No one comes to understand "grace" better than the one who is sincere in heart and yet caught in an intense struggle with some fleshly imperfection or "sin" in a desperate quest to overcome!
Barak Stafford
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Glory
Wow! What a day at CIC Sunday!
The church was virtually full and everyone was so excited! Many have voiced their feelings on how they felt after the service. I even heard it said that we turned a curve!
This is such a great felling seeing we have been here for only 6 months. God is so faithful and His glory is to be revealed to His people.
Just wanted to post a blog letting you know that the Lord is on the throne your heart if you are His and he knows where you are, "because He is with you", and what you need. Whatever you do, "don't stop believing"!
All Glory to Him who is faithful!!
The church was virtually full and everyone was so excited! Many have voiced their feelings on how they felt after the service. I even heard it said that we turned a curve!
This is such a great felling seeing we have been here for only 6 months. God is so faithful and His glory is to be revealed to His people.
Just wanted to post a blog letting you know that the Lord is on the throne your heart if you are His and he knows where you are, "because He is with you", and what you need. Whatever you do, "don't stop believing"!
All Glory to Him who is faithful!!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Big People Ride Rollercoasters Too!
Life.
Well sometimes its up and sometimes its down. Wow....what a revelation.
Well sometimes its up and sometimes its down. Wow....what a revelation.
The truth is we all know this very well and still sometimes feel like the oddball-- like I must really be the only person on the planet that has ever felt this way. Then suddenly your in conversation with someone and there it is--almost the same problem you have been dealing with.
Wheew!! Do I feel better just knowing that I may actually be normal.
In all reality, we are all looking for someone that can relate to us. Someone that helps us feel normal.
In all reality, we are all looking for someone that can relate to us. Someone that helps us feel normal.
That brings us from that shameful feeling of isolation because we are just a plain "freak"!
With that idea, lets take a close look at the writer of Psalm 77! You can just "fill in the blank" as to what he may be going through and this might help the chapter to become more personal to you.
The deal is, this guy is really feeling alone in the highest sense. Totally forsaken! In v. 5 he is actually thinking back on the good old days. I find this very interesting as I can relate so much.
The "good old" days, even though filled with what seemed to be inescapable pain and suffering-- like not getting to have my own car or couldn't get a girlfriend because I had too much acne!
With that idea, lets take a close look at the writer of Psalm 77! You can just "fill in the blank" as to what he may be going through and this might help the chapter to become more personal to you.
The deal is, this guy is really feeling alone in the highest sense. Totally forsaken! In v. 5 he is actually thinking back on the good old days. I find this very interesting as I can relate so much.
The "good old" days, even though filled with what seemed to be inescapable pain and suffering-- like not getting to have my own car or couldn't get a girlfriend because I had too much acne!
You know the typical pain and suffering.
Even despite all the "bad" stuff, the "good old days" contained some real memories of growing and experience.....the times when you could really feel your knowledge expanding and you felt smarter than most!
The writer here obviously was not feeling any relief from his pain by only reflecting on the "good old" days! Finally in vs. 11 we see a turn in his mentality when he begins to reflect on what God had accomplished and I know, as well as you do, that some of those memories had to be tied to personal victories that God helped him claim!
His fear turned to FAITH!! And his gloom into glorious visions of who God was, and is and is to come (be)! I tell you this may be your season of "where is God" but it won't last forever!
The writer here obviously was not feeling any relief from his pain by only reflecting on the "good old" days! Finally in vs. 11 we see a turn in his mentality when he begins to reflect on what God had accomplished and I know, as well as you do, that some of those memories had to be tied to personal victories that God helped him claim!
His fear turned to FAITH!! And his gloom into glorious visions of who God was, and is and is to come (be)! I tell you this may be your season of "where is God" but it won't last forever!
You are destined for Greatness... for victory....you are more than a conqueror.
There is something about reviewing all the things that God has accomplished for us and even through us, that brings about praise..... and ultimately hope in Him!
So, the next time you feel down in the low dip of life.... remember your not the only one who has ever been there. And it won't be the last time you will ever be there.
So, the next time you feel down in the low dip of life.... remember your not the only one who has ever been there. And it won't be the last time you will ever be there.
But one thing is for sure..... there is another high place. The sooner you take your eyes off your own problems (I am not saying they aren't real) and look to Him.... who knows all about it and can relate to you more than anyone else.....the sooner you will take to the summit and true praise will flow from your heart for all the wonderful things He has done! Amen!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Who came first...the shepherd or the sheep?
This is relatively easy to answer-- if no sheep then no need for a shepherd!
I was driving a few years ago near Memphis, Tennessee, when I had this image of a shepard walking behind a herd of sheep. This was puzzling to me at first. In the actual sense we always think of those scenes where the shepherd is out front leading while the sheep follow him everywhere he goes. As I thought about this "vision" I realized that God was trying to show me a concept concerning how to lead as a pastor!
First lets look at the modern church, or at least the image portrayed especially in the mainstream interdenominational settings over the past few years. Its seems that it has all been centered around the "preacher". Its as if the sheep have been given the duty to ensure the preacher gets his "Big Break"!
Where are the pastors that smell like sheep, where are the leaders that know how to serve the body?
Let me bring balance now that I have took you to the "jumping off" place! Just yesterday, in prayer and early morning devotion time with my lovely wife, I was revisited by the Lord concerning my greatest responsibility as a pastor. And that is, "staying connected to HIM". My leadership has to flow from time spent in His presence. If that is my highest priority, then that simplifies my role as a pastor, better said, "that puts everything else in prospective"! Its takes the stress out of the routine.
OK, back to the "vision". I understand that leading from behind does not make sense unless you realize, as a pastor or leader in any area, it is your responsibility to see to it that those you are leading reach their full potential!! This kind of heart will come from your highest priority, which is spending time with "the great Shepherd". If from your heart you can live like, "it is not about you, and your Big Break", just like the "great Shepherd" then the joys of life and leading will be unfathomable!
I was driving a few years ago near Memphis, Tennessee, when I had this image of a shepard walking behind a herd of sheep. This was puzzling to me at first. In the actual sense we always think of those scenes where the shepherd is out front leading while the sheep follow him everywhere he goes. As I thought about this "vision" I realized that God was trying to show me a concept concerning how to lead as a pastor!
First lets look at the modern church, or at least the image portrayed especially in the mainstream interdenominational settings over the past few years. Its seems that it has all been centered around the "preacher". Its as if the sheep have been given the duty to ensure the preacher gets his "Big Break"!
Where are the pastors that smell like sheep, where are the leaders that know how to serve the body?
Let me bring balance now that I have took you to the "jumping off" place! Just yesterday, in prayer and early morning devotion time with my lovely wife, I was revisited by the Lord concerning my greatest responsibility as a pastor. And that is, "staying connected to HIM". My leadership has to flow from time spent in His presence. If that is my highest priority, then that simplifies my role as a pastor, better said, "that puts everything else in prospective"! Its takes the stress out of the routine.
OK, back to the "vision". I understand that leading from behind does not make sense unless you realize, as a pastor or leader in any area, it is your responsibility to see to it that those you are leading reach their full potential!! This kind of heart will come from your highest priority, which is spending time with "the great Shepherd". If from your heart you can live like, "it is not about you, and your Big Break", just like the "great Shepherd" then the joys of life and leading will be unfathomable!
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