LORD, Guide Our Steps!

Jeremiah 10:23–24 NIV

Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps. Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure— not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.

1. Our lives are not our own.

What does that mean? Does it mean that we do not have free will? NO!

Cal and Marissa’s life is not their own! We trust and believe that God is directing their steps. We trust and believe that God is directing and they are listening.

2. The LORD, Directs our steps.

Change is hard! We love Cal and Marissa. But we believe that at the same time God is directing their path, The LORD is also directing our path.

Change is hard for everyone. Embracing what God has put before us is frightening.

Change is full of discomfort and we don’t like discomfort.

It seems to me the older I get the more I prefer stability and routine.

But it seems to me the longer we journey the more we want…

Our greatest sin is when our philosophy and theology slip into the practice of: My Life Is My Own. I Direct My Steps. Now, God Bless My Life and Steps.

Why do I say this is the greatest sin? Because a life and theology where we are the center, our life and desires, and comfort are the center is a life of idolatry. It’s a life of humanism or deism.

hu·man·ism /ˈ(h)yo͞oməˌnizəm/ noun an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.

de·ism /ˈdēˌizəm,ˈdāˌizəm/

noun belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe. The term is used chiefly of an intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that accepted the existence of a creator on the basis of reason but rejected belief in a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind.

WE ALL HAVE A DIRECTION WE PREFER. BUT GOD IS CALLING US OUT. GOD IS CALLING US FORWARD.

WE ARE CALLED OUT AND CALLED TO BE AND BECOME AN INTERGENERATIONAL GOSPEL CENTERED FAMILY.

Again, our struggle is and always will be, the discomfort of being obedient to Jesus today.

It’s human nature in the discomfort of change to long for and desire to return to what we know. Like the Hebrew people being delivered from captivity in Egypt.

Pain we have already experienced and made it through, seems easier than pain we are currently experiencing and don’t know if we will make it through.

New and different is hard!

IN MANY WAYS WE ALL SIT ON THE PRECIPICE OF TIME. THE NEXT STEPS ARE BEFORE US. GOD HAS OFFERED US CHOICE.

I don’t say this haphazardly. I say it much like a prophet. A role I am not comfortable assuming, but a mantle I believe I have been called to bare for this season. We have a choice to make!

Things are not, they can not simply Go back to what they used to be.

They won’t! Whether we try to force that to happen or not. They won’t Go back for any of us.

We stand here together, every generation, looking out at the same future.

We have a future to forge and it will be uncomfortable for all.

Yesterday we celebrated the life of Al Weddle. A WW2 Veteran, an American hero!

Do you know what Al’s legacy is? Besides being a WW2 HERO?

When Dr. Darr and I sat down to talk about Al’s memorial and who could share some personal stories there were dozen’s of people we could have chosen. But the coolest thing by far, was we could easily choose people 4, 5, 9 decades younger than him.

STORY FROM GARY.

Why will Al’s legacy live on, ON EARTH AS IT IS NOW IN HEAVEN?

Because his personal experience of finding Jesus through scripture on a WW2 Navy Ship wasn’t just a crisis experience. One the gospel changed Al he knows his life mission was for everyone to have the same experience.

LET ME PAUSE FOR A MOMENT. I NEED SOME AL WEDDLE TYPES. AS I PREPARE FOR SABBATICAL WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR 8 PEOPLE TO SERVE IN OUR FAMILY ROOM.

THAT WOULD MEAN YOU WOULD SERVE 1 SUNDAY IN THE NEXT 5 WEEKS.

I REALLY NEED THOSE 8 INDIVIDUALS TODAY!

OUR LIVES ARE NOT OUR OWN.

GOD DIRECTS OUR STEPS.

GOD HAS COMMISSIONED US TO BE AN INTERGENERATIONAL GOSPEL FAMILY.

So what do we all need to do about that?

It means seeking God and God’s direction of your life and Church family.

I want to invite you to take the next 40 Days with me to seek God and His direction alone.

3. SEEK GOD’S DIRECTION & CORRECTION.

Jeremiah 10:24 NLT

So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.

Seek to center your life, your plans, your actions, on being one called out by God.

Called out Because and For the Gospel.

Called out from your personal agenda.

Called out for the good of others.

Called out to build an intergenerational legacy.

We believe we are at a turning point with the pandemic. We know we are at a turning point in culture. We need God’s direction and clarity.

I want to be candid with you: I believe we are at a turning point as a Church. I wholeheartedly believe the next 2-3 years are crucial at South. To be frank, we can’t simply go back to pre-pandemic activities and containers.

We have choices to make and steps to take be faithful to Jesus’ mission.

I know that is going to cost!

I know it’s going to be uncomfortable!

I am certain it’s God’s will!

BUT, MY GOAL IS NOT TO INFLICT PAIN! I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU OR I WOULDN’T STAY!

I FEEL CALLED TO LEAD SOUTH INTO A NEW SEASON.

THAT IS WHY I AM GOING AWAY FOR 40 DAYS TO RECHARGE. SEEK CLARITY. ASK GOD TO GUIDE OUR STEPS. TO GENTLY CORRECT OUR PATH.

YOU CAN JOIN ME: OVER THE NEXT FORTY DAYS: SET ASIDE EXTRA TIME EACH DAY TO PRAY FOR SOUTH. WHAT WE SHOULD DO. WHAT WE NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY. HOW WE WILL MANAGE THE DISCOMFORT OF CHANGE TOGETHER.

OUR LIVES ARE NOT OUR OWN.

GOD DIRECTS OUR STEPS.

GOD HAS COMMISSIONED US TO BE AN INTERGENERATIONAL GOSPEL FAMILY.