November

I'm just freewriting...In the aftermath of Black Friday...I chose to lay on the couch...with ESPN on the tube...a recent sermon playing in my ears...and write to you...I titled this post...November...this month has been crazy for me...my head is still spinning...I'm being poured out...Have you ever had that feeling??? You just want a free weekend...no calls...no engagements...you are drained...you would rather be alone than be with friends...shut the door...close the blinds...and rest...rest is a gift of God...How often have we took time to receive that gift? I'm guilty...I often reject this gift...why?...I don't know...maybe restlessness...always on the go...to be idle is not an option...so I reject the gift...feeling the church and ministry would suffer without my efforts...it could have to do with knowing how much time I wasted living for the foolish things of this world...whatever the case...I reject the precious gift of rest...

As God continues to develop me as a preacher...Pastor...mentor...he shows me the importance of time away from the crowd...look at Jesus' ministry...How many times does the Bible speak of Jesus stealing away? I can think of a few without even opening my Bible...If Jesus had to chill...what about us?...I live in the Tennessee Valley...sometimes I like to drive up Monte Sano...walk around in the public parks at the top...it is so peaceful...my "secret place"...where I can be completely alone with God...(right now my car is in the shop)...so my "secret place" has been between my ears...I take a walk and see God in everything...in the traffic jam...in the birds...in the flowers...God is with us....

Although in the natural this has been a crazy month...car trouble...illness...tons of bad news...not to mention I teach kids...lol...inspite of this...I still see God at work...In the Spirit...I know that November is my harvest month...I know that God is revealing Himself...in my four years of ministry...this November has been my most active month...several speaking engagements...constantly pouring myself out...in this I see God developing me into the man He wants me to be...at times I feel alone in the crowd...I feel like I'm in a bubble...isolated...yet I'm surrounded by people that love me and enjoy my company...at times my "secret place" calls out to me...I've learned that I can turn a place of chaos into a sanctuary...this comes with maturity...I pray that you receive God's gift of rest...that you take time to steal away...that you resort to your "secret place" when surrounded by your problems...God is waiting for you there...waiting to encourage you...to comfort you...to give you strength to endure...He will allow you to see the fruits of your obedience...I promise you He'll do it...

Let's pray...Lord we love you...we wanna be more like you...help us to keep your way...to honor you with our lifestyle...order our steps...help us to receive your rest...today...don't allow us to go another day without taking time to share with you...we need you Lord...pray for us Holy Spirit...renew us...pour into us...Lord we thank you...and it is in Jesus' name we pray...Amen