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Turning Towards Tomorrow - Bigger Things and Greater Opportunites
Hello everybody...I'm trying to make the jump from blogging to discussions, so here goes...sorry if it takes me awhile to get it together.
Lately, there has been a sense in my heart that may be a blessing to others. In 2010 I will turn 40 yrs old and the over last 5 or 6 yrs my heart has been consumed with the reality of feeling that I really haven't come close to obtaining what would be considered an acceptable level of accomplishment. I've never really been able to breakthrough when it comes to ministry, although I sensed the call to preach in my early twenties. Church breakups, relational breakdowns, self-pity, false humility, and confusion over the way that God works regarding His church in both myself and others, esp. pastors, makes up a short list of some of what has taken place so far.
In terms of God speaking to me and using forums to share with others the initmate details of communion wiith Him, I really have felt as though certain areas of what He has called me to have been lost and may never be completely/fully accomplished in my lifetime. There has been this revelation that He is pleased with my desire to seek Him, but that there is a difference between a desire to obey and walking in obedience that allows for the release of what He has planned or promised. This understanding appears to be the turning point of restoration. Much of my life this far has resulted in great maturity, but little in the way of public achievement and likely serves as an encouragement and warning to those involved in facing a much greater problem. Serving God our entire life doesn't always guarantee His approval as many in public ministry appear to have their own issues of falling short, and conversely we can be faithfully attempting to seek Him and still miss major parts of what He has called us to do.
The next generation may benefit from my struggles of unfulfilled destiny and purpose. Restoration for me now means looking beyond my own lifetime to when what God is doing in me now rings true to those who come after me. They may go on to do bigger things and have greater opportunites as what once were obstacles for me become stepping stones for them!
Lately, there has been a sense in my heart that may be a blessing to others. In 2010 I will turn 40 yrs old and the over last 5 or 6 yrs my heart has been consumed with the reality of feeling that I really haven't come close to obtaining what would be considered an acceptable level of accomplishment. I've never really been able to breakthrough when it comes to ministry, although I sensed the call to preach in my early twenties. Church breakups, relational breakdowns, self-pity, false humility, and confusion over the way that God works regarding His church in both myself and others, esp. pastors, makes up a short list of some of what has taken place so far.
In terms of God speaking to me and using forums to share with others the initmate details of communion wiith Him, I really have felt as though certain areas of what He has called me to have been lost and may never be completely/fully accomplished in my lifetime. There has been this revelation that He is pleased with my desire to seek Him, but that there is a difference between a desire to obey and walking in obedience that allows for the release of what He has planned or promised. This understanding appears to be the turning point of restoration. Much of my life this far has resulted in great maturity, but little in the way of public achievement and likely serves as an encouragement and warning to those involved in facing a much greater problem. Serving God our entire life doesn't always guarantee His approval as many in public ministry appear to have their own issues of falling short, and conversely we can be faithfully attempting to seek Him and still miss major parts of what He has called us to do.
The next generation may benefit from my struggles of unfulfilled destiny and purpose. Restoration for me now means looking beyond my own lifetime to when what God is doing in me now rings true to those who come after me. They may go on to do bigger things and have greater opportunites as what once were obstacles for me become stepping stones for them!
Tags: Destiny, Failure, Future, Purpose, Restoration
Views: 3
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Todd Chambers on -
Hey - I need to add a reply to my own discussion...Is that allowed?? The Lord has been updating me on my sense of a lack of purpose. He has been sharing with me that there has been a lack of purpose according to the fullness of His will. However, there has been some advancement in the kingdom of God, just not as much as was needed or required. My repentance for failure and submission of the calling in the past season has re-aligned me. God's restoration process has begun in a new way and greater purpose than ever has taken place! Praise God!!
My testimony will be of how God restored me after a season of testing to prove what was acceptable.
Since I believe that I'm not sharing this just for me...I'll add to this that there needs to be turning of the hearts of the fathers to the hearts of the children, and a turning of the hearts of the children to the hearts of the fathers. The previous generation to the next generation and the next generation to the previous generation.
We often hear preaching on a Joshua Generation, but there wouldn't have been a generation that entered in under Joshua had the Israelites entered in under Moses. The transition from Elijah to Elisha happened after Elijah had failed to complete his assignment! Well, that sounds about right...
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Mann on -
Ok, I'm reading your 2nd post after I wrote mine. LOL
"The transition from Elijah to Elisha happened after Elijah had failed to complete his assignment! Well, that sounds about right..."
Now, that is interesting. Explain more if you can. You don't have to share personal details if you don't want, just wondering how you see this.
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Permalink Reply by La Donna Taylor on -
Hello Todd
I read your discussion and sense your frustration of where you think you should be now. As age creeps up on us we look back and wonder what have I done with myself and for God. I can understand your disappointment and frustration but perfect timing is of the Lord. I am here to encourage you that all of what God has given or assigned you to do can be accomplished by You. He has put completion in you. He would not have given it to you if He thought that you could not complete it. God is perfect and in Him we are complete.
Philippians 1: 6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"
Look at yourself through the eyes of God. Dont look at your assignments(s) through your eyes because it will look insurmountable. In my times of talking and journaling with Lord many times God has to remind me that I am God and He leads me and I follow HIm. He told me that we are in a partnership. So I had to sit down and let God redefine me.
This is the most exciting time for the believers because we live in two realms. May I suggest to you that maybe you should journal about asking God who you are and never sell yourself short. You belong to God.
Life's lessons are stepping stones to maturity in God. Life's lessons come to prove us and to help us to die to self. The transition between Elijah to Elisha was awesome not because Elijah failed to complete his assignment but because his time was up. Elisha was his successor who did double the miracles of his mentor Elijah.
God pours out fresh oil on fresh vessels at the right time. I learned that if someone stays beyond their time they are operating not of the grace of God but out of know how.
Let God pour his fresh oil on you and let Him position you for the greatest season of your life. God has a way of redeeming the time for His people. Take on the mind of God and say what He says about you.
Be blessed and be encouraged,
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Permalink Reply by Todd Chambers on
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La Donna - Thanks, I will keep seeking God about fulfulling all that He has for me to do. 5-fold ministry is always about equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, so having a desire to see others reach their destiny in areas where there has been difficulty makes sense.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Mann on
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Todd! I am just overwhelmed by what I am hearing the Lord say about you right now!
You have been saved, set apart, reserved, for THIS TIME. You have been kept for a special purpose NOW in this time. You will be a blessing in MAJOR ways to people, I mean MAJOR. I keep hearing "REDEMPTION." You're going to bring redemption...a kinsman redeemer! He's been saving you!
The "RE-deem" is always better than the original "DEEM."
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Permalink Reply by Todd Chambers on
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Hey - Your encouragement is very appreciated. My heart leaps when I read the words that you have typed.
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