I really feel bad for pastors.  They are the folks who usually catch the fire from those with father issues.

I have seen pastors chewed up and eaten in the past and it is an ugly sight to see for sure.

I don’t always agree with pastors, but they are humans — like the rest of us.   Just because they walk in that role, does not make them supernaturally hard where darts don’t hurt.

They are human.

I do think it is easier for me as a lay person to not have to deal with the fear of man because I don’t have to answer to a bunch of different wounded people.   If anyone has walked in leadership, I’m certain they have dealt with difficult people.   Welcome to the human condition.

Pastors and teachers will be held accountable for what they teach others.   That scares me for some.   I just heard yesterday that a local pastor preached to his very large congregation that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are NOT for today.  Whoa.  Just the thought of how easily one comment like that can change an entire groups beliefs.  Hopefully, people will let the Word of God direct them over a man’s opinion, but still … whew.  That is quite a statement.

I wonder how that pastor would explain what has happened in my life and my testimony? 

Lets begin to pray for our pastors to always have ears to hear God’s heartbeat and to have the strength to always be obedient to the Holy Spirit.   They are on the front lines and none of us probably know a third of what they go through.   They need prayer.

I know sheep bite.   And though I may not totally agree with some things, I never want to be a biter.    I’m a lover, not a hater (ha).  Seriously though, it is difficult sometimes for me to post my views on this blog without it appearing that I am tearing apart the belief of someone I might really respect.   That certainly isn’t my heart.   I just love God and only want MORE of Him.

And for me, I love going to church to have corporate worship, etc … but most of my time with the Lord and seeking happens outside of the church.   I think that is the way it is supposed to be, don’t you?  I mean, we are only there a few hours a week.  It isn’t the pastor’s job to feed us a weeks worth of spiritual nutrition in an hour.

Do you remember me posting about some Supernatural Summer Nights that were happening at a church in Durham, NC?  Last night I went to see Joan Fitzgerald (who operates in healing).  It was a fun night seeing so many people touched and I pray healed.  I took a friend with me who is Baptized in the Holy Spirit, but had never experienced a service like that.   She enjoyed it.   I was so thankful to be in an environment where people could be free.

I just want more.   I don’t want the choice delicacies to be reserved for a select few, but for everyone who is hungry.

More Lord …

1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

PURSUE LOVE

All of the wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit are precious to me, but if we don’t walk in love – we have missed the Lord.   We are to pursue it.   Does that mean it can easily escape us?

1 Corinthians 13:1-7
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Oh Father, bathe me in Your love and help me walk in it. 

So many times something will come out of my mouth before my brain engages.  Argh.  Don’t you hate that?  Grace, grace, grace — even with myself sometimes.

I just want to be a sweet aroma to my Father.   I never want to grieve the Holy Spirit.

I can’t imagine what the smell of sacrifice must smell like to God.  It must be even more pleasing than these beauties.

To me, these beautiful Gardenias that I picked this morning make me think of heaven.    Can you imagine anything smelling better than these?  My parents are enjoying the awesome scents of heaven right now.  WOW, I just realized, it was a year ago today that my Mom died!  (Happy one year anniversary in heaven with Jesus, Mama!)

Sorry this is a rambling post, but I guess I just wanted to remind others and myself that:

• Pastors are human.
• Listen to our leaders, but ultimately hear from our Teacher, the Holy Spirit.
• Pray for our leaders.
• Desire spiritual gifts, but PURSUE love.   Without love, our gifts are useless.

Thanks for reading my random thoughts.  I pray everyone has a wonderful Thursday!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, AND MORE LOVE.