God at Work in Me
Posted by James MacDonald on October 19, 2007 12:42 PM | Comments (14)Is this a place for a pastor to share his heart? Is this a place for the people who follow my ministry to get the reality that I am the furthest thing from some big-time radio preacher but just a fellow Christian on this journey of following Jesus and trying to get it right? Yeah, that's what I think it is so let me tell you the way things really are . . .
I continue to go through an extended season of personal wounding in ministry. It's not coming from one person or place, but from a variety of sources. I am under no illusion that this is anyone's doing but my own. I am into truth-telling in private contexts, but I am not into pointing the finger in public. In fact I really prefer for others to pick up their own mirror and figure out what God is teaching them. I can only say that I have not found very many believers willing to reciprocate my heartfelt passion that we must always hear and humbly respond to the difficult criticisms of others. We should assume even as a brother or sister is speaking to us that what they are telling us is true. It is truly their perception and that in itself gives it substantive validity.
I try to see this kind of input as God coming to us through that person. The channel He uses is often imperfect and could easily distract us from His voice. But somewhere in the middle of the white water racing toward us, somewhere in the center of that stream is God's voice and the pure water of His will for us. Whenever I have nourished my thirst for greater Christ-likeness from that living water it has satisfied my soul deeply.
I have always wanted to be a man of God's Word. More and more I see these seasons as a time when God is pulling us back and more deeply into His Word. I praise Him for it!
Ps 119:67, Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
Ps 119:71, It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.
Ps 119:75, I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Yeah that's it for sure. God faithfully using others to pull us more deeply into His Word and into His Son. And that's a good thing, a really good thing!
U R loved, and God is good! :)
james
Comments
Posted by: Chad | October 19, 2007 02:04 PM
My Dad has been a pastor for aprx.30 years and I am a text book prodigal. My Dad has been a tremendous influence in my life However, My Dad and I are not seeing eye to eye. He is independent KJV only. His ministry seems to me--Halted. My wife and I have left the church he pastors and now attend a church where NIV and NKJV etc are used. He is extremely dogmatic on this issue and I feel a gap in our communication. I know that we are growing and are in the Lord's will but it is stil hard.
Posted by: Matt Stephens | October 19, 2007 02:57 PM
Pastor James, Thanks for sharing this. As a nationally known public figure, you're always going to be under intense scrutiny. Some of it will be constructive; some will not. Your humility in recognizing God's hand in both to some extent is admirable. Reminding those under your care of your humanity, in ways such as this, is an oft-needed self-check, both for your sake and theirs. My wife and I have felt very lost in the sea of faces lately. Your confession has helped "put a face on you".
Posted by: Brent Williams | October 19, 2007 10:12 PM
I have received more criticism in the past two weeks than the previous three years preaching. It all started after preaching a message of truth that some "religious" did not want to hear. Through this, God is speaking truth into my heart, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Thank you for your transparency.
Posted by: Jerry Atkinson | October 20, 2007 12:32 AM
Jeremiah 17:5 &
"Whomever the Lord has adopted and deemed worthy of his fellowship ought to prepare themselves for a hard, toilsome, and unquiet life, crammed with very many and various kinds of evil. It is the Heavenly Father's will thus to exercise them so as to put his own children to a definite test. Beginning with Christ, his first-born, he follows this plan with all his children." John Calvin
You are an awesome brother & teacher & pastor & dad.
I will pray for you right now.
Posted by: Andrew Heidman - Collingwood | October 20, 2007 09:07 AM
Hi Pastor James,
Just a word of encouragement (I hope). I am one of the many lives that you have touched through your passion for the Word of God. My life (as many others) will never be the same because of your faithfulness. Thank you for you. Sometimes he takes us through the valleys, so we will appreciate the mountain tops all the more. I will read again "The Tale of Three Kings" and be in prayer for you and your personal walk.
Posted by: tina | October 20, 2007 08:29 PM
Pastor your honesty on this one came in His perfect timing for me as I am dealing with some tough ones in my choir it is refreshing to my soul that we can all feel things about our brothers and sisters and Then take a whole new perspective on it I thank you for your obedience in writing this and just know that it has blessed and changed my love/frustration to{ LOVE them through it}. PS your knowledge and preaching has helped my Christian walk .thanks
Posted by: Don Faber | October 21, 2007 09:31 PM
James, let us together PRESS ON!
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 3:12-14
Posted by: leslie | October 22, 2007 07:48 AM
anyway james i felt sick after the arguement, and i told her lets never speak of this again, because god doesnt like it, and he is the judge,
the closeness i have with christ is because of you preaching the truth, and i love truth,and i know god will never mislead me.
so, JAMES KEEP ON PREACHING THE TRUTH
Posted by: Roxanne | October 24, 2007 12:57 AM
James, you are a very gifted servant. In the last 7 years, your teaching has blessed me IMMENSELY through my walk in what I call true "wilderness". What I have learned ,is those who are called to be"Prophets","Apostles", and "Teachers", (which you are!:),are specifically listed 1st,2nd & 3rd, because they are all gifts bound in scripture alone. He will do whatever it takes, to remove us from ANY distraction, to get us to continually seek dependence upon Him.
SOOO grateful for your heart!
Posted by: Denise Wampler | October 24, 2007 07:08 PM
Psalm 94: 12-13 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity/
The LORD uses u & your life to bless & speak truth to others via any channel He sees fit. Despite human imperfection, u are a man of honor & integrity after God's own heart. U set an exemplary example of a devoted, passionate follower of Jesus Christ w/ rare transparency.
Happy belated birthday! I thank God u were born.
U & your family are prayed for.
Posted by: Andrea | October 24, 2007 08:23 PM
Dear Pastor James,
Even though you live thousands of miles away from where I live... you are the best pastor I have ever had. Thanks for your awesome teaching, honesty and love for our King! I will pray for your health and strength to keep on in your ministry for the Lord. One day at a time! I am discovering this in my own life.
Andrea
Posted by: sharon | October 25, 2007 11:53 AM
wow. Got something going on here at work that has me at that crossroads of either listening to the Spirit who is trying to guide me or just taking matters into my own hands. I am so tempted to do the latter BUT, the Voice is so loud and I can't ignore it. I want to. But I don't want to. I want God's blessing more yet I am angry at this man for trying to take my clients while appearing to "help" me.
It's at these times I know what I should do yet I know what I want to do yet I want to obey.
Posted by: Maggie Clinton | October 29, 2007 09:20 PM
So humbled by your transparency and praying there would be that level of willingness to truly hear in my life
Press on brother the Lord disciplines those He loves and He punishes everyone he accepts as a Son
God is treating you as a son
In this world we will have trouble but take heart for he has overcome the world
With Him it's all good ....even the tough stuff
Posted by: Anthony | November 12, 2007 10:57 AM
Pastor James, I met you at Founder's Week about a year ago, and I handed you a letter ...about how your ministry has been instrumental in bringing conviction and change in my life! It is an awesome testimony to the Living Word, and I love your devotion to the Word! Numbers 6:24-26 to you and your family, and to Harvest! I'm in Indianapolis, but I stay plugged into HBC as much as I can. Be encouraged, and continue the passionate pursuit of growing in grace!