Right at the beginning of the sabatical I felt a calling to move home and was led to a village 15 miles south of where I lived. Everything seemed to fall in place as if the Lord was opening the doors for us! There was just one obstacle ... selling our own home.
We placed it on the market when I told the church we were moving on in the belief that it would sell by the time I have left my role as pastor there. I thought it would be perfect timing to then move home and spend my sabatical in a new home, new location, new church! Well, it wasn't to be. God had a different plan!
Instead, the house market slumped and there was very little interest in our property, Meanwhile, several house we had like in the new village location had come on the market and been sold! I continued to trust in God that He knew what he was doing, and that His timing was perfect. My wife and children were a little less patient.
The following twelve months (whilst on sabatical) was a journey of trust and time to reflect on all sorts of things. It would seem that the Lord wanted me to spend time with Him rather than decorating, building shelves and transforming a garden in our new home!
At the end of March this year, someone made an offer on our house. Immediately, we made an offer on a home where we felt led to be. By mid-June we moved to our new home and the following weekend held our last service at our old church marking the end of my sabatical! God's timing is perfect.
Now we have moved, we are putting roots down in a new church fellowship and is great to be involved in church life again, but not responsible for leading it! We have made many new friends, and are enjoying just being part of it.
The Lord is yet to reveal what ministry He will call me to, but I am quite content to wait in obedience. For those who wait (hope) upon the Lord shall renew their strength! (Isiaih 40:31)
19 July 2011
04 July 2011
Journey's End
I have to say that I am rather disappointed with myself because have not written much on this blog about my spiritual journey of my sabbatical. I have been writing a journal about my ministry to date, and the reflections on the good and the bad, what I did right, what I did wrong, and God has clearly used this to teach me a thing or two! However, the content does mention folk and it would not be right to publish any of it here! Pastor's confidentiality and all that! I did think about changing all the names and places, but folk who know me would know to much about me and make associations of those I was writing about!
Any, suffice it to say that I have had an incredible journey over the last twelve months, and I have learned two things above all else! Patience and trust in God.
When my sabbatical started, I expected God to sell our house to enable us to move right away! Wrong!! He waited until the end of March 2011 to sell our house - nine months late to my reckoning. We moved into our new home on 17th June, one week before the end of the sabbatical! I also expected him to remove me from all ministerial duties for 12 months - wrong again. During this time I have had one preaching engagement, three funerals and a number of pastorals.
What I haven't done in the last twelve months is attend deaconate meetings, church members meetings, lead services and prayer meetings, perform home and hospital visitations, spend Saturdays preparing for Sunday services, and have countless pastoral sessions. In a strange way, I have missed them!
What I have done is spend more time in prayer, time in reflecting on my performance, and spent time with my family, who had become rather neglected over the years.
I have learned patience because everything is in His timing and it is perfect! No matter how much I tried to influence things, and speed things up, God made sure it happened when He wanted it to. I have learned trust because in having to be patient you have to trust that God is in control. It is a human thing to want to take control of your own destiny, but there are so many things that are not in your control and it is less stressful if you just trust God to do what He wants to with your life. Despite all that has happened in the last twelve months (although you can't tell from the little written in this blog) I have an overwhelming peace and have genuinely not worried about things.
Now as my sabbatical has come to an end, I am trusting God (patiently) to lead me to the next ministry He has for me.
Watch this space!
Pastor Pete.
Any, suffice it to say that I have had an incredible journey over the last twelve months, and I have learned two things above all else! Patience and trust in God.
When my sabbatical started, I expected God to sell our house to enable us to move right away! Wrong!! He waited until the end of March 2011 to sell our house - nine months late to my reckoning. We moved into our new home on 17th June, one week before the end of the sabbatical! I also expected him to remove me from all ministerial duties for 12 months - wrong again. During this time I have had one preaching engagement, three funerals and a number of pastorals.
What I haven't done in the last twelve months is attend deaconate meetings, church members meetings, lead services and prayer meetings, perform home and hospital visitations, spend Saturdays preparing for Sunday services, and have countless pastoral sessions. In a strange way, I have missed them!
What I have done is spend more time in prayer, time in reflecting on my performance, and spent time with my family, who had become rather neglected over the years.
I have learned patience because everything is in His timing and it is perfect! No matter how much I tried to influence things, and speed things up, God made sure it happened when He wanted it to. I have learned trust because in having to be patient you have to trust that God is in control. It is a human thing to want to take control of your own destiny, but there are so many things that are not in your control and it is less stressful if you just trust God to do what He wants to with your life. Despite all that has happened in the last twelve months (although you can't tell from the little written in this blog) I have an overwhelming peace and have genuinely not worried about things.
Now as my sabbatical has come to an end, I am trusting God (patiently) to lead me to the next ministry He has for me.
Watch this space!
Pastor Pete.
10 January 2011
2011 - what is in store for me?
I can't believe is has been over three months since my last blog! Time is flying and I am now half way through my sabbatical. It has been a refreshing time and God has been clearly leading me "by still waters" (Psalm 23). I was interested in attending a School of Prophecy in California, but it was cancelled due to 'unforseen circumstances' - not a good advert!!
The last few months have been relaxing and an opportunity to 're-charge the batteries'! This last Christmas has been the least stressed in many years - no service preparation, no running around with church Christmas arrangements, no official village appearances as Baptist church pastor ... in all it has been great to have this spare time with my family and with God!.
So now we are in 2011, we all look forward to see what this year has in store for us. Well I know for the next 6 months, it is much of the same for me - spending time with God and enjoying His presence. After that, I haven't a clue! I am sure my heavenly Father will reveal what He has in store for me regarding my next ministry closer to the time! I am also confident our house will sell just as God reveals where we are to move to!
But for now, I am quite content to 'wait upon the Lord' as He has promised He will renew my strength!
I continue to pray for all my family and friends, especially for those who are going through troubled times. I pray that you too would know that God loves you and wants to help you through this time. You may have heard me go on about this before but trust me ... or rather trust God because He is the answer! His business is miracles and I can testify He is still in that business today.
I have seen broken marriages restored, disfunctional families repaired, relationships put right, anger and hatred replaced by love and respect. This world is full of broken people and God is waiting to repair them ... if they would only ask Him for His help.
The last few months have been relaxing and an opportunity to 're-charge the batteries'! This last Christmas has been the least stressed in many years - no service preparation, no running around with church Christmas arrangements, no official village appearances as Baptist church pastor ... in all it has been great to have this spare time with my family and with God!.
So now we are in 2011, we all look forward to see what this year has in store for us. Well I know for the next 6 months, it is much of the same for me - spending time with God and enjoying His presence. After that, I haven't a clue! I am sure my heavenly Father will reveal what He has in store for me regarding my next ministry closer to the time! I am also confident our house will sell just as God reveals where we are to move to!
But for now, I am quite content to 'wait upon the Lord' as He has promised He will renew my strength!
I continue to pray for all my family and friends, especially for those who are going through troubled times. I pray that you too would know that God loves you and wants to help you through this time. You may have heard me go on about this before but trust me ... or rather trust God because He is the answer! His business is miracles and I can testify He is still in that business today.
I have seen broken marriages restored, disfunctional families repaired, relationships put right, anger and hatred replaced by love and respect. This world is full of broken people and God is waiting to repair them ... if they would only ask Him for His help.
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