We would soon find out that Plant City was a small agricultural community that hosted the best strawberries in the nation, and the most caring group of people in the South East. It didn't take us long to make new friends on the soccer fields, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, school or community events. We were welcomed with open arms into our church family as Youth Pastors, serving several years in that position and then onto serve other positions in the church like Worship Arts Pastors and now Executive Pastors, as it grew and the need arose. Looking back through old picture albums we are both proud and honored to have led the most AMAZING youth in all of Florida because they were Soul'd Out to Christ. (Hence the name we chose for the group.) Today they aren't so young, toting toddlers and preschoolers of their own and some even moving to other states, yet they still make us proud when we see and hear of their dedication and commitment to serving Jesus Christ.
The next few years we were privileged to help hire some new staff some of whom went on to serve in other ministry opportunities through the US, we helped to implement our church daycare, our School of Music and Family Care programs, build a new sanctuary (currently the PCCOG) that we reside in now. Fast forward almost two decades later and my heart is heavy knowing we will leave behind many wonderful friends and friends who have become family, whom we love so dearly! Yet we know without a doubt, this is the will of the Father.
David said in the book of Psalms, "The steps of a righteous man (woman) are ordered by God!" I have to believe that every detail of a believer's life is strategically and intricately ordered by the Sovereign hand of God and He doesn't make mistakes. It's safe to say, in our lives and I'm sure many of your lives, there may have been times you and I have questioned His will, and we've wondered if maybe somewhere along the way He had closed His eyes, taken a nap, or completely forgotten about us. But the older I get and the more I spend in His presence reading His word, I find just the opposite is true. When doing great things for the Lord, we will often times travel down paths we may not have selected for ourselves, but God knew we needed to travel them, to refine us, purify us, strengthen us and build our faith in Him!
Like Job, some of you have suffered seasons of disease and sickness, loosing houses and lands, often you've questioned where God is and how could He be directing your life. Others are like Joseph, who was pursued by the hands of his jealous family members because of the evidence of a favored life. He was intentionally rejected, thrown into a pit and left to die by those who he loved deeply. Joseph had to wonder if this was part of God's will and I'm certain He questioned where God was those thirteen years of hell!
What about Esther, born in unfavorable circumstances with life's odds against her, she was destined for greatness but had a rough beginning. Who would have ever imagined a jewish orphaned girl would endure such tragedy yet still be in the perfect will of God! And David, the one whom God called, "A man after my own heart" was allowed to suffer persecution from a tyrant jealous King who hated him because he was favored by the Lord and positioned for the throne. Saul drove him to the caves, running for his life, tired, abandoned, weak in spirit and mind, yet He was still in the very center of God's will!
Today the world has painted a different picture and yes sad to say even in the church we sometimes have suggested a life with hardship, sickness, abandonment, strife and warfare is not God's will, but that my friend couldn't be farther from the truth! God uses all of these circumstances for and to His glory. The real truth is, if you didn't need a miracle, you would never need God.
Job, Joseph, David and Esther each needed God to show up miraculously on their behalf in order to accomplish something they couldn't do within themselves. We must recognize that God delights in making you triumph! He delights in positioning you in places and situations where you can't make it on your own, and yes He even allows the enemy to harass, taunt and threaten you for a season, just as He did in Job's life.
The good news is, God planned your victory before He allowed your struggle. He has positioned you in the midst of the season of difficulty and He has made a way of deliverance for you. You may not see it in the natural realm right now, but you don't have to see it, God has already planned it! David reminds us that "God works all things for our good" and if He has allowed this difficult season in your life, it's for a reason------that He may be glorified. All you need to do friend is trust Him completely and I promise you won't be disappointed. He has the master plan and He knows the beginning and the end of your story, therefore you can be confident in Him. It's History....(HIS - STORY), He is the author and no matter what direction your story may take, you can be confident He is working it all for your good. When we come to the place where we know it's all about Him and has nothing to do with us, we can make those detours alot easier.
So today although we say goodbye to sixteen years of wonderful experiences, great people, and treasured memories, we know that we know that we know, He is in control and we are confident in the decision we have made. It is with great anticipation we press on toward the prize, that Christ has set before us, finishing the race knowing He has ordered our every step. Until we meet again whether here on earth or when we are called away to our eternal home, please never forget, to keep it ALL ABOUT JESUS!
Blessings, Polly
That is a good read and a good truth, Polly. I enjoyed it. God bless!
ReplyDeleteRon Smith