Prepared for what is next!

 

I have been on quite the journey over the past eight years. I guess that is not quite true. I have been on an amazing journey all my life. Everything I have done since giving my life to Jesus as a 12 year old boy at a Methodist Church Camp has been orchestrated by God. I remember hearing a calling at that time to enter into ministry. Whether I ignored it or whether God was just giving me time to fully prepare, I am not real sure. But now 52 years later, here I am. I am an accumulation of my collective experiences and the intensity of the calling has greatly increased over the past eight years. 

During the past six years, Stephanie and I have been on short-term mission trips. We traveled the country serving bikers. We have led a variety of discipleship groups. I have studied God’s word in Seminary, completed 80% of my leadership training with the Church of God (Anderson), completed a temporary assignment as campus pastor, and had the opportunity to preach the gospel in a variety of settings. God has been working, preparing me and Stephanie just like He was preparing Paul. 

I was reading the opening chapters of Galatians this morning and contemplating Paul’s preparation for ministry.

“But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.” (Galatians 1:15-17)

I praise God for our time of preparation. I praise God for all the wonderful people who have poured into our lives. I praise God for the mission he has placed before us and I am excited for whatever he has planned for us next. God is so Good.

Are you ready for all that God has in store for you? Are you dedicated to Him? Are you excited for your journey even if there is a lot of mystery and a lot of unknown? Half of the excitement in life is anticipating what is next. When you have faith in the Lord and  you trust him completely, you no longer dread what is ahead!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:1-4, NIV)