I am in Florida while my church family is in Georgia. My pulpit will be attended by other men – good and godly men – but there will be a sense of loss within me as I am not able to personally shepherd the flock I love so dearly. My prayer is that tomorrow there will be an incredible sense of God’s presence at Meadow. I long for the people of that tremendous church to continue to love one another until we all get accustomed to the ache which accompanies the seeking of others’ highest good. May God reinvigorate our Sunday songs until they rise to the level of authentic, soul-rent exclamations of glory. I hope that there will be tears of brokenness and gratitude before, during and after the services are complete. I’m asking God to not only change some hearts…but also some minds. These are delicate and demanding days for the Meadow family and there has never been a deeper need for each of us to be still and know that He is God.
Second only to walking through my front door and seeing my precious three – Amy, Alicia and Landon – will be the moment of entering back into the auditorium a week from tomorrow and seeing the saints at Meadow. Precious, chosen, secured lambs of Heaven whom God has allowed me the immense privilege of shepherding. Meadow family, please forgive me when I need it. Please follow me when it is wise, even when you must give me the benefit of the doubt. Fuel me with your trust and be wise with criticisms and complaints about the work going on in our midst. Forge me with your commitment as I lead so much more within my strengths when I know that there is a unity of power and purpose behind me. More depends on each of you than you could possibly know so follow as committedly as you ever have and let’s enjoy together the mighty works of God.
He will grant a great Sunday to all who desire it. Let’s do this together, Meadow. He is worthy of our endurance.