"For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own."
Many of you might not know what's going on in my world right now...so here it is. About 6 weeks ago I found out a friend of mine (who also happened to be our Sr. Pastor) was feeling led to another place in ministry. Honestly I felt a little disheartened. I felt like we were holding on to this rope together and making great progress together in ministry and then one day my friend just lets go! Now I know that's not how it went down...I know and believe he followed God's call... but in my flesh it just didn't feel right. I felt it wasn't the right timing. I thought to myself...really ... "right now God, you're calling him to leave." I mean there is so much on the line... a church that desperately wants to become a movement of God here in Austin, Texas. A beautiful city where 92% of our community does not know how much they are loved by my amazing God. I see broken lives and hurting people everywhere I look and now I'm asking, "God, what now?"
So after I had a few weeks to be still, get away, and be alone with God and vent ... I have to say I am greatly refreshed! Yes I confess I'm in a church that has buried its "talents." Yes I confess I'm in a place where we have horded what God has entrusted to us as a treasure instead of graciously pouring it out as a offering on the lives of those in our community. Yes, I confess we have been more concerned about looking religious instead living righteously. Yes we have been more concerned about "judging people's deeds instead of meeting their needs." But here's the deal ...none of these things have to do with my friend leaving. He graciously and faithful served here in this place for 6 years. He was used by God in a very strategic way. And what God has reminded me of today is this... HIS CHURCH cannot fail! It will not fail! Why? Because it doesn't depend on one man. "We" are the bride! The church, the people of God have been entrusted with an amazing calling... to go out into our community and be the hands and feet of Christ. We have been called to go make make disciples of all nations!
I am extremely excited this morning because while we have lived out a riskless & powerless Christianity in the past ... our GOD refuses to let us stay there! He never gives up on us and He longs to rescue and restore the brokeness of our lives! I believe we are poised here at GHBC to become something we have never been before for the glory of our GOD! I praise God that we are losing ourselves in the process! I have some amazing brother's and sister's in Christ who are ready to risk all that they are so that they might begin to live off of His reputation. And here's the thing about living off the reputation of God...IT CANNOT FAIL! You see when we begin to live our lives for the sole purpose of bringing Glory to our God; when we begin to thirst for his power and his presence more than the popularity and pleasures of this world, HE shows up!
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the only name, the only reputation that really matters in my life and the life of this church is HIS NAME!
God I pray that we (your people @GHBC) would not turn to worthless things that cannot save. I pray that we would not trust in programs & performances but instead that we would totally rely on the power of your Spirit that brings life through your word. Father may we completely trust that you have us right where you want us. God forgive us for ignoring the cries of the thousands upon thousands of far from God people who have been entrusted to us in this city. May GHBC become a place where lives are transformed and where broken people can begin again!
Not Ashamed...
Bill
1 Samuel 12:22
Many of you might not know what's going on in my world right now...so here it is. About 6 weeks ago I found out a friend of mine (who also happened to be our Sr. Pastor) was feeling led to another place in ministry. Honestly I felt a little disheartened. I felt like we were holding on to this rope together and making great progress together in ministry and then one day my friend just lets go! Now I know that's not how it went down...I know and believe he followed God's call... but in my flesh it just didn't feel right. I felt it wasn't the right timing. I thought to myself...really ... "right now God, you're calling him to leave." I mean there is so much on the line... a church that desperately wants to become a movement of God here in Austin, Texas. A beautiful city where 92% of our community does not know how much they are loved by my amazing God. I see broken lives and hurting people everywhere I look and now I'm asking, "God, what now?"
So after I had a few weeks to be still, get away, and be alone with God and vent ... I have to say I am greatly refreshed! Yes I confess I'm in a church that has buried its "talents." Yes I confess I'm in a place where we have horded what God has entrusted to us as a treasure instead of graciously pouring it out as a offering on the lives of those in our community. Yes, I confess we have been more concerned about looking religious instead living righteously. Yes we have been more concerned about "judging people's deeds instead of meeting their needs." But here's the deal ...none of these things have to do with my friend leaving. He graciously and faithful served here in this place for 6 years. He was used by God in a very strategic way. And what God has reminded me of today is this... HIS CHURCH cannot fail! It will not fail! Why? Because it doesn't depend on one man. "We" are the bride! The church, the people of God have been entrusted with an amazing calling... to go out into our community and be the hands and feet of Christ. We have been called to go make make disciples of all nations!
I am extremely excited this morning because while we have lived out a riskless & powerless Christianity in the past ... our GOD refuses to let us stay there! He never gives up on us and He longs to rescue and restore the brokeness of our lives! I believe we are poised here at GHBC to become something we have never been before for the glory of our GOD! I praise God that we are losing ourselves in the process! I have some amazing brother's and sister's in Christ who are ready to risk all that they are so that they might begin to live off of His reputation. And here's the thing about living off the reputation of God...IT CANNOT FAIL! You see when we begin to live our lives for the sole purpose of bringing Glory to our God; when we begin to thirst for his power and his presence more than the popularity and pleasures of this world, HE shows up!
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the only name, the only reputation that really matters in my life and the life of this church is HIS NAME!
God I pray that we (your people @GHBC) would not turn to worthless things that cannot save. I pray that we would not trust in programs & performances but instead that we would totally rely on the power of your Spirit that brings life through your word. Father may we completely trust that you have us right where you want us. God forgive us for ignoring the cries of the thousands upon thousands of far from God people who have been entrusted to us in this city. May GHBC become a place where lives are transformed and where broken people can begin again!
Not Ashamed...
Bill
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