Devotional Thoughts: The Breaking Point

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Life is full of moments when enough is enough. This can be in the small things and the significant things. Could it be that the breaking points we encounter are vital instruments in which God moves us into a particular action or direction. This is when we hit that rock bottom moment when change must happen. IT MUST. We are desperate for change because we are discontent with the current outcomes we are experiencing. An easy example is when we change our diets to become more healthy. Maybe we have gone through a long stretch of eating all the good stuff that is not really that good for us. We must change in order to feel better and become healthy again. Spiritually, we all have to change at times in order to live a life that is faithful to the One who has saved us. The spiritual rock bottom would have to be the circumstance in which God revealed to us that we needed a Savior, and we trusted in Jesus. That moment of conversion was a breaking point in which we came to the understanding that we had enough of the life apart from Christ. The former life was leading to death and destruction, and now the life in Christ is life secured. That initial breaking point leads to a refinement process that encounters many other breaking points. Some of these are small and some can be pretty significant. The transforming event of conversion is the greatest change of all, but along the journey of spiritual growth many victories are celebrated. Each time we overcome the influence of sin and turn towards the righteousness of God, we have come to the point of change after a breaking point. Sometimes the Lord provides this godly grief that breaks the callous demeanor we have put on towards sin. Once we have become sensitive to sin, we are then equipped and motivated to overcome sin to please the Lord that has saved us. Our salvation provides a joyous purpose to dwell in the presence of the Lord, and reject any tolerance of personal sin in our life. Sure it is still a battle every day not to give in to temptation. Our deepest desire, however, is to walk towards holiness each day that we may dwell in the presence of God forever. Praise God for leading me to the breaking points that lead me to repentance and urgent pursuit of faithfulness to Him. This is the place of joy and contentment. 

“One thing have I asked of the LORD,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to inquire in his temple.” -Psalm 27:4

“As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:9-11

Devotional Thoughts: Rising to the Occasion

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    Doing the right thing at the right time is being ready to act when a particular occasion arises. This is an ability that is celebrated in many ways. Those that achieve any type of excellence, has been able to do the right things at the right time. In order for this to happen, a person must have an awareness of what is coming in order to be ready. A Christian must possess awareness to do the right things at the right times for the glory of God. As we spend time in bible study, prayer, and worship, we are preparing ourselves to act in obedience to God’s will in the moment. We must be ready to be proactive in our service to the Lord. Our excellence is not in personal achievement, but by bringing glory to God and building His kingdom. What is in this moment that is an opportunity to serve the Lord? What is happening now that is an occasion for doing the right thing to build the kingdom of God? We must be sensitive to the current moment and possess enough foresight to anticipate our good works in the future. If every follower of Jesus decisively prepared for action, rising to the occasion would bring a revolution. The comforting part of being a Christian is that we are simply making ourselves available for the good work. We put forth effort, but the Lord provides all that we need to execute for His glory. Preparation is important for continual trust in the equipping nature of God. So let us engage with God continually for joyful communion and anticipation of joyful service. 

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:16-20

Life Adjustments and the Presence of God

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Life is full of adjustments. In fact, life could be one long string of constant adjustments. As I have recently been going through many adjustments that come with moving to a new town, I have been pray through how God is present during the changes that occur. God’s guidance should obviously be the reason for changes that happen in the life of a Christian, but I also believe that He is present throughout the process is some special ways. What are the characteristics of God, that we know from scripture, that are helpful during times of adjustments? There have been two that have been dominant in my thinking. He is our refuge. He is our rock.

The fact that God is our refuge means He is a place of protection or shelter. Even in times of good and exciting adjustments, there is a need for God to be a refuge. The unknowns that often come with life change or adjustments makes it vital for habits to be formed that actively turn to the Lord in acknowledgement of your need for Him. What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Seeking the place of secure shelter that is the presence of God should be our automatic response. Prayer, public worship, private worship, and reading scripture are all spiritual disciples that are actively seeking the shelter of God. Those of us with a “fix it” mindset must find a way to stop trying to simply figure out the unknowns through more effort. More effort is good with guidance that we find when we first seek God as our refuge. More effort without acknowledging our need for God is dangerous and futile for those that have trusted in Jesus as Savior. So we must stop. We must simply pause and engage with the Lord as a place to go for all that we need to navigate our circumstance for the glory of God. 

The fact that God is our rock provides confidence that seeking Him is not in vain. This is because of His nature. He is a massive and unshakeable foundation. When discerning the unknowns, it is good to have stability. Our confidence to move forward is fueled by what we know for sure. That God is who he says He is in His Word. So as we seek His shelter, we are seeking protection from the One who is unchanging and unfazed by the circumstances of our life that are “unknowns" to us. God knows our unknowns. He must be our constant from beginning to end each day. 

Whatever your current adjustments are, I must ask, where are you turning? What provides you with confidence, assurance, rest, and guidance when you are in uncertain times? We must allow God to be who He always is. Our refuge and our rock.  He is always present. 

“I love you, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,

and I am saved from my enemies.”  -Psalms 18:1-3

“ For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” -Psalms 62:1-2

“On God rests my salvation and my glory;

my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” -Psalms 62:7

Thank You FBC Greenville and on to the Next Journey at Hillabee

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 As I enter into this last week of service at First Baptist Church in Greenville the feelings of gratitude are overwhelming. This church gave me the second opportunity to live out God’s calling upon my life to serve as pastor. Entering into this service at FBC Greenville at the age of 29 was exciting and challenging. In the beginning most tasks seemed over my head in level of knowledge and experience. Looking back, I am thankful for the many conversations I had with many of the members of this church that helped me to grow and develop as a Pastor.  After these five years in Greenville, I have served a total of 10 years in the pastor role. The lessons that I learned at Henderson Baptist and First Baptist are too many to count. I have learned pastoral leadership is certain to expose all strengths and weaknesses. God has used these years of relationships and experiences to prepare me for the next journey, as God’s Will leads. My hope is that people of First Baptist have felt loved and encouraged through my ministry efforts. This love comes from the Lord, and has been stirring inside me ever since I felt God’s call to the ministry. This passion drives me to pour His love and holiness into the lives of people in Christ’s church. To pastor is to lead the way in proclaiming God’s word to the church and the world. First Baptist, I hope that my leadership resulted in you loving the Lord more and loving His Word more. Thank you for your trust in me and this wonderful opportunity to serve this great congregation. Thank you as well for the love and relationships that have been established with myself and my family.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 Hillabee Baptist, I want to thank you for the opportunity to continue my ministry journey with you. My prayer is for many years of wonderful works of God to happen as we move forward together. God is moving constantly and I want to be available for God to use in service to you. Let’s grow together in worship, knowledge, and service. Let’s go and reach the unchurched and unredeemed with the truth of the Gospel. I am excited to get started! Thank you for your prayers and how you have welcomed me and my family so far! See you soon!