July 3, 2022 . . .
I had to work today (Saturday) due to some unforeseen issues that popped up and even though this week was long and stressful, I must admit, for the most part, I enjoy my work. Sometimes we allow ourselves to get caught up in the day-to-day drudgery of our work and fail to thank God for the ability to work and to provide for our families. On the other hand, besides my duties as a prison chaplain, there are sermons to preach, bulletin articles to write, ministry calls to make, and Bible classes to teach. Unlike my work at the prison, my work as a pastor never seems mundane or boring. I have pondered on this, and here is what I have learned. My job as a chaplain at the prison is quite often, just that, a job. I fill out paperwork and try to keep the State of Tennessee out of a lawsuit over religious issues. On the other hand, when I actually get to do chaplain work and minister to the offenders, and most certainly my role as a pastor is more than a job, it is a calling. God has blessed me to have a good job, but He has called me to be a Pastor/Teacher. There are lots of "jobs" but a calling is a whole other thing. Let's be thankful for our jobs. Let's do our jobs to the best of our abilities because we are representing God in the marketplace. Our calling is altogether different. If I weren't preaching, teaching and fulfilling the role of a Pastor/Teacher, there would be a part of me that would be incomplete or unfulfilled. I am not alone, if you are a Christian; you too have a calling from God. You have a spiritual gift or gifts that need to be shared with your church family. What is your calling? Organizing? Teaching? Hospitality? Counseling? Cooking? Cleaning? Building? The list is endless, but you will never feel complete as a Christian until you discover and start fulfilling your calling. Don't know what your gift is? Pray about it. Read Scripture. Ask other Christians to help you discover your calling. If you are part of our faith family, God has a special place for you at ONHBC. You are an arm, leg, eye, or ear that God intends to use to help us complete our body here at ONHBC and help us be all that God has called our body to be. As we move forward in our work for God and His kingdom, we invite you to join us. The army might advertise it, but God really means it. With Him, you truly can be all that you were meant to be.
Be blessed and be a blessing . . . Bro. Andy
