Since stepping aside from full-time ministry almost three years ago, God has blessed me with unbelievable opportunities to minister and serve. I have more opportunities to preach and minister than ever before. Through the first 10 months of this year, I have spent 140 days in traveling, teaching and preaching. There are more invitations and opportunities awaiting, but the limitations my own energy and finding the travel funds to respond positively to the invitations. I thank God for the way he has blessed me in these ministry opportunities!
Through my years in ministry, I often closed weekly bulletin articles with the admonition, “Remember that you are blessed to be a blessing!” I am blessed in order to be a blessing to others. But I like what I am now doing for a selfish reason. For 40+ years I worked in the church and Christian education, receiving remuneration for my work. That is a blessing, but also a challenge. For preachers, it is sometimes hard to separate the money received from one’s faith commitment. Does the preacher go to church because of his faith or because he has to preach? Does one evangelize because it is part of the job or part of the heart?
I am blessed because I can do what I am doing now for free; I receive no personal remuneration. I am doing what I do because my faith commitment defines my life and being. I serve because I want to, not because I have to. I can quit at any time, but I will not quit. Thank you, Lord!