Monday, October 04, 2010

WHAT I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHEN I BEGAN

Ministry is wonderful!  I thought it would be.  I was so right.  Who wouldn't want to get to be a part of His work; whether preacher or elder or teacher or worshipper...we get to do the best life available; God's!

I wish I could have caught on faster.  Yet, such wonderful lessons are buried within the failures of others and myself.  And I guess the thing I can say today is I've finally caught on to the truth I haven't caught on.

Ah, but not to be done in!

As the work gets bigger and I get smaller, my dependence upon God is properly more needier.

As the world tosses more questions and my answers seem outdated, my dependence on God gets surer.

As ministries develop and their continuity appears to be a hair from oblivion, my thirst for His provision becomes clearer in focus.

As relationships increase in number causing my time for each  to wane, my gratitude for those who will not let me go gains respectful appreciation.

As God willfully shows His handiwork in my path I find I don't become more cocky; but rather more tearful for I know which one of us caused the results...and which one of us didn't.

I wish I had been able to take it in at the beginning that God will be just fine and do just fine without my creating a place for Him to abide.  I could have been much more at ease if I could have grasped the raw truth that what little I knew wasn't enough to fret over.  All of my jealousy and all of my envy and all of my "what ifs" and "why nots"....ah, what a waste of mind time. 

I battled enemies that never came about.  I fought for attention I never needed.  And I pressed for results that weren't of God's development.

Today?  Oh, my goal is to never arrive.  I just want to keep on doing something I've finally begun to learn in the later years of ministry.....just be fascinated over right now. 

These are the good ol' days....so don't miss 'em!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"I wish I had been able to take it in at the beginning that God will be just fine and do just fine without my creating a place for Him to abide."

I love that. Every time I read about Peter's reaction to the appearance of Elijah and Moses, I laugh, until I remember my arrogance:

Mark 9:4-5
And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

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But, Mr. Rush, what I really wish you would address is this: are overhead projectors okay in the sanctuary of the Church building?

Brian's Bibilcial Minute said...

As I begin a third year in Aiken SC, I will copy your post and place it on my desk to read every day. (I hope there is no copyright restrictions...ha)

I've worried. Fretted. Lost sleep. Complained. Try to get attention and my way.

Whose work is it any way? Not mine...but, HIS!

Terry, my anniversary gift has been given to me by the Spirit through you!

Thank you, my friend!!!