Monday, January 28, 2019

Pastor's Message 1.27.19


 Pastor’s Message                                 January 27, 2019

“How do you balance ambition with God’s call on your life?” That was the question of the night at the yearly gathering of men and young men at the farm in Tennessee.  A young man in his early 30s, my cousin’s son, was facing some gigantic challenges in life as a husband, father, provider and coach.  We love this trip so much because each year we find these young men growing accustomed to an opportunity to hear from men they trust concerning direction and responsibility in life.  The ages in the room ranged from 17-82.  Here are some of the comments I remember:
“Your call and ambition can be mutually exclusive, but they don’t have to be.” 
“Patience is one key to discovering how God’s call on your life is carried out through managing ambition.”
“You have to trust in God’s timing to reach some of the ambitions you have set in life.”
“Ambition is not solely satisfied in a career. Our spouse and children are also due a husband and father whose ambition is Godly and inspired.”
“Maintain humility as you wait on the Lord.  Joseph had to learn that lesson.  He was put down, sold, forgotten, falsely accused, forgotten some more before God worked the dream and his ambition not only to the good for Joseph, but also for his family, Israel and other nations.”
“It is not wrong to ambitiously pursue opportunities while waiting on the Lord.”
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17
“Character is more about being than doing.”
“Some of the greatest opportunities to serve God came by faithfully serving where He currently has positioned me. My first head coaching job came as I was faithfully pursuing an internship opportunity.”
We all were blessed by the vulnerability in that young man’s question.  Maybe it will help you too.
Love God!  Love others!  Serve!
Pastor John

No comments:

Post a Comment