Don’t Limit God

And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.    Exodus 14:31

Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed (limited) the holy one of Israel.    Psalm 78:41

     The theme God gave me for this 2010 is “Don’t Limit God”. This theme was to be a major focus for myself, my family and all areas of ministry we are involved in. We had no idea as to what God was up to and just how important this theme would be for us and others.

     God is leading my family and me to take some time away from pastoral ministry. I will not be returning as pastor of Byrd’s Chapel and Wesley Chapel in June of this year. I will be taking a leave of absence from pastoral ministry and using this as an opportunity to pursue some much needed evangelistic and mission work.

     We are quickly approaching the last days. I do not know when Jesus will be returning – perhaps in our lifetime – perhaps quite some time from now. But the time is closer now than ever. Our communities are full of people that are lost, hurting, searching and seeking for a Savior. Many are looking in the wrong places. Others just don’t know where to look.

     In John chapter 5, a crippled man is laying by a pool that is supposed to bring healing. He has no one to help him get in. And, sadly, the man is looking in the wrong place for what he needs. In an instant, though, Jesus changes the man’s life. John tells us at the end of chapter 20 the reason why he included that particular miracle and others in his gospel – that people might believe that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah and that through faith in him they might have life.

“The thief (Satan) comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I (Jesus) have come that you might have life-life in its fullness” John 10:10 (TEV)

The world is my parish

     Pastor Carl