Today's Devotional from Pastor Clay: Refreshing Your Pastor - Romans 15:32

October 28, 2014 View this email in your browser Refreshing Your Pastor - Romans 15:32 …that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Romans 15:32 Sunday we ordained one of our "sons of the house," Wes Weber, as our newest pastor. It was an awesome day in the Lord, and it gave me the opportunity to preach a message "Seven Things Your Pastor Needs." Today I'd like to focus in on one of those points; "Pastors need to be refreshed." Now one might wonder why this would be the case, after all what makes being a pastor different from any other job? Other people work hard, don't they? Sure they do. And yes, Pastor Wes has many things in common with other working folks, but there is one big difference: Like a coach, much of a pastors role is working with people, but the outcome isn't game affecting, it's life affecting. When Pastors minister, every prayer, every conversation, every word of caution or encouragement has the potential to significantly change a person's life in some way. Pastors minister to people in emotionally sensitive times: Spiritual birth, baptisms, the birth of a child, weddings, sickness, life-crisis, and death. Pastors pour out emotionally, spiritually, and physically to build up and strengthen the people God places in their path.  Now this is the call of a pastor, there's no complaining, and they understand that their reward will come from the Lord. But pastors are still human, and they can become become weary, discouraged, even burn out.  And it helps them to remain in the game, so to speak, when God's people recognize their effort, and occasionally do something to refresh their pastor. It doesn't have to be big or expensive: A card, a phone call, a lunch out. Some will have the means to bless bigger, a weekend getaway, a gift card.  Now that we have another pastor in our family, I pray our body will up their honor of Pastor Wes, not only by praying for him, but being sensitive to the Lord, and asking "how can I refresh my pastor?" Pastor Clay   Enjoy this devotional?  Share it with someone! Share Tweet Forward Connect Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe by email Copyright © 2014 Calvary Chapel of Wilmington, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you subscribed through our website or my blog. You can click the "Manage Subscriptions" link to manage your email preferences.   Calvary Chapel of Wilmington 2831 Carolina Beach Rd Wilmington, NC 28412 Add us to your address book 910-791-1858 | www.calvaryofwilmington.org   unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Today's Devotional from Pastor Clay: Divine Appointments - Romans 15:20-21

October 25, 2014 View this email in your browser Divine Appointments - Romans 15:20-21 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, but as it is written: "To whom He was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand." Romans 15:20-21 In last Sunday's message "The Seven Marks of Spiritual Maturity,"  (get it here) we described the seven marks of a mature Christian: They have their HEART in the right place They have their HEAD in the right place They know how to INSTRUCT another They know WHY they do what they do They know HOW to do what they do They know WHAT to do: Share the GOSPEL They know WHERE to minister To me the last two are where the rubber meets the pavement, where our maturity is put into action. See, it's not enough to know what your mission is, you need to have a target for your mission.  Paul had a great philosophy; He went where no one else had been before. That doesn't mean you have to buy a plane ticket to the most remote location in the world in order to share the gospel, we can be effective much closer to home:  Find some space in the landscape of your life that hasn't been touched by the glorious grace of God, and GO THERE!  It might be a person at work, the guy that spotted you at the gym, the man that walks his dog on your street each evening… there are places everywhere that we can view as our mission field. But I don't suggest you take the 'shotgun approach,' and try to hit everywhere at once. I believe if you'll begin to pray and ask the Lord where you're supposed to go, and who you're supposed to talk to, God will answer that prayer! He'll direct you to the divine appointments that He has for you, and He'll give you the words to say to share His love and grace. "Lord, help me to see the divine appointments that you have for me today, and give me the words to share about your love and grace." Pastor Clay   Enjoy this devotional?  Share it with someone! Share Tweet Forward Connect Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe by email Copyright © 2014 Calvary Chapel of Wilmington, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you subscribed through our website or my blog. You can click the "Manage Subscriptions" link to manage your email preferences.   Calvary Chapel of Wilmington 2831 Carolina Beach Rd Wilmington, NC 28412 Add us to your address book 910-791-1858 | www.calvaryofwilmington.org   unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Today's Devotional from Pastor Clay: Running Race Fuel - Romans 15:17-19

October 24, 2014 View this email in your browser Running Race Fuel Years ago I bought a bike for my son that was built as a race-bike; the engine had been modified to run higher compression in the cylinder, I.E. more power! The bike was fast, but when you put the correct fuel in it, 108 octane racing fuel, that little KX-85 SCREAMED. It was faster than bikes twice it's size. I thought of that as I considered what Paul wrote in verse 17-19 of Romans chapter 15: Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God… Romans 15:17-19 Paul makes the statement, "I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me." What did he mean by that? I believe Paul understood that all the things he accomplished, it was only the things that Christ did through Him by the power of the Holy Spirit were worth mentioning. The things he did in his own power might have been good, but the things that Christ accomplished through Him was the "God Fruit" that would last into eternity. That truth is still active today: There's nothing wrong with using our own strength and abilities to get things done, as God is the one who gave us that strength and those abilities. But if' we're willing to tap deeper into the power that lives within us; The life of the resurrected Christ, embodied in the Holy Spirit, we're tapping into a power much greater than our own. Not only is the power greater, the results are greater as well. When Christ works through us, the results are eternal! So instead of running "regular fuel" today, consider upgrading to "race fuel," and allow the Holy Spirit of God to work in and through you. "Lord, fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit today, so I can accomplish the things you have for me." Pastor Clay   Enjoy this devotional?  Share it with someone! Share Tweet Forward Connect Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe by email Copyright © 2014 Calvary Chapel of Wilmington, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you subscribed through our website or my blog. You can click the "Manage Subscriptions" link to manage your email preferences.   Calvary Chapel of Wilmington 2831 Carolina Beach Rd Wilmington, NC 28412 Add us to your address book 910-791-1858 | www.calvaryofwilmington.org   unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences