Coffee With The Lord

My great delight over the past 37 years has been to work with a generation of young, emerging leaders with an apostolic heart, vision and “Spirit” (and I DO mean the Holy Spirit – not simply their human spirit!) I have the wonderful privilege of helping them identify their gifting, urging them to listen for God’s voice and respond to their calling, and then assist them in developing their skills in communicating the gospel and learning how to “make disciples of all nations” in the power of the Holy Spirit. Hey, it doesn’t get much better than that!!

During my time of “coffee with the Lord” the other day, I read the expression of Paul’s passion and vision in Romans 15.20… Paul said, “My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.” As I read those words, I thought of many of those young emerging leaders… To serve the Lord in revitalizing and leading an existing congregation is a noble task. But I praise God for those who embrace the passion and preference of Paul – identifying pockets of unreached people, taking the gospel to them and then making devoted, Christ-following disciples of them. Hey, I am convinced they are getting us ready for the coming of the Lord!! “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt 24:14 ESV)

So my encouragement to them today is this… Go for it!! Let the Lord give you your vision. Lift up your eyes and look upon the “fields white for harvest” (John 4:35)  Trust God to give you creative strategies!  Be sure to listen to seasoned effective older leaders who have been effective.  But go for it in the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit!!  I’ll be right beside you screaming encouragement and applauding wildly when you succeed!

Exciting News!  Announcing a new class at Trinity Waxahachie taught by Dr. LeRoy Bartel…“Walking With God: Learning From Those Who Did It.”  Walking with God is a BIG DEAL!  It’s a pathway of incredible peace and abundant blessing!  It’s also a pathway filled with some big challenges!  But to do it with the wonderful presence, guidance, and reliable help of the Lord makes it a grand adventure!  Hey all the way from here to heaven!!!  You just can’t top it!

You’re invited to join us for an exciting interactive Bible study beginning February 27, at 8:45 a.m. at Trinity Waxahachie, 515 E. Marvin, Waxahachie, TX. (Plan to attend NOW!)  There will be signage at the church to the location of the class.  We’ll start with fellowship … great Bible study will follow!  Don’t miss it!!!

In my Bible reading this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage that reminded me a little bit of conversations I had with my mom and dad as I was growing up. Back then I was a bit of a “know it all” and thought I had the answer to everything, and knew a lot more than I actually did.  I’d “pop off” with my youthful arrogance about something, and with an edge of frustration in their voice they’d say to me, “OK ‘smarty-pants’ you know so much at the age of 13… do it then!… or solve the problem then!” And of course, I didn’t have the knowledge, experience or ability!

In Job 40:5-14 The Lord speaks to Job and says, “DRESS YOURSELF FOR ACTION LIKE A MAN; I WILL QUESTIONS YOU, AND YOU MAKE IT KNOWN TO ME…” and then challenges him about how much Job knows and what he is able to do… “Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? ⁹ Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor!  Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him!  Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand!  Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below!  THEN WILL I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE TO YOU THAT YOUR OWN RIGHT HAND CAN SAVE YOU.

Sometimes we’re a bit like that with God… We think we know how He should run the universe and question what and how He is doing things. In this passage I believe the Lord is “putting things in proper perspective for Job” and in some ways putting Job “in his place” – reminding him of “who God is” and “who Job is”  “OK, Smarty-Pants… You know so much and have the answer to everything, go ahead and try!”  Sometimes we need God to remind us of Who He is and who we are!”  When He does (however He does it) I believe our response would be like Job’s: “Behold, I am vile!  What shall I answer you?  I lay my hand over my mouth!  Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; yes, twice, but I will proceed no further! … I know that You can do everything!  And no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You! … I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful to , which I did not know… Therefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (From Job 40:3-5; 42:1-5)