We have a "ministerial alliance" in our community where preachers, pastors, ministers from all denominations meet to discuss and address common problems in the community.
Sometimes I get frustrated with them, like when the more liberal members try to get the rest of us to act on their notion of immigration or something. We are SUPPOSED to focus only on the areas where we agree, but some of the more liberal clergy seem to want to use our group as the hammer of social justice or something.
Apparently, several of the more conservative pastors had felt that way, too, and recently we agreed to start meeting (about 6 or 8 of us) for our own monthly fellowship.
It's mostly other Baptist pastors and a couple of Bible Church pastors, but we have so much more in common with each other than the bigger group of all ministers.
Today, we were talking about areas where we could pray for each other - challenges in our churches, or struggles or whatever.
I shared that I was feeling just a bit impatient because, while my Church has come a long way -- there were only 17 people when I first got there -- and we've grown quite a bit, and there's a remarkably sweet spirit and real unity... there seems to be almost a sense of complacency, like... "ok, we got past that crisis, and we can relax".
One of the other pastors smiled and said, "you probably don't realize this, but my mother is a member of your Church, and she loves you and talks about what a wonderful peace the Church is experiencing". I honestly did not know he was this lady's son - I know exactly who he's talking about.
He told me "I have been where you are, and you have led your people to a period of rest where they can regroup before God does the next big thing." He told me, "enjoy this time of rest, and use it to get to know your people and love them, and wait on the Lord for His marching orders".
EVEN as I was explaining my frustration, I was thinking to myself, "boy, this is DUMB that I'm complaining that things are GOOD!!!!!"
So, I learned something, and we are in the green pastures beside the still waters. He's restoring my soul. I fear no evil. God is SO good.
I'll wait upon the Lord, for He IS renewing my strength, and we'll see where we go from here!
Sometimes I get frustrated with them, like when the more liberal members try to get the rest of us to act on their notion of immigration or something. We are SUPPOSED to focus only on the areas where we agree, but some of the more liberal clergy seem to want to use our group as the hammer of social justice or something.
Apparently, several of the more conservative pastors had felt that way, too, and recently we agreed to start meeting (about 6 or 8 of us) for our own monthly fellowship.
It's mostly other Baptist pastors and a couple of Bible Church pastors, but we have so much more in common with each other than the bigger group of all ministers.
Today, we were talking about areas where we could pray for each other - challenges in our churches, or struggles or whatever.
I shared that I was feeling just a bit impatient because, while my Church has come a long way -- there were only 17 people when I first got there -- and we've grown quite a bit, and there's a remarkably sweet spirit and real unity... there seems to be almost a sense of complacency, like... "ok, we got past that crisis, and we can relax".
One of the other pastors smiled and said, "you probably don't realize this, but my mother is a member of your Church, and she loves you and talks about what a wonderful peace the Church is experiencing". I honestly did not know he was this lady's son - I know exactly who he's talking about.
He told me "I have been where you are, and you have led your people to a period of rest where they can regroup before God does the next big thing." He told me, "enjoy this time of rest, and use it to get to know your people and love them, and wait on the Lord for His marching orders".
EVEN as I was explaining my frustration, I was thinking to myself, "boy, this is DUMB that I'm complaining that things are GOOD!!!!!"
So, I learned something, and we are in the green pastures beside the still waters. He's restoring my soul. I fear no evil. God is SO good.
I'll wait upon the Lord, for He IS renewing my strength, and we'll see where we go from here!
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