I’ve Been Praying 30 Years
I really do not know where to begin today’s blog, or for that matter, the next several blogs I intend to write. For the last three weeks I have been in the middle of a whirlwind of activity for the kingdom of God. As I shared with a CrossPointer last night, I feel like a quarterback running a two minute drill in order to win the biggest game of the season.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not so busy that I cannot enjoy the ride. I am enjoying every minute. Perhaps a better way to describe the last few weeks would be to describe them as a flurry of kingdom activity.
The flurry of goings-on started when we kicked off Project One. Since the first day of Project One I have participated in 11 Bible study class fellowships. I believe I have six more to attend. Thanks to those opportunities, I have been wide open, especially when you add my normal routine to that mix every week. I can’t think of the last time I took off a Friday. But that’s okay, I am not complaining; actually I am celebrating.
God, it seems, is working overtime in and through CrossPoint. Our family of faith is abuzz with adrenaline. In addition to Project One, I think some other factors contribute to this flurry of God-ordained activity. For example, the time of year is always a major momentum gaining time for CrossPoint. The mo hits an all-time high this weekend with our annual 5K race and Fall Festival. Another example is the opening of the Point—the new recreation facility. The building is causing quite a buzz among our people as well as in our community. Beyond all that, however, I think the Holy Spirit of God is working overtime in our church and it shows.
As if that were not enough, I want to take a few days to communicate to you some of the incredible things God did while I ministered to the pastors of Idaho and Utah. I am so glad my friend Scott Hanberry called me months ago to invite me to preach for those dear pastors. In addition to taking in all the beauty of the area, I was also blessed with the commitment of the pastors from that part of the country. Some men pastor churches two or three hours away from a Wal-mart, yet they do so willingly.
I knew my trip to Idaho was going to be special when I called on CrossPoint to pray for me last Sunday. Wow, that was an amazing experience. I am not sure I realized how powerful of a moment it is in the life of our church when I call us to lay hands on and pray over someone. Unless you have been in the center of that circle, having throngs of people gather around you to pray, you have no idea how intense that moment really is. Now that you have done that for me, I can tell you it is a God-moment, and I plan on us doing it more and more as a church.
I want to thank you for praying for me last Sunday. You sent me on my way full of enthusiasm and motivation. Thank you, also, for praying for me last Monday and Tuesday. It was evident from the time I arrived until I departed the Lord was responding to the prayers of his saints.
After the last session on Tuesday a woman about my mother’s age approached me. Tears were streaming down her face. She was a member of the church hosting the Pastors’ Conference and Convention. She had attended each session, even though she was not a pastor.
With her voice trembling, this dear saint said, “Ryan, I pray every year for the pastors’ conference. When I heard you and Tony (Lambert) were coming I started praying for both of you. Whether you know it or not, you are an answer to a prayer. For 30 years I have watched pastors in this area deal with discouragement and depression. This week’s conference is the first time I have seen these men walk away built up rather than beat down. I have been praying for something like this to happen for 30 years.”
Apparently God revealed to this faithful soul a particular need all these pastors share. So for 30 years she has been praying for the pastors of Idaho and Utah.
You know me, at this juncture, I started crying. Then she asked, “How did you know these dear pastors were struggling so much?”
To her inquiry, I responded, “I cannot truthfully say I did know, but God knew and so He directed me to preach what I did. And that is the power of God’s word. God’s Word is living and active, and if we would just preach it and teach it then we would see His power at work among us.”
At that, she hugged my neck and thanked me for coming to Idaho. I hugged her neck and thanked her for praying for the dear pastors. There many people who said many things to me during the week. Every comment was encouraging, yet it was this woman’s comments that inspired me the most.
Thanks to your prayers, CrossPoint you went with me. Your prayers were in response to a woman’s prayer of 30 years; and God answered both.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not so busy that I cannot enjoy the ride. I am enjoying every minute. Perhaps a better way to describe the last few weeks would be to describe them as a flurry of kingdom activity.
The flurry of goings-on started when we kicked off Project One. Since the first day of Project One I have participated in 11 Bible study class fellowships. I believe I have six more to attend. Thanks to those opportunities, I have been wide open, especially when you add my normal routine to that mix every week. I can’t think of the last time I took off a Friday. But that’s okay, I am not complaining; actually I am celebrating.
God, it seems, is working overtime in and through CrossPoint. Our family of faith is abuzz with adrenaline. In addition to Project One, I think some other factors contribute to this flurry of God-ordained activity. For example, the time of year is always a major momentum gaining time for CrossPoint. The mo hits an all-time high this weekend with our annual 5K race and Fall Festival. Another example is the opening of the Point—the new recreation facility. The building is causing quite a buzz among our people as well as in our community. Beyond all that, however, I think the Holy Spirit of God is working overtime in our church and it shows.
As if that were not enough, I want to take a few days to communicate to you some of the incredible things God did while I ministered to the pastors of Idaho and Utah. I am so glad my friend Scott Hanberry called me months ago to invite me to preach for those dear pastors. In addition to taking in all the beauty of the area, I was also blessed with the commitment of the pastors from that part of the country. Some men pastor churches two or three hours away from a Wal-mart, yet they do so willingly.
I knew my trip to Idaho was going to be special when I called on CrossPoint to pray for me last Sunday. Wow, that was an amazing experience. I am not sure I realized how powerful of a moment it is in the life of our church when I call us to lay hands on and pray over someone. Unless you have been in the center of that circle, having throngs of people gather around you to pray, you have no idea how intense that moment really is. Now that you have done that for me, I can tell you it is a God-moment, and I plan on us doing it more and more as a church.
I want to thank you for praying for me last Sunday. You sent me on my way full of enthusiasm and motivation. Thank you, also, for praying for me last Monday and Tuesday. It was evident from the time I arrived until I departed the Lord was responding to the prayers of his saints.
After the last session on Tuesday a woman about my mother’s age approached me. Tears were streaming down her face. She was a member of the church hosting the Pastors’ Conference and Convention. She had attended each session, even though she was not a pastor.
With her voice trembling, this dear saint said, “Ryan, I pray every year for the pastors’ conference. When I heard you and Tony (Lambert) were coming I started praying for both of you. Whether you know it or not, you are an answer to a prayer. For 30 years I have watched pastors in this area deal with discouragement and depression. This week’s conference is the first time I have seen these men walk away built up rather than beat down. I have been praying for something like this to happen for 30 years.”
Apparently God revealed to this faithful soul a particular need all these pastors share. So for 30 years she has been praying for the pastors of Idaho and Utah.
You know me, at this juncture, I started crying. Then she asked, “How did you know these dear pastors were struggling so much?”
To her inquiry, I responded, “I cannot truthfully say I did know, but God knew and so He directed me to preach what I did. And that is the power of God’s word. God’s Word is living and active, and if we would just preach it and teach it then we would see His power at work among us.”
At that, she hugged my neck and thanked me for coming to Idaho. I hugged her neck and thanked her for praying for the dear pastors. There many people who said many things to me during the week. Every comment was encouraging, yet it was this woman’s comments that inspired me the most.
Thanks to your prayers, CrossPoint you went with me. Your prayers were in response to a woman’s prayer of 30 years; and God answered both.
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