Pastor Buddy’s Blog

Giving shape to a vision…

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Journal,

Had an interesting early morning meditation with the Lord. I had gone to bed thinking about what the Lord meant when I heard the words, ‘Branch out.’  I woke up still meditating on those words. Then as I was getting ready for the day, a great peace filled my heart. This is when I realized what the Lord was speaking to my heart in so many words… 

‘I’m not asking you to do anything. The work is My work. All you need is to be obedient to the vision and calling that I gave you in the beginning. Your call has not changed. And whatever I have you do in the future, I will supply the means to accomplish it. Just follow Me.’

It is interesting how the Lord keeps drawing me back to the original call that He had given me for Christian Challenge. That vision has not changed. We’ve had a number of branching out times, including both our School for Christian Workers, outgoing missionaries, and even a branch CCI ministry in Baton Rouge. (The BR branch is not in place at this time.)

This ‘branch out’ is another step the Lord is giving for expanding the original vision of ‘Preparing servants for the nations.’ On a local level we are moving forward with our ‘Community Groups.’ Whatever else ‘branch out’ means will have to come from the Lord. Over my years in the ministry I’ve found not to let my imagination run away with me. It is too easy to try and fill in the blanks.

But on a personal level I still had to wonder what this ‘branch out’ may mean for me and Betty. At my age and due to health considerations, neither Betty or I am are in a position to go about trying to raise up branch ministries for Christian Challenge. Most people do not realize how hard it is to raise up a ministry. Not only it is generally a young man’s job, but neither should it be taken without a clear direction from the Lord.

But here again is where you find the faithfulness of the Lord. My custom over many years is to have morning devotions. I begin with Genesis and on to Revelation. Then I begin over again. To me the Bible is a living book. There is never a time when the Lord will not speak to me through the Scriptures. And it really doesn’t matter where I am reading, the Lord always shares something pertinent to my life. 

Anyway my devotion this morning found me in John 21. Peter is at a point in life where he doesn’t know what to do. It is after the resurrection. Peter feels like he has missed it. How could the Lord ever use him again. Not knowing what to do, Peter decides to go fishing. Several disciples go with him. 

What happens next is almost a replay of Peter’s original call from the Lord. The Lord brings Peter back to his original calling. And this is exactly what the Lord has been doing with me this very morning.

See if you can pick it up:

“But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you do not have any fish, do you?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’ And He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.’ So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. …

“…when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.’ Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’…

“Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’”
(Taken out of John 21:3-17 NASB)

Do you love me?

Did you get it? Where did Peter’s original call begin? It begin with fishing. What we see here is nearly a mirror image and a repeat of Peter’s original call. The Lord meets Peter again at the place of his first calling. (If you would like to compare the settings go to Luke 5:1-11.)

The Lord simply brought Peter back to his true calling. Jesus healed his heart, refreshed him in love, and expanded even further on his calling. And this is exactly what the Lord is doing for me. This again shows how the Lord is the author and the finisher of our faith.

Do you have a vision or a calling from the Lord…

Don’t try to read too much into your calling. There is where our imaginations can give us problems. Most callings begin with just a word or two. Where we get in trouble is in trying to fill in too many blanks. All the Lord wants us to do is walk with Him. This is a step-by-step walk.

What I have often taught the disciples of Christian Challenge, is if you don’t know what to do next, just go back to the last thing the Lord told you to do. If there is something else He would have you do, He will tell you and it won’t be a matter of confusion. This is where you will find your rest in the Lord.

Ok, how about if I pass an Irish blessing on to you…

What?! You thought I was strictly cajun Louisianian! Not really. I’ve got a smidgen of cajun-French and Spanish mixture, along with touches of Indian, but the greater part is English and Scotch-Irish. What! My grandmother was an O’Banion. You don’t get much more Irish than that. In fact I have an ancient map of Ireland where our O’Banion forebearers had kingly estates there. (Lots of kingly estates in ancient Ireland.)

Ok, here goes the blessing…

What a great blessing. Did you hear it. Let your soul rest in the hollow of God’s hand.

Much love coming your way,

Buddy