I'm going to be preaching this sometime soon, so can a brother share what is really blessing him with his LGM family?
Sometimes, saints, the only way
out is
up.
In our humanity, we don't consider
up being a way
out. We like to look to the left, to the right, all around us. We like to look to others, ask them for prayer or assistance. We even get angry at them when they can't or don't help us . . . not realizing that many times GOD in His Sovereignty, wants us to depend on HIM. GOD wants us to look up.
Consider the eagle. Sometimes the eagle gets harrassed by predators and other harrassing birds. The eagle is just going on about its business, but as long as he or she is on the level of the other haraassing birds, the eagle will have no peace.
Rewind and repeat.
As long as the eagle is on the level of its harrassers, the eagle will have no peace.
So what if you prove your point? If everyone resents you and makes your life difficult, what have you really gained?
So what if you guilt people into supporting your little programs, of standing by you a little bit? If people help you out of duty and not out of love, they will only do what they have to do and no more. You will find yourself doing more work with lazy, undedicated people than if you were left alone and did it by yourself and did it right the first time!
When the eagle gets tired of the harassers,
he or she just decides to climb higher. Straight into the sun, because the eagle's wing span and special eye sheilding anatomy enables it to fly higher than it's harassers. Soon, the steep ascent and the speed of the eagle's flight and the dazzling sun make the harassing birds drop off and leave the eagle alone. The eagle is now soaring higher than it ever has, in peace and free form the torments of the other predator birds.
Sometimes, folks, the only way out is up.
People talkng about your playing? The devil telling you that you can't play, to give up and stop embarassing yourself? The way out is up. Schedule regular practice. Set a goal to learn three new songs a week, print out the songs from a gospel website and learn three a week. Then MEET THAT GOAL. Get serious. Turn off that television. The Bible says study to shew yourself approved . . . that is in
all aspects of ministry, music too. Pray and fast, anoint yourself with oil and ask your pastor and others whom you know love you to pray for you. Stop trying to answer your harassers . . . the only way
out is
up.
Ministry going nowhere? Tired of trying to explain to your critics that you really did the best you could do, that you are only human, that if you had more help you could do more . . . disappointed that those who say they love you to your face are talking about you behind your back?
Stop it. Pray. Fast. Study the Word as you never have before. The only way
out is
up.
Tired of being prostituted on your job? People treat you poorly then steal your ideas? Does your supervisor have a supervisor who is scared to stand up for what is right, and therefore looks the other way when you are mistreated? Tired of running to them knowing that they will do nothing? Stop staying awake at night. Stop complaining to your spouse. Now I may offend some, but stop dragging it to the altar every Sunday.
Yes I said it. Souls need saving, and here you are complaining because sinners are acting like sinners. The devil is cracking up laughing. STOP IT! The only way out is up. Go to night classes. Get every bit of education you can. Go to every conference, attend every workshop, learn that job until you are needed. The only way
out is
up.
Sometimes folks, the only way out is up.
Be Blessed!
