I remember some time ago a friend asking me what was the most surprising element of parenting. At the time I believe we only had two children. I answered after some thought.
The twenty-four hour nature of the job.
Parenting, like so many other things that are important, is a three steps forward and two steps back kind of a deal. And sometimes it is a three steps forward, three steps back process.
Many things are like this- and starting a ministry is one of those things.
This past week (even despite now being on our second round of the flu) could more aptly be described as 100 steps forward and about 15 steps back.
We are in a fight. The fight is not against other people we can see- it is against our Enemy. Certainly our Enemy does not want to see this type of ministry succeed.
We are reminded, though, that the good book says that greater is the one who is in us than he who is in the world. And Proverbs says that when you commit your plans to the Lord, he will make you prosper- he makes things turn out for his own ends.
Our mission is clear- to share the love of Jesus Christ in a life changing way with people who are outside the church in Fort Wayne.
Once the love of Jesus brings them in, they will have the chance to grow more like him alongside other believers.
The end of this is that they will be selfless servants- continuing the mission of spreading the love of Christ.
We should not think that this mission will go unnoticed.
But we will not stop. We will not be discouraged. We will not give in. We will stand toe to toe with the one who would dissuade us and declare the victory that only comes in Christ.
My brother-in-law gave me some good advice this week.
"When you doubt yourself, just stick your nose back in there."
There will be many obstacles- obstacles of doubt, disappointment, sin, money, accusations, rejection and others. But the obstacles will not define us- they will only serve to spur us forward.
We have often sung the following lines to our sons-
"Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross.
Lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory, his army shall he lead.
Till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed."
Only one life and then it's past- only what's done for Christ will last.
Onward,
Patrick
The twenty-four hour nature of the job.
Parenting, like so many other things that are important, is a three steps forward and two steps back kind of a deal. And sometimes it is a three steps forward, three steps back process.
Many things are like this- and starting a ministry is one of those things.
This past week (even despite now being on our second round of the flu) could more aptly be described as 100 steps forward and about 15 steps back.
We are in a fight. The fight is not against other people we can see- it is against our Enemy. Certainly our Enemy does not want to see this type of ministry succeed.
We are reminded, though, that the good book says that greater is the one who is in us than he who is in the world. And Proverbs says that when you commit your plans to the Lord, he will make you prosper- he makes things turn out for his own ends.
Our mission is clear- to share the love of Jesus Christ in a life changing way with people who are outside the church in Fort Wayne.
Once the love of Jesus brings them in, they will have the chance to grow more like him alongside other believers.
The end of this is that they will be selfless servants- continuing the mission of spreading the love of Christ.
We should not think that this mission will go unnoticed.
But we will not stop. We will not be discouraged. We will not give in. We will stand toe to toe with the one who would dissuade us and declare the victory that only comes in Christ.
My brother-in-law gave me some good advice this week.
"When you doubt yourself, just stick your nose back in there."
There will be many obstacles- obstacles of doubt, disappointment, sin, money, accusations, rejection and others. But the obstacles will not define us- they will only serve to spur us forward.
We have often sung the following lines to our sons-
"Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross.
Lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory, his army shall he lead.
Till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed."
Only one life and then it's past- only what's done for Christ will last.
Onward,
Patrick
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