The Journey continues

A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE I WROTE IN DECEMBER!  I think that is called an understatement.

I liken the journey I am on, and you too, to a road.  There are lanes turning off that call to us to explore, to spend sometime looking over other things to do.  That really speaks to me because I've often wandered off on dirt roads to see where they went.  Have to get back on our journey down that road. We sometimes get tired and pull off to the side and stop.  We can't stay there because we won't finish the journey.  This journey is one the Lord has set out for me.

As I wrote in December, I am no longer with Set Free Church. I put it this way, 'There was a change in church leadership and my services were no longer needed.'

Some months prior to all this happening, I mentioned to Bob one time that if something like this were to happen, we should immediately go somewhere in the neighborhood and start a mid-week Bible study.  I'm not now, nor was I then, a prophet but I was making a suggestion.  Well, we didn't start a mid-week Bible study but we did start a new church!

Yep, we are meeting in the living room/dining room of Bill and Barb Baker.  We are running 15 to 20, we have a worship team, and two teaching Pastors as Bob likes to say.  We had an organizational meeting and elected a Leadership Council, arrived at the name Open Doors Community Church.  We are working on a website.

God is using my experiences of church planting to help.  That's right, I can't get far away from church planting.  When He said that He had plans for my life I knew that I should hang on because the adventure was going to be great.

I wrote what the Lord showed me back in July '10 when I was convinced that there was nothing left for me to do.  I was sure that my ministry was over. I had no strength to go on.  Now please don't write me and tell me that I should have known better, that I was still in ministry, that I should not have been negative, that being negative was limiting God in my life.  In the midst of that I was visiting my daughter, Chelley, in Denver, when the Lord opened my eyes to see Isaiah41:9,10, "...I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (my note-His right hand is the one of strength) I began to weep.  God has just spoken directly to me and showed me that He was not thru with me - He had plans to give me a future and a hope.  I could go on about that phrase.

I use to tell young people, especially young men, if you want adventure just get in the middle of Gods' will and hang on.

I'll tell you some more later about what is going on around here now.

A thought - I've traveled parts of the world, loved and been loved, watched my children born and now my grandchildren.  I've buried two wives so I've seen death, heartache, and pain. However, what I choose to see is the beauty around me.

Until next time, May the Lord bless you with beauty in front of you, behind you and all around you.  May He give you eyes to see the beauty He has given you.  That, by the way, is part of a Navajo  blessing to believers.

Troy