From: The Pastor’s Heart
To: You
”Title: “The BLOCKED Shot”
I’m a little puzzled and troubled, this morning, by a news story I recently viewed on CNN.
It had to do with a growing number of people in the United States who’ve become irritated
with TSA for extended wait times and long lines at our nation’s airports. In America, if we
are planning to travel by plane, we are told to arrive at the airport at least two hours before
the flight is scheduled to depart, but still people are complaining about being forced to
stand in line and wait. I understand that we live in a microwave and drive-up window
society where waiting is not something we tend to be good at any more. We have busy
lives and it can be uncomfortable standing for long periods of time carrying luggage and
other personal items, but there’s a reason for the discomfort…Safety. That’s why I’m
unsettled because one would think that when it comes to safety and security we’d be a
little bit more patient and amenable.
Then I stopped and remembered all of the times I frustrated God by challenging His plan
for my life. I thought about the overwhelming number of instances I complained that
things weren’t happening quickly enough for me. How often we moan and grumble about
being treated unfairly because what we thought should have happened for us by now has
not happened. We tend to want what we want when we want it and how we want it
without remembering that we don’t fully know what lies ahead. God is not insensitive to
our desires and He knows what we stand in need of before we ask, but He’s also seen
what’s awaiting us and He knows our state of readiness. Think for a minute about the many
times you moved to hastily and did not hold out for God’s command, then cried out to be
rescued from a plight that could have been easily avoided.
Patience is a virtue and it so greatly benefits the believer’s growth spiritually. It is amazing
the lessons we learn and the wisdom we obtain while waiting on God. His ways are far
beyond our ways and His thoughts well beyond ours, so that’s why we must trust the
decision He makes for us even if it means we watch others proceed forward while we sit
and wait. It’s also important that we don’t compare the seemingly progressive progression
of others against the presumed lack of prosperity in our lives. The bible says (Psalms 37:7),
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who
prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” It’s not
fun, I know, watching one move ahead while you are left in limbo, but then it’s also not
always clear what’s in front of that man that God’s blessing you to avoid.
The long lines may be uncomfortable, unexplained, and unavoidable, but remember…the
TSA agent is doing everything in their power to make ensure that nobody gets on the plane
with a device that could seriously harm or take your life. If God has us waiting, it’s
because He’s keeping us from danger and preparing us for another safe flight to a higher
level in Him. Stay in line…you’ll eventually get there despite The LONG Lines.
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)
