Coffee With The Lord

I hear people every day express great fear and concern over world affairs.  Events are occurring that frighten us.  A leadership vacuum seems to exist and those who aspire to fill it often have characteristics and values that cause us concern.  Ordinary people suffer the impact of it all upon their day-to-day affairs.  Proffered solutions, human and godless in origin, abound… Who is right?  What to believe?

The situation was no different for God’s people in ancient times!  I read about it this morning in Isaiah 41.  Times were scary… World affairs were unstable… Godless and power-hungry leaders were emerging… What to make of them?  Was there any hand of Divine “providence” behind it all, ordering affairs, and acting on behalf of God’s people?

In the midst of it all God declared through His prophet… “I, the Lord, the first and with the last; I am He! … Fear not, for I am with you!  Be not dismayed, for I am your God!  I will strengthen you!  I will help you!  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand!” (from Isaiah 41:4, 8-10)

Hey, take it from me, Isaiah 41:1-20 is a worthy read today, given the situation in our world and our nation!  Those who believe in and are trusting the Lord can be encouraged by its assuring message!  World affairs, as frightening as they are, are not beyond God’s knowledge and control!  He is at work in our world and His plan and purposes will be fulfilled!  I’m going to put my trust in Him as never before, fill my mind and heart with His Word, and trust Him to work things out for His glory and the good of His people!  How about you?  Com’on let’s do it!

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!!!