Sunday night is the time when I rack my brain to remember everything that happened today. Before I do that I want to give a disclaimer–What I’m about to say may not make sense unless you’ve been in a position where you have prayed, studied, prepared, rehearsed, planned music, and got up to speak only to feel like the wheels came off and you laid an egg. Bugsy Malone ipod Labor Pains dvdrip Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day psp Casanova trailer The Man Between divx
That’s how I felt today. I can’t put my finger on it. I just felt like we never got out of first gear today. The Band did a great job leading worship but it never took off. I felt like I communicated everything I was supposed to but it just landed flat. Some folks said that the message was awesome…I think they were lying (thanks mom!). I know, I know, I should just be faithful and leave the results up to God but I have to admit…today felt a bit like a flop.
I hope this post doesn’t taint anyone’s image of me. I promise I love Jesus with my whole heart and regardless of crowd participation and responsiveness I know I am supposed to perform for an audience of one, however, I definitely felt frustrated after today.
Our teams did a great job and I believe that we pointed people to life. Most folks probably didn’t think twice about our services today but every pastor knows that you just seem to have those
days when you wish you could take a mulligan and try again.
After praying between services I decided to do something that I have never done before. I didn’t take any notes up on stage with me for the second service. I knew the message. God has been brewing it in me for the past few weeks. I didn’t need notes I just needed God to speak on my behalf. The crazy thing is that I felt better about the second service without notes than the first service with notes. It’s kinda funny now.
This is where I take the mask off and get real honest. I spent the better half of the day in a funk. I didn’t want to talk to anyone or be around anyone. It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that I realized I should probably listen to my own message and get off the pity potty. I wasn’t going to let Satan beat me up…or beat myself up for that matter. Great things still happened at lifepoint today. If I wasn’t willing to get my head out of my tail I may not have seen any of them take place.
One of our dream team guys, Mark went back to his house to get his lawn mower because the weeds out front of the school looked horrendous. Thank you Mark! You have a huge servants heart and I appreciate it!
We gave away ice cream sandwiches after the service for free!
Our folks are getting jacked up about the move to Ashley on Sept. 28th.
We still had a bunch of first time guests.
Our children’s workers knocked the ball out of the park as usual!
I got to hear awesome stories from folks who have recently found Lifepoint at our newcomers gathering today. I love hearing how God is using lifepoint to change lives!
Today really had some positive notes. I hate to think I almost missed them.
Here’s the great thing about what I do…I get to do it all again in another seven days! Praise Jesus!Blueberry dvdrip
I know what you mean. I felt that way today. The morning was great. I was talking to guest and doing the usual last minute prep for service. When I started to lead worship I was overcome buy discouragement. At that point I lost focus on worship and focused on why I was feeling the way I was feeling. That threw my whole day upside down. In those times as the day goes on I feel like I’m on the edge about ready to break. I have to watch how I respond to my wife, kids or other people because I tend to get a little moody. I appreciate this post.
Hey…. I could write you a book here about a pity party, but I will spare you…. your sermon was great, as always, and for proof…. I invited TWO women this past week that I thought would NEVER come! One is in her 60′s & one is divorced, going thru the single, hard life again & around 40… THEY BOTH called me up EARLY Sunday morning & said they were coming to church for me to look for them! I was stoked!!! After I did the offering I waited for them at the back of the church & they both “RAVED” about HOW WONDERFUL YOU SPOKE, HOW MUCH THEY ENJOYED THE SERMON, etc…. sooooooo…. the point to this is…. we ALL get down on ourselves, we all won’t more, we all expect more, and even though YOU thought you didn’t do well….. well….. as I, and I assume most of us saw it….. YOU WERE SERVING GOD as you put it, and that’s ALL THAT MATTERS….!!!!! I know I’ve been in church since before you were born…. but believe me…. YOU don’t give yourself enough credit…..! You are a wonderful, REAL speaker for God, you show your true self, you embarrass your wife like the other 99.9% of husbands out there… lol:) BUT you are real…. and that is what I… and others relate to! Don’t change, don’t get down on yourself….! Not to get on a …… whatever here…. I have been thru MANY, MANY, MANY pastors since I was dragged to church in 1st grade. Many I loved to find out they were ‘doing’ a church member…. that ended UGLY for the WHOLE church….. one that MARRIED me & my first husband…. TURNED OUT GAY with a fellow DECON…. I could go ON & ON…… I had “tuned God out…. even though he kept “nagging” me….lol:) Until we came to Lifepoint….. That’s because YOU are NOT those Pastors I grew up knowing!!!!
Jeff, I cannot imagine being your age with the responsiblies of a church that you have, but I do know you do a great job, people love & trust you, and you have a great team behind you! Trust in that too!
Once again…. THANK YOU for what you do, and have a great week!
OH!!!! AND I hope you got Michelle one heck of a good birthday present! LOL:)
Lisa
PS: LOL!:) SORRRRRYYYY! I DID WRITE A BOOK DIDN’T I???? LOL:)
I appreciate your honesty! Thanks for being real. I was challenge by what you did at the 2nd service – threw away your notes. To often I find myself tied to my notes, when I know the message is in me.
Jeff,
I was surprised by this post. I thought you did a great job of unpacking Romans 11:36-12:2– spiritually in depth with great life application. Works for me!
…and the “whole enchilada” comment–priceless!
Wait a minute- were you there on Sunday? This past Sunday? ‘Cause someone who looked just like you gave an AMAZING message and claimed to know your wife. You might should look into this. Oh, and the first timer I brought loved it and will be back for sure.
Dude, that message on Sunday was exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks so much for preaching it! It almost lined up perfectly with what I had wrote in my journal that morning! Don’t let the enemy get you down, Lifepoint’s gonna rock this town, even if it’s just one person at a time.