MY JOY OVERFLOWS!

 

FAVORITE SCRIPTURE Day #24 (day #23 didn't get published because I had an early morning yesterday, heading to a conference!)

Sometimes, when I am reading in the morning, I get a little nostalgic. I don't know if that is a sign of being old, or just the spot I'm at in life. Yesterday, I went to a day conference talking about one-on-one evangelism. THAT has been the PASSION OF MY LIFE. My JOY was overflowing listening to the presentation to so many regional pastors. It put me in the mind-set looking back on the ONEs I have had in my ministry and there are so many. I almost got emotional thinking about how many special people God has placed in my life. I sincerely desire they continue to grow in their faith and that they FIND THEIR ONE. So, I just started sending texts this morning asking them to read my NEXT FAVORITE SCRIPTURE. Because it really is my prayer for them.

"How I thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God's presence. Night and Day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your heads strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his people. Amen." (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, NLT)

I am so blessed to have so many wonderful "disciples" in my life. No, not people following me, but people FOLLOWING JESUS. I have been so blessed just to be a part of their story. I am so thankful for SOCIAL MEDIA and modern technology because they are just a moment away and I can keep up with them. 

Missing them has nothing to do with WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW. I ALSO truly love what God is doing here at SM and this NEW FLOCK. I grow closer to them every day and treasure these people dearly. They are my focus right now and God is asking me to pour into them and they also are pouring into me. How could I be so blessed to have such a continuing chain of people ever expanding the flock?

Lord, My JOY OVERFLOWS this morning as I think back in all YOU HAVE DONE. I can take no credit, I have just tried to be as obedient as I could be. Sometimes I have been VERY obedient and sometimes I have completely IGNORED your love and guidance. Forgive me for those times and I praise you for your PATIENCE, your LOVE, your MERCY, your GRACE, and the JOY! Please Lord be with the flock that is out on their own. Watch over them; protect them and guide them. Bring other people into their lives that help them fill the gaps in their faith. Continue to help guide my path as I serve this new flock. May I always be aware of my goal, to get them to draw closer to you and to have THEM expand their own flocks. My JOY OVERLOWS. Thank you Lord! AMEN!