Where Have You Been?!?! (& a return from a lengthy absence)

Did you ever get asked that question by your parents – perhaps when you missed curfew? When our absence is unexpected, those who care about us want to know what has happened.

And so when we are running quite late, we know that this question is coming. So we begin concocting some great excuse, working up various explanations for each point we think we might need!

Well, some have wondered the same regarding my absence from all social media & website postings. And as I have encountered some of you, I’ve had several tell me they wish I would start posting my devotional thoughts again.
– First, Thank you for the encouragement!
– Second, I apologize for my absence. And…
– Third, in response to the question, “Where Have You Been???”
…let me share my concocted excuse!

My absence hinged on the whirlwind of changes in my life over these past two-and-a-half years. This extended hiatus goes all the way back to 2019, when I felt God calling me to a new ministry position with Lifeway. During the first six months of learning that new ministry position, I did not have time to write. But then as I was just getting my footing and preparing to start posting again, the pandemic occurred, and I ended up losing my job due to the economic downturn. (I plan to say more about the loss of my job in a future post, because I know this has occurred to many people during these past two years of turmoil and uncertainty, including to some of my own family members and several more from our church family.)

The next few months were spent praying about what new doors God would open for us. And instead of posting on social media, my time was taken up with sending out resumes and taking part in interviews. In August of 2020, God opened a new door and provided us with the wonderful opportunity as I was invited to serve as the Senior Pastor of Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church in Meridian!

Even though pastoring was not unfamiliar territory for me, this was a new church family with new staff and new systems to learn.

Also, becoming a pastor in the middle of a pandemic where neither I nor the church family could see each others’ faces due to masks was certainly a weird way to get started in a new church. So with learning new people and systems while also learning how to pastor during a pandemic, I again was left with too little time to write.

But fast-forward a year-and-a-half later, and while the pandemic isn’t quite over, life has definitely become more stable. As a church family, we are finding our rhythm, and that is beginning to open up my time to be able to do a bit more writing. So I’m planning to begin sharing some thoughts again.

This morning, I simply want to share with you some thoughts from Psalm 20 which I read as part of my Bible reading this morning. As I read it, I first thought of it as a prayer for myself. But then as I finished praying through it, my mind went to my brothers and sisters in Ukraine. Our Christian family in the Ukraine is in such difficulty right now. Certainly all of Ukraine is. But our Christian brothers and sisters are distressed and displaced like so many others in their nation, annd they are also desiring to be a light in the darkness for others. And therefore, here is a prayer we can pray from Psalm 20 for them today and in the days ahead:

Father God, answer the prayers of your people in this day of trouble. Great God, protect our brothers and sisters in Ukraine and send them help that only You can provide. Sustain their faith and help them to feel Your presence as they continue to trust in You even in the midst of their distress.

You are the victorious One – the One who sends us salvation. Help our Christian family in Ukraine to continue to point others to You. Help them to shout for joy at Your victory – the victory of eternal life even in the face of so much destruction and pain.
We know that You are our God who listens. Hear all of our prayers and bring them victory from Your strong hand in this time of trouble.

As David wrote in the Psalm: Some trust in chariots, and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

So while many today are trusting in military might and power, God help them (and us) to trust in You and Your strength. We will stand firm in our trust and faith in You.

Please answer our prayers as we call upon You in these days of difficulty.

In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

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