Retreat: Day 2...Off the trail?

As a child, all I ever wanted to do was preach and serve God.  I have been told I would stand in the back yard and preach to the grass and trees.  I had other side dreams of baseball, basketball, hockey or football but teaching and preaching was all I ever truly wanted.  God had a message and I wanted to be part of the delivery system.

So that was the path I took.  I went to college to learn more of God's Word and how to best communicate.  I double majored in Bible and Speech.  The path began not as I expected, but was part of the journey to learn ministry.  I worked for 8 years in the role of Youth Minister being mentored by wiser men on how to be a good minister. 

Preaching and being a good minister are not necessarily the same thing.  That is why Paul writes to the young preacher, Timothy, to encourage him on how to be a good minister.  There are right and wrong ways to work with people...it is about how to communicate in such a fashion so that they will hear the message and the heart of the heavenly messenger.

The journey was not easy and still is not, however I would not have chosen a different path.  I do wish some of the events I had to endure were not part of my history, however those situations allowed me to become a more effective minister.  God's academy of growth and maturity is filled with boulders, potholes and other obstacles.  Those moments bring about toughness.

Not giving up is the key.  I love the book of Hebrews.  The message is one I have had to lean on often  "Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees."  "Don't give up."  "Endure." 

In Dan Brown's newest novel there is a 30,000 sq. foot room that is completely dark.  There are 2 doors at each end and a long strip of carpet that runs from door to door.  As one approaches the door the carpet becomes much thicker to signal the door is near.  To stay on the carpet brings safety.  To wander off brings potential disaster.  Fear.  Anxiety.  Being Lost.

This retreat time provides the ability to refocus and evaluate if I am on the path to which God has called me.  Today will be that day to reflect and if necessary to get back on the path.

Comments

[Linda]

Excellent thoughts! Love you!