Paul thoughts on Saturday Afternoon...

Life is full of surprises but God is never surprised...
Family, Friends and Faith make everything better...
God's Word soothes the heart and soul...
Step where Jesus points you and be brave in Jesus...
I smile because Jesus is with me...
I know Jesus is with me always...It's His promise

Waiting for instruction..................
pp :)

Precious

I'm sitting here with Mr. Joe as Chemo is put into his body. Cancer is such a harsh word, a reflection of a harsh disease. It makes me angry. It confuses me too.

But in the midst of my anger and confusion, peace enters. She is so kind. She is so concerned for my friend. She rubs Joe's shoulder and gets him everything he needs to make him comfortable. She smiles!

Her name is Judy but lets call her Precious!

Thank you Lord!

Listen and obey

When God says, "Try" He's really saying "Trust." Don't allow the enemy to steal your victory. Claim Jesus, claim victory!
Just do it!

Sleepless

Tossing and turning on my pillow is never fun. In fact, listening to all those quiet noices of the night with my mind racing through senerios of the day past or journey ahead seems to make me a little angry. But sometimes during my sleepless and restless nights it is not unpurposed. My Father which art in Heaven is wanting my attention. Yes, God shakes my heart and mind, holds my eyes open, makes my pillow unconfortable, just to bring me close to Him.

Early this morning God did just that again. He wanted to teach me about prayer. I was encouraged and challenged. I want to be all I can be for God. Prayer is the place for me to prove it. So after the lesson I decided that I need to work on my prayer life. If I truly love my Father, I need to tell Him more. I'm praying I will become a prayerful servant.

Father, thank you for the lesson. You know my heart but You want to hear my heart. I'll work on it! Love You! Paul

Directions made easy

Google maps can tell me just how to get to my destination, even draws me a picture. But I still get lost along the journey?? Paper in hand and lost, just doesn't seem right for a "smart" guy like me.

God understands me better than I do. He gives me written directions in His Word with plenty of illustrations and real life experiences to help me find my way, yet i still get lost along the way sometimes. So when I cannot follow the directions, the Holy Spirit takes over. God really does understand me better than I do!

Father, lead me today by Thy Spirit and help me find my way, Amen!

Worship vs interest

"It's about getting back to Worship" has been the thought on my heart recently. "Who's first in your life?" has been the question I've tossed at the church. Worship is a personal and purposed decision. True unity within the body of Christ cannot exist without true Worship with the God of Heaven.

Is Worship lost? No, just misunderstood. Oswald Chambers says "Worship is giving God the best that He has given you." God gave Abraham Isaac and God said give him back. We are created for God's pleasure and God's pleasure is found only in the best. So the best I have to offer is myself! The best you have to offer is yourself. Worship is offering your best (yourself) to God.

Rev 4:8 says "they rest not saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was and is and is to come."

Father, help us to stay close to You through our Worship with You. In the Name of Jesus! Amen

Waiting

This morning I find myself in the church office waiting for what tomorrow will bring. Tomorrow morning, at the close of the Worship service, the church will vote for me as their pastor. It's actually the third vote on my journey here at Goshen FWB.

• The First occurred in may 2010 to bring me as an associate pastor.


• The Second occurred Jan 23, 2011 to call me as pastor. I had the majority vote but not the required 3/4 majority, so I was not called to be the senior pastor.


• The third vote comes tomorrow, Lord willing, after an interesting chain of events.

1. Jan 9 2011...Senior pastor retires from Goshen FWB


2. Jan. 23, 2011...My vote did not call me as pastor


3. Jan 24, 2011...members began to remove their membership from Goshen Church.


4. March...The attempt to formulate a pulpit search committee failed. There was only one volunteer.


5. April...General Board voted to submit to church the recommendation to re-consider yours truly as pastor.


6. April...Church voted to re-vote me as pastor.


7. Tomorrow, June 5, 2011, there's a vote pending to call me as pastor.

Today I find myself waiting...need I say more?

Yes!

Through this process to become the pastor of Goshen FWB I've been...

• tested


• tried


• trusted


• treated wrongly


• tempted to quit


• loved, encouraged, strengthened!!!

What A journey this has been! It's been amazing in every way possible!

I know God is in control of my life and ministry no matter how tomorrow's vote turns out. God has proved Himself to me in many ways this past year. Praise to my God in Heaven!

"Thank you" to all those who have encouraged me and are praying for me still!

Grateful indeed!

Pastor Paul