From: The Pastor’s Heart
To: You
Title: “A Do-Over”
I was in my office early this Saturday morning which, for me, is truly out of the norm. I
wasn’t there for any particular project that required my undivided attention nor was my
purpose to go over any organizational strategy with a ministry development team of the
church. I was there because a few of my ‘Minister Training Class’ students were required to
return today and take a ‘Make-Up Exam’. I noticed, upon my arrival, that some of them
didn’t appear to be upbeat about their reason for being here, and I understood that. They
knew that if they had passed the original test, there would have been no need for them to
show up today. That’s one way to look at it, but I told them to see it from another
perspective.
I’m certain that all of us have failed at one thing or another in the past and had to endure
feelings of regret and disappointment, but when you’re given a chance to try again, it’s a
blessing not a burden. That’s what I love so much about our God, He is in the business of
giving us ‘Do-Overs’. The opportunity to return to a place where we came up short and be
afforded the mercy of the Holy Spirit to give it another go. What makes it so wonderful is
that God doesn’t hold your mistakes against you if you sincerely ask for forgiveness, clear
your mind and heart, and approach the challenge this time with a renewed desire to
succeed.
I often sing that song, “We Fall Down but We Get Up” because it helps me remember that
our failings don’t make us failures and our mistakes don’t have to keep us in continual
states of misery. We serve a God who has not only proven His commitment to love us
unconditionally, but He’s willing and ready to restore us when we fail if we have a contrite
spirit and return to Him with all diligence. The holy word is filled with example after
example of men and women who missed the mark and found themselves broken inside for
a wrong that they committed, but the heart of our Savior desires that we not stay bound in
our errors – He wants us to get up, try again, and this time succeed through the power of
the Holy Ghost.
Remember the woman caught in the act of adultery? Her accusers were certain that Jesus
would condemn her as they had, but He had another plan for them and for her. He
showed the crowd that they didn’t have to right to condemn and destroy this woman
because they too had failed before. When they realized He was right, they walked away in
shame and sorrow. He said to her, “Since your enemies have not condemned you, neither
do I. Go your way and sin no more.” She, like you and I, received a chance to start again.
She, like you and I, got a ‘Do-Over’. This time…make it count!
EVERYTHING WE DO MOVING FORWARD WILL BE INTENTIONAL AND DRIVEN WITH
PURPOSE TO REPRESENT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT!
NOTHING WILL BE DONE WITH ENERGY LESS THAN OUR BEST AND EFFORT BELOW
OUR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
OUR SERVICE IS LOCAL, BUT OUR REACH IS GLOBAL – SO WE CANNOT REDUCE OUR
PRESENTATION DOWN TO WHAT’S CONVENIENT, BUT RATHER WE MUST RAISE IT TO
THAT WHICH IS EXPLOSIVE!
Get ready for major change that’s coming systematically, intellectually, purposefully, and
professionally. Nothing we do moving forward will be done haphazardly, sloppily, poorly,
or carnally.
We Are the LIGHT!
Sincerely,
Pastor J.E. Chandler, Sr.
(CEO/Pastor of MLCM)