I ended my five-week preaching sabbatical this weekend. It was pure joy getting back into the pulpit.
I have a litmus test when I'm coming back from vacation or ending a preaching sabbatical: am I fired up about getting back into the saddle? I can still say, ten years into this God-ordained gig, that I wouldn't want to be anyplace else doing anything else.
I think a relationship between a pastor and a church evolves over time. I definitely sense that evolution. I feel more love. I feel more responsibility. I also feel more freedom to talk about tough topics. And I believe in the potential of our congregation to make an impact more than ever. I feel more and more pastoral :)
I sense in my spirit that we're entering a new chapter at NCC. The reason I say that is that I've found that God usually does something new in me personally before He does something new in us corporately. I have an unexplainable desire to experience God in new ways. And I feel like God is going to do some things in the coming months that defy human explanation.
I feel an acute spiritual sensitivity right now because I'm about a week into forty days of prayer and fasting. I'm definitely living in prayer mode and that has a way of sensitizing your spiritual nerve endings. That may explain my reaction to worship on Saturday night. I was crying and shaking. I can only explain it in terms of Isaiah 6. I felt undone. And I honestly wasn't embarrassed. Jesus cried in public. I dont' want to be any less of a man! Maybe what seems abnormal ought to be normative?
It's hard to put into words, but I feel like I'm ready for whatever God wants to do next at NCC. I can't fully explain it. But there are seasons where you feel like you have to catch up with what God is doing in the church. And there are seasons where you feel like you're ahead of the curve because of the way God is working in your life. I sense the latter right now. And that is a good place to be.
I definitely preached from my gut today. I hope it lays the groundwork for what God wants to do at NCC. The big idea today was: big miracles start with small sacrifices. I talked about the little boy who sacrificed his lunch--5 loaves and 2 fish. And the way Jesus used that small sacrifice to perform a big miracle--he fed 5000 men plus women and children.
In our hands, 5 + 2 = 7.
In the hands of Jesus, 5 + 2 = 5000 R12.
I have a litmus test when I'm coming back from vacation or ending a preaching sabbatical: am I fired up about getting back into the saddle? I can still say, ten years into this God-ordained gig, that I wouldn't want to be anyplace else doing anything else.
I think a relationship between a pastor and a church evolves over time. I definitely sense that evolution. I feel more love. I feel more responsibility. I also feel more freedom to talk about tough topics. And I believe in the potential of our congregation to make an impact more than ever. I feel more and more pastoral :)
I sense in my spirit that we're entering a new chapter at NCC. The reason I say that is that I've found that God usually does something new in me personally before He does something new in us corporately. I have an unexplainable desire to experience God in new ways. And I feel like God is going to do some things in the coming months that defy human explanation.
I feel an acute spiritual sensitivity right now because I'm about a week into forty days of prayer and fasting. I'm definitely living in prayer mode and that has a way of sensitizing your spiritual nerve endings. That may explain my reaction to worship on Saturday night. I was crying and shaking. I can only explain it in terms of Isaiah 6. I felt undone. And I honestly wasn't embarrassed. Jesus cried in public. I dont' want to be any less of a man! Maybe what seems abnormal ought to be normative?
It's hard to put into words, but I feel like I'm ready for whatever God wants to do next at NCC. I can't fully explain it. But there are seasons where you feel like you have to catch up with what God is doing in the church. And there are seasons where you feel like you're ahead of the curve because of the way God is working in your life. I sense the latter right now. And that is a good place to be.
I definitely preached from my gut today. I hope it lays the groundwork for what God wants to do at NCC. The big idea today was: big miracles start with small sacrifices. I talked about the little boy who sacrificed his lunch--5 loaves and 2 fish. And the way Jesus used that small sacrifice to perform a big miracle--he fed 5000 men plus women and children.
In our hands, 5 + 2 = 7.
In the hands of Jesus, 5 + 2 = 5000 R12.
7 Comments:
I was back preaching this morning after a mission trip and a long vacation. I too felt that great pleasure in speaking out God's Word after being "on leave".
Fortunate we are to have this gig no? Nice (again) to hear someone experiencing similar feelings and leanings.
-praying 4 u to hear clear and articluate with power.
Do you get nervous all over again after having an extended time out of the pulpit?
Rob,
I don't think I'd call it nerves, but definitely more adrenaline pumping.
My nerves usually kick in when I'm in totally new speaking scenarios because there are more unknown variables and less relational connections.
Mark
Wow, Preach on Pastor! Wish I could be there to get the full effect of your delivery.
i am praying for HUGE things that defy human explanation as well. i started praying that about a month and a half ago. i have no doubt that God will do unexplainable things throughout the rest of this year.
acts 17:24-31
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Thanks for the math lesson! I was reminded of how qualified I am not...and how incredibly over-qualified He is! You are in my prayers during your remaining 40 days!
Lori
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