Red Hooded Sweatshirt

Does everyone remember Adam Sandler on Saturday Night Live? Man! Those were the days. I wish that SNL was as funny as it was then....you remember, Adam Sandler, Kevin Nealon (I don't know how to spell these people's names, nor am I going to look them up, because it's to prove a point, not to show off my spelling abilities), Chritopher Walken, etc., etc., etc.

We sometimes have a huge problem staying and dwelling in the past. I'm noticing that my church, especially does that. We have some huge opportunities lying ahead of us, including welcoming around 20 new members all in one fell swoop! How amazing is God?!? That's almost unheard of!

FBC is celebrating it's 150th year anniversary this year. We are having our large whole church even tonight, a banquet. I offered to help put the slide show together, and have been doing so the last week or so. What I have noticed is that the script starts off with the past (important to know where we came from), goes on to the present (important to know where we are), and then, only has one paragraph on the future.

To me, the present and future is the most important. It's how we put into work our visions of what God wants us to live our lives. It is important to put into practice visions and plans for the future. If we don't, we stay where we are, and don't progress. (BTW, if con is the opposite of pro, what's the opposite of progress?...haha)

Point being.....
It is important to remember the past, but only so much as we learn from it, to make changes for the future. If we dwell on the past, we sink, forget where we are at currently, and become unable to make changes for the future. In a church, that's what closes doors!

So, my challenge for everyone reading this....don't dwell on the past. Only use it for memories, and to learn from. Use it to shape your future. God wants us to focus on Him, and follow His path for us.

Part of preparing for the future is having patience. God has clearly put His path in front of me for the near future, but is making me learn patience by having me wait for long periods of time, and not know what is coming. Things take time. I understand that now, but I still have trouble expressing that, and liking it. He has been teaching this to me more over the past 3-4 years. Don't be afraid if things take time. They often will if they are the right thing to do. Have patience. Without patience, our motives become obscure, and things will avert from doing them for God's will to doing them for your own will. And that, alone, is confusing enough.

Pray unceasingly. It is hard to discern God's voice from the distractions all around. I'm finding that a huge thing for myself recently as so many changes are happening all at once. Quiet your mind, and just be. Listen for God's answer among the noise of life, and pray that He will secure His voice in your head and protect you from the voice of evil.

Meanwhile, back in the office.....