No, you're not reading a misprint. I meant to say "Hasta Manna". Today marked 6 Sundays since leaving the pastorate and the Lord continues to teach me new things. One day this week I was talking to a former pastoral colleague who reminded me of God's provision to the Israelites in Exodus 16. God rained down manna (bread) from heaven to meet the Israelites daily need. The Israelites were to gather what they needed for that day and no more. God provided for them daily the manna from heaven.
I have had that experience lately, that is, God providing for me and my family. As we stepped out in faith to what God had led us to do, we knew that there would be some challenges. As we have come face-to-face to these challenges, we have seen God provide manna to rain down on us and meet the need right on time; not a moment too soon and not a moment too late.
The spanish word "hasta" means "until". God calls each of us to be faithful until He takes takes us home to be with Him. It doesn't mean to be faithful until times get tough. It doesn't mean to be faithful until we get tired or worn out. It doesn't mean to be faithful until God seems silent and we attempt in our own strength. We are to be faithful until God calls us home. God will provide the manna we need to make it through this life if we are faithful and obedient to His will for our life.
Living on manna means being faithful to God knowing that He knows what you need and when you need it. Living on manna is exciting because sometimes you may not know, literally, where your next meal may come from or how you will pay all your bills this month or how you will make it through the week. When God rains manna down on you, you will leap and rejoice because you realize He loves you so much to leave you in the wilderness to starve and die. What God has planned for you, He will see you through it and provide all that you need to complete His will for you.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Fish Out of Water
When you take a fish out of water it flops around until you put it back in the water. The fish needs the oxygen in the water to live. When it is out of the water, it feels like is it suffocating due to lack of oxygen.
For a few weeks, I have felt like a fish out of water as I left the pastorate and began working as a hospice chaplain. Adjusting new a new work schedule, not being able to drop off or pick up Devon from school, changing from a Christian work environment to a secular, corporate work environment, and a few others I cannot mention due to confidentiality reasons have led me to metaphorically flop on the dock like a fish out of water.
That is until one day this week when I was released back into the water and saw the impact of my new job on a family who lost their loved one. On one particular day this week, my schedule was set in stone for the day (or so I thought) and through a series of events, my schedule got juggled. As a result, I made a trip earlier than planned to a patient and their family. Upon arriving I spent 20 or so minutes visiting with the family and then gathered around the patient holding hands with the family and prayed. During my prayer, the patient went to be with the Lord.
God knew where I needed to be on that particular day at that exact time and it was to be with that family at the point where their loved one left this earth to be with Jesus. Like a fish being thrown back into the water, I am swimming in the water filled the rich grace and knowledge of God knowing that this is where He has brought me and will use me for His glory.
Swimming in His grace is where I want to be. Swimming in the center of His will for my life is where I want to be. Swimming under the spillway of his love is where I want to be. Do you want to go swimming with me?
For a few weeks, I have felt like a fish out of water as I left the pastorate and began working as a hospice chaplain. Adjusting new a new work schedule, not being able to drop off or pick up Devon from school, changing from a Christian work environment to a secular, corporate work environment, and a few others I cannot mention due to confidentiality reasons have led me to metaphorically flop on the dock like a fish out of water.
That is until one day this week when I was released back into the water and saw the impact of my new job on a family who lost their loved one. On one particular day this week, my schedule was set in stone for the day (or so I thought) and through a series of events, my schedule got juggled. As a result, I made a trip earlier than planned to a patient and their family. Upon arriving I spent 20 or so minutes visiting with the family and then gathered around the patient holding hands with the family and prayed. During my prayer, the patient went to be with the Lord.
God knew where I needed to be on that particular day at that exact time and it was to be with that family at the point where their loved one left this earth to be with Jesus. Like a fish being thrown back into the water, I am swimming in the water filled the rich grace and knowledge of God knowing that this is where He has brought me and will use me for His glory.
Swimming in His grace is where I want to be. Swimming in the center of His will for my life is where I want to be. Swimming under the spillway of his love is where I want to be. Do you want to go swimming with me?
Friday, February 3, 2012
Transition
Seven months ago (July 2011) began a transition for me and my family. In summary, after 13 years of being a pastor and family, we felt God leading us out of traditional full-time pastoral ministry. In December of 2011, I was hired by a hospice agency to be their chaplain and bereavement coordinator in a town 50 miles north of where we lived as pastor. The process of applying, being interviewed twice, and being offered the job all happened within 7 days. God was definitely leading us into a major transition and career change at this stage in our lives.
Over the next several days leading up to Christmas, our family found a place to live 20 minutes south of my office. After Christmas, I ended up spending 4 of the 7 days prior to our actual move in training leaving my wife to pack much of our stuff. Following our move, I attended two weeks (3 nights, 4 days) of training back-to-back 200 miles away from our new home, once again, leaving my wife with our two children to begin unpacking and acclimating our 1st grade son to a new school.
The first Sunday I was not a pastor of a church, our family attended a friend's church. It sort of felt of like we were on vacation as we usually attend a church different from our denomination while vacationing. The second Sunday I was not a pastor, reality set in that I was not preaching, taking care of the needs of my flock, etc., and I was fidgety the entire service. This next Sunday will be my third weekend not being a pastor (after 13 years) and I am actually looking forward with great anticipation to being in church and not being fidgety.
This transition out of pastoral ministry to hospice chaplaincy was welcome and confirmed as God's will many times. Some lessons I have learned or re-learned over these first few weeks have been: 1) living by faith daily for every need is more than just a sermon preached, it's a reality; 2) sabbath rest was neglected many times as a pastor and I'm resting more now; 3) God will not lead where He has not gone before to prepare the way; 4) other than my relationship with God, my family is the most important thing to me.
Some importants lessons to learn and re-learn. But as I continue in this transition, I look forward to all that God will teach me as I humble myself before Him. I thank Him for the relationships we have made over the years in ministry and look forward to the new ones we will make in this new chapter of our lives.
Over the next several days leading up to Christmas, our family found a place to live 20 minutes south of my office. After Christmas, I ended up spending 4 of the 7 days prior to our actual move in training leaving my wife to pack much of our stuff. Following our move, I attended two weeks (3 nights, 4 days) of training back-to-back 200 miles away from our new home, once again, leaving my wife with our two children to begin unpacking and acclimating our 1st grade son to a new school.
The first Sunday I was not a pastor of a church, our family attended a friend's church. It sort of felt of like we were on vacation as we usually attend a church different from our denomination while vacationing. The second Sunday I was not a pastor, reality set in that I was not preaching, taking care of the needs of my flock, etc., and I was fidgety the entire service. This next Sunday will be my third weekend not being a pastor (after 13 years) and I am actually looking forward with great anticipation to being in church and not being fidgety.
This transition out of pastoral ministry to hospice chaplaincy was welcome and confirmed as God's will many times. Some lessons I have learned or re-learned over these first few weeks have been: 1) living by faith daily for every need is more than just a sermon preached, it's a reality; 2) sabbath rest was neglected many times as a pastor and I'm resting more now; 3) God will not lead where He has not gone before to prepare the way; 4) other than my relationship with God, my family is the most important thing to me.
Some importants lessons to learn and re-learn. But as I continue in this transition, I look forward to all that God will teach me as I humble myself before Him. I thank Him for the relationships we have made over the years in ministry and look forward to the new ones we will make in this new chapter of our lives.
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