{"id":1687,"date":"2020-09-15T05:00:46","date_gmt":"2020-09-15T09:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/church-replanting\/?post_type=resource&p=1687"},"modified":"2020-11-03T12:13:09","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T17:13:09","slug":"thanking-god-or-wishing-i-had","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/church-replanting\/resource\/thanking-god-or-wishing-i-had\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanking God or Wishing I Had"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Mississippi River spilled over its banks in what we still remember as \u201cThe Great Flood of 1993.\u201d During that time, our growing replanted church was serving people who had lost everything due to months of ever-rising waters. We realized that what we did \u2014 or did not do \u2014 then would define the church\u2019s ministry in years come. I am not much of a poetry man, but during this time I came across a poem by Shel Silverstein that impressed me deeply.<\/p>\n

Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
\nLayin’ in the sun,
\nTalkin’ ’bout the things
\nThey woulda coulda shoulda done…
\nBut those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
\nAll ran away and hid
\nFrom one little Did.<\/p>\n

I have heard it said that \u201chindsight is 20\/20\u201d and obviously retrospect can give a person a wider view of the effects of what was done and what was not done. However, it is never helpful to live today in the Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda perspective.<\/p>\n

In nearly 40 years of ministry, mostly in replanting or revitalizing of churches, I can think of things I did that invoke a one-line, self-judgment \u2014 either \u201cThank God, I did\u201d or \u201cI wish to God I had.\u201d<\/p>\n

The calling of a man to be a pastor is a high honor, if not the greatest in God\u2019s kingdom. He is the man God has called to bring truth in times of uncertainty. We help congregants realize that, in light of eternity, this current trouble is just for a moment.<\/p>\n

Every trouble that affects our congregation and community in a large way, gives the replanting pastor and the church an unprecedented opportunity to exalt God and His glory. (2 Cor. 4:18)<\/p>\n

Ministering to your congregation during these times will be pressing, all encompassing and time consuming, and the replanter must resist the temptation to be \u201call things to all people.\u201d<\/p>\n

A replanter does not have an \u201cS\u201d under his shirt so he must, during times of major disruptions, focus on a few \u201cdids\u201d as the poem alludes to, in which he can say, \u201cThank God, I did.\u201d If he doesn\u2019t, when the disturbance is over \u2014 and it will pass \u2014 he will find himself saying, \u201cI wish to God I had.\u201d<\/p>\n

The following few \u201cdids\u201d should be prioritized:<\/p>\n

1. Did I Spend Additional Time in God\u2019s Word?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Crisis can quickly become very personal. Trying times demand a prepared minister who has readied himself to help his people keep their eyes on the truth. Administering God\u2019s Word to the personal, corporate or community contexts is imperative. Believe me when I say, it is times like this that a replant pastor can build credibility by wrapping every good deed with the Word of God!<\/p>\n

No matter the circumstances, God\u2019s Word is the only thing that will make a lasting impact on lives under his care. Long after the crisis has passed, it will be the comfort, wisdom or direction received from God that will have a lasting impact for years to come. (Matt. 24:35)<\/p>\n

2. Did I Give Myself to My Family?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In times of unrest, including the present pandemic, your schedule and ministry will be tested, and making good boundaries will need to be established for ministry, marriage and family.<\/p>\n

It was the context of \u201ccurrent distresses\u201d that Paul said, that all men should be like he was, single (1 Cor. 7:26). He understood the strain of keeping his home happy and ministering during troubles. However, as I look back over my ministry, it was in being married that I found strength to face each day\u2019s challenges. I\u2019m glad to say, \u201cThank God, I did.\u201d Love, harmony and serenity at home will translate big-time in how you deal with everyday demands. The servant of God needs to review and plan every day how he will care for his family.<\/p>\n

Resource: The Pastor\u2019s Family <\/em>by Brian and Cara Croft<\/p>\n

3. Did I Delegate Responsibilities<\/strong><\/p>\n

A large number of replanters I have met around the country are more of the \u201cdoer\u201d type and not so secure in the supervisory role.<\/p>\n

As a replant pastor in a small church, I was the man to call for everything, and I got in the rut of doing and forgot that my primary service is overseeing \u2014 making sure that the work of the kingdom gets done rightly. It was my father who set me straight by emphasizing that \u201cthere are people in the church who can do that!\u201d I can testify that people are willing to serve if given good directions and supervision, empowering the congregation to step up and step out. Remember a crisis can give you the urgency to get the congregation serving each other, leaving you to focus on your primary role as overseer.<\/p>\n

Resource: christianitytoday.com\/karl-vaters\/2015\/august\/delegating-tasks-in-small-church-two-options-and-six-lesson.html<\/a><\/p>\n

When this pandemic is over, you will want to be able to say \u201cThank God, I did,\u201d not looking back and saying \u201cI wish to God I had.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Mississippi River spilled over its banks in what we still remember as \u201cThe Great Flood …<\/p>\n

Thanking God or Wishing I Had<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1688,"template":"","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"tags":[],"channels":[],"topics":[53],"languages":[],"class_list":["post-1687","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource_type-article","topics-replanting"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThanking God or Wishing I Had - 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