From: The Pastor’s Heart
To: You
Title: “The Need trUmps the NO”
I woke up early this morning energized, motivated, fired up and ready to conquer
the day. I looked at the ‘to do list’ on my phone and proceeded to address each item in
sequential order starting with (of course) number one. I was just about to head upstairs to
my office and launch forward on this planned journey, when the phone rang. That’s when I
discovered that what I had planned was about to be changed for the rest of the day. I
didn’t mind the interruptions and alterations to my schedule because the things that were
being asked of me had everything to do with ministry. As I stood on one unexpected
platform to operate as petitioned for the kingdom of God, other request began pouring in
and before I could complete the work I had been doing, I found myself doing something
else.
Needless to say, it’s now twelve hours later and I’m still unable to start on item one
just yet, but I said to myself the same thing I feel led to say to you. When ministry calls it’s
of great necessity that you answer right away. You see, you and I benefit so greatly because
we receive unmeasurable blessings, favor, and mercy from God every day. He does it
without fail because that’s just the way He loves and the way He cares. The scripture
taught us that “No greater love than this, that a man will lay down His life for a friend,”
and Christ truly laid down His life for us when we owed a debt we could not pay. The least
we could do to show appreciation for that commitment is offer ourselves as a living
sacrifice in service.
Our heavenly Father is not looking for us to simply enjoy His fellowship, but He
desires that we be in a Relationship with Him. A relationship is not formed until there is
Release and Reciprocity from both parties. That means that each one in the relationship
should give back to the other at the same level they receive. If God is always giving of His
time, effort, heart, commitment, and service to us then we owe Him time, effort, heart,
commitment and service in return. We cannot allow our agenda to override or overrule
God’s plan for our lives and sometimes we don’t find out His need for us until the last
minute.
I may be tired and way behind in what I still have to do, but at the same time, I feel
so much better because this day was not spent in service for self…no it was spent serving
others which ultimately is service unto the Lord. What have you done lately for others that
totally took you away from your personal activities? What time have you given lately to
bless someone’s life with no thought of getting something back in return? I challenge you
to go out of your way and make yourself available to God through ministry work. It’s very
rewarding. Don’t reject doing for others because you don’t feel like being bothered. We
ALL have busy lives and full schedules, but since you signed up to work for the Lord, let
me remind you of this one thing…The Need trUmps the NO! Get To Work…
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)