Keeping Things In Perspective

This past week I had the privilege to serve alongside some wonderful men and women to provide assistance to those who have been affected by the recent floods in the Nashville, Tennessee area. We had a team of eight that served with about 50 other volunteers under the direction of Samaritan's Purse. It will take months of intense labor and millions of dollars to recover from the damages that are a result of the flooding. However, I am amazed at how God works through the lives of obedient servants. Not only were structurally broken homes put back together, spiritually broken lives were put back together. Even in the midst of devastation, it is such a blessing to see God at work in the lives of His children.

At this point in my ministry, I have so much to be grateful for. I have a great family and a loving church. These are two awesome blessing from God. Satan has used more tactics to discourage me in the past 26 months than at any other time in my ministry. However, the Spirit of God continually reminds me to trust in the call of God and in His holy power to sustain us through all of life's trials. I am currently reading a book called, "The Power of Desperation" by Michael Catt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. God is using this book to teach me of the greatest need in the Body of Christ which is the need to be desperate for the blessing and leading of the Lord Jesus. The wilderness that I have been traveling through has been one of the most difficult ever. I have often asked God what He is trying to teach me. I have even tried to convince God that I "get it" and am ready for the sun to shine again. I am constantly asking God for the night to end and the morning begin. Regardless, there must still be some important traits that God is still working into my life. Brother Catt makes some important statements in this book that have really spoken to my heart. He says, "God puts us in the wilderness until we want the Promised Land enough to fight for it." Could it be that God is teaching me to continue in the wilderness until I get so desperate for His presence that I am willing to do whatever it takes to reach the Promised Land? Brother Catt also says, "Only when we begin to see God as our source will we find Him to be the supply." I really believe that this is the main thing God is working into my life. I, along with all of God's children, must regularly and faithfully submit to Him as our source and supply. We need Christians and churches that are truly desperate for God.

Over the past few weeks, I have been preaching through the Book of Jude on Sunday mornings. This book really stirs my heart about the desperate days we live in. With each passing day, my heart becomes more and more desperate for God. When you spend a week helping people throw away everything they ever owned, it really puts life in perspective. Peter says that we are "strangers and pilgrims" in this world. We are literally just passing through. May we all rise to the challenge to be people of the BOOK, people of conviction, people of compassion who are truly desperate for God.