Repost: Enjoy the Journey

Had to repost this one . . . take it in and take it to heart . . . I'm trying to.

Originally posted by Mark Batterson here

Is it possible that one of your greatest spiritual responsibilities is to enjoy this moment in your life as much as you possibly can? Right here. Right now. Are you enjoying life as much as you can?

As a young church planter, I always felt driven by what was next. I thought I'd find fulfillment in our next service or next sermon or next stage. It's a lie. It's the when/then syndrome. When we have a certain number of people...make a certain amount of money...have a certain number of things...get a certain promotion...then I'll be happy. No you won't. You need to enjoy the journey.

I love the very first statement of the Shorter Westminster Catechism. It hits the nail on the head: the chief end of man is the glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

I don't think we're good at enjoying God.

Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow. Why? Lots of reasons. But one of them is this: so you don't waste emotional energy on things you cannot control. Don't waste guilt on yesterday or anxiety on tomorrow. Spend today's emotional energy on today!

Live like today is the first day and last day of your life.

The more you enjoy God the more you glorify God.

shipwreck

I Timothy 1:18 - 20 - Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

Timothy was a young leader, a protege of Paul's if, if you will. That being the case, I read the letters to Timothy just like they are written to me personally. This little passage I copied above felt like it was written in neon lights as I read it this morning. How easily I could be in this spot. How easily the names that say Hymenaeus and Alexander could read Jason Fitch . . . and yours.

Lord, save me . . . save us . . . from thinking too much of ourselves today. Help us keep our hearts humble and our consciences clear that we would not shipwreck our faith. Your Word is precious, Lord. Thank you.

where is your trust?

Jeremiah 17:5-8

⁵ This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

⁶ He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

⁷ "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.

⁸ He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."

If you're living in fear today, you're not the tree planted by the water.

happy ending

My back still hurts like crazy, but my heart is full. My friends, Josh and Bekah Ploch and their family are moving to Tulsa to help start Freedom Valley Tulsa! Wow, our launch team is now 32 strong! God is putting something together that I can't even imagine right now!

tough day

This is one of those days that feels pretty useless. I only have one scheduled appointment today, which is really rare, but usually when I have an open day like today I feel ridiculously productive. It think it's a combination of the pain I have between my shoulders and a deep down tiredness (is that a word?). Maybe today would have been a good day to sit in a jacuzzi . . . yeah right - haha.

On a much better note, Sara and I are having dinner with some very dear friends whom I hope to be connected with for a long time to come. For as much as I'm "wired" for systems and organizational structure, there's nothing like just being with people.

true teamwork

You gotta check this out . . . I've never read a better explanation of how important each person on the team is! Love it!

I can do nothing

I am so aware today at how little I can do. What's my most important job as a leader and church planter? Isaiah 66:2 sums it up pretty well. I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word." - Isaiah 66:2 I am entering, at long last, a season of more prayer and less activity. Don't worry, I'm not converting to being a lazy bum. The Holy Spirit is just reminding me in many ways how all the vision He's given me is pivotal on my connection with Him. I hope this will last for a long time . . . like a lifetime!