SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST AT THE END!
I apologize if it seems like I am “one-tracked minded” these days. As we get closer to Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday, I have sincerely tried to focus not only what Christ has done for me (tired of taking it for granted) and what it means in my work as a pastor. Combine that with our worship in our new addition on Resurrection Sunday (that day only until we finish it) and my concern I wrote about in yesterday’s devotion, and you will see why I am going back to the subject of “Who I am” these days.
In his book Pastoral Graces, retired pastor Lee Eclov writes:
Pastors, like all believers, are agents of grace. But we dispense the grace of Christ as no other believers do. We are shepherds….But when we are called, God gives us a miraculous instinct for the work. We commonly call it ‘a shepherd’s heart’… (p.12) Pastoral grace is a kind of superpower God gives us, and at first we don’t quite know what to do with it.” (p.13) {Note: I will say AMEN to that!}
It took me years to figure all this out. And I’m still learning. There are times I offer grace and do it very well. There are, sadly, times when I offer grace but do it grudgingly or at least with a bit of hesitancy. I am ashamed of that inability to just do it without judgment since I, myself, have been offered that more than I can count from God Himself. But I have learned this: the key is to never stop growing and never stop learning. I have this sneaking suspicion I will never truly arrive, never perfect it, and never “get it right” all the time.
One more thought from Pastor Lee’s book:
Proclaiming grace always starts with the good news of redemption and resurrection. But grace has so much more to tell the redeemed. Gracious words, not always spoken aloud, cancel debts and bandage hearts. Gracious words open cell doors and tell people their long dark wait has turned into the Lord’s New Year’s Day. (p.28)
With all of my heart I want to be an agent of grace. Nothing more. Nothing less. So I say to those who know me: “Please be patient with me. God isn’t finished with me yet.” That is not a cop out. That is said sincerely.
{Now for the prayer request: In 2016 I was hit by a car while riding my bike. Three months later I went over the handlebars and broke my collarbone, 3 ribs, and had road rash. All healed. But that summer I had surgery to remove a bone fragment sitting on a nerve. In 2022 I had back surgery to give my nerves room to move. All was fine until about 5-6 weeks ago when my lower back felt like someone punched me. After some wrangling, I had X-rays taken Monday and go to a neurosurgeon today to see what is up. Please pray for healing. If not, please pray for wisdom. I’ll keep you posted}.
