Yet, we are reminded according to 1 Thessalonians 4:13c

We don’t behave like those who don’t have any Hope!

Our Hope and faith is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Worship Him today!

Are you stronger today because you failed? Peter denied the Lord three times yet he later wrote.

1 Peter 5:10 (NLT2)
……… so after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

I know Satan wants to sift you but remember Jesus is interceding at the right hand of the Father.

Luke 22:31-32 (NLT2)
³¹  “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.
³²  But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

Proverbs 18:16 (KJV)
A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)
¹⁰  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

God has put a gift or talent in every person that the world will make room for.

It is this gift that will enable you to fulfill your purpose.

It will make a way for you in life. It is in exercising this gift that you will find real fulfillment, purpose, and contentment in your work.

It is interesting to note that the Bible does not say that a man’s education makes room for him, but that his gift does.

Somehow we have swallowed the idea that education is the key to success. Our families and societies have reinforced this idea to us, but we will have to change our perspective if we are to be truly successful.

Education is not the key to success.

Don’t misunderstand me. I believe in education. However, if education were the key to success, then everyone who has a Ph.D. would be financially secure and happy.

 If you’re educated but have not developed your talent, you’re likely going to be depressed, frustrated, and tired.

 It is your gift that is the key to your success.

There are many things in life you can be good at but through your area of giftedness you can become great.

Here is another nugget to learn. You can discover your gift in life and still not be great at it. You will maximize that gift once you ask God to ignite it.

Jeremiah the prophet said 20:9,  
Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

You need the fire to exercise your gift(s).

Once your soul is set on fire you don’t need as much assistance or material to be successful.

Pray today that the Lord will send the Fire of the Holy Ghost into your life to motive you to do his will.

“Keep Moving”

Genesis 12:6-9 (NIV)
⁶  Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
⁷  The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
⁸  From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
⁹  Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.

1. The real Blessing is beyond the familiar and comfortable.
2. The real growth is beyond the Familiar and comfortable.
3. The familiar is where you are the unfamiliar is where God wants to take you.
4. Where God wants to take you require trusting Him.
5. The blessing is your destiny but the journey is what will make you.

What you are going through now is not your destiny but a part of your journey which is here to make your faith in God stronger.

It starts with stop complaining about what you don’t understand and keep Moving!

Rev. Jones sat at his desk thinking about what he would eat for dinner. Admittedly, he realized that more and more he was watching the minutes wind down to 6:00 p.m., thinking about sitting with his family around the dinner table. As he contemplated spending time with his family, his train of thought was interrupted as his phone rang.

“This is Pastor Jones,” he answered.

“Hi, Pastor. This is Sallie.”

“Sallie! How are you?”

“Unfortunately, not so good today, Pastor,” she said. “My dad was just put in the hospital, and we are in the waiting room now. We are waiting to see the doctors.  We were wondering, can you come by to read a few Scriptures and help console mother? She is very shaken up about the whole thing, and she specifically asked had anyone called you.” 

Pastor Jones was silent for a moment. The image of him sitting with his family at the dinner table with a juicy steak flashed in his mind, but it was pushed away quickly by a soft, “Pastor? Are you still there?”

“Yes, of course, Sallie. I am so sorry to hear about your father. I will be on my way shortly.”

YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PASTOR THAT EXPERIENCES MINISTRY BURNOUT

This scenario can seem all too familiar to many pastors. Whether it is your tenth month or tenth year in ministry, the pastoral call can leave you feeling as though the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Maybe you have compared yourself to other pastors and thought, “They have it all together. Why do I seem to be struggling so much?” Or, perhaps you have wondered to yourself, “Does anyone else feel as worn out as I do?”

Know that you are not alone. You are not the only pastor who has experienced the depth and intensity of pastoral burnout. 

THE PASTORAL BURNOUT EPIDEMIC

Being a pastor is not for the faint of heart. Pastors are often expected to fulfill multiple roles. Most of the time you are the pastor, but at other times, you serve as the church administrator, janitor, bookkeeper, handyman, groundskeeper, and everything in between. 

However, you have been called by the Creator of the universe for such a time as this. Sadly, it has become all too easy to overwork ourselves. This can result in the neglect of our families, friends, downtime, and most importantly, a personal relationship with Christ. Yet, with all of the day’s responsibilities, who has time for anything else?

Although you are called to work as unto the Lord, it is important to remember that you are also called to rest unto Him.

BUILD UP A TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS TO PROTECT YOUR BLIND SIDE

Most, if not all, pastors enter the ministry with a passion for reaching the lost and for seeing lives transformed for eternity. The majority of pastors receive some type of training (whether it be formally or informally) to prepare them for ministry. However, these ministers quickly realize that out of all the training they received, the area of protecting the blind side was missed.

For many ministers, they cannot cover the blind side of life that comes without warning. When they have made the best of plans something goes wrong quickly. It is at that time you need to remember every good athlete team has a bench.

God has pulled me from the starting team and told me to sit on the bench and wait for just such a moment to help my fellow labors.

Take time off with your family

Take all your vacation

A week is 7 days and not just Sunday

Take time off just for the sake of yourself alone

If you need help from someone with 48 years of experience to fill in on Sunday, Wednesday, a funeral, or just a long talk feel free to contact me.

Website: williamthompsonministries.com

Email: revstpeter@gmail.com

Phone: 980-329-1166

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. William Thompson