God stays with us

I have noiced regularly over the years in my walk with God that if there is something He is trying to show me or do in me He will stay with me on it. There is a persistance in our God when He knows what we need and we are either not ready for it or we are ignoring it. After all we do this with our kids. If there is a character quality or issue that need to be developed in them we will hone in on it and stick with it. We will do everthing in our power to help them with the issue until they finally get it or take ownership of it.

God is a lot like us as parents. He will do everything in His power to help us to the place He wants us to go. Before I left for vacation God impressed upon my heart that I needed to live more fully into His joy. I heard from Him to take ownership of the verse, "the joy of the Lord is my strength". And so I did...well as best I could. Now I am home from vacation and I am still impressed with the fact that I have a long way to go with this joy thing. God isn't done with me there. He is persistant and insistant that His joy be a larger part of my life. So every day this week I am reminded of His joy. I am begin challenged to discover His joy in all things. I readily admit that my heart this week has been distracted from this. I find myself thinking of my family and my parents in Myrtle Beach. I find myself reflecting on our family vacation a week ago and missing that time that we had together. However it is giving me a new appreciation for Erin, my children, and my parents.

This weeks sermon is on...you guessed it, JOY. What else would it be on. I mean isn't it uncanny how God works in us. I am going to be preaching on a topic that is a project for me personally right now. There is a persistance and an insistance from God to make sure we live into the work He wants to do. He isn't just going to go away if there is something we need to work on. He will be right there waiting for us when we are ready to come back to that thing and that work he is doing in us. God will stay with us. Praise Him for that! God thanks for impressing on me the need for greater joy. Stay with me and lead me and guide me.
Walking Together,
Your Dreaming Pastor