It’s time to go again

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The Great Adventure”

Our Bible verse for today: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “It’s time to go again”

Linda was the perfect military wife. She was strong, independent, capable, and determined. She saw her job in our family as taking care of things at home so I could focus fully on my career as a naval officer – and she was exceptionally good at it! Once I retired from the Navy and went into pastoral ministry, her attitude was the same. She told me, “My job is to take care of you, our family, and our home so you can focus on taking care of the people of the church.” And once again, she was very, very good at it.

Part of my calling from God as a minister was also to lead mission teams. Over more than thirty years I have led thirty-nine international teams and more domestic missions than I can remember. Once again, Linda took great care of things at home so I could go globetrotting with mission teams. However, once she had her stroke and brain surgery in 2007 it seemed to me that my traveling days needed to end – but Linda thought otherwise. She was determined not to be the reason I stayed home rather than going. So, with a combination of her fierce determination, and with the help of family members, church members, friends, and neighbors, along with great favor from God, between 2008 and her death in 2023 I was still able to lead nineteen international mission teams and many other domestic teams.

But in the last few years of her life that became increasingly impractical. Her health had declined to the point that she simply needed me to be home. And the truth was that I wanted to stay close to home. I didn’t want to leave her. (She still wanted me to go. I was the one who decided not to.)

Consequently, it has been five years since I have been on an international mission trip. But since Linda is now in heaven, it’s time for me to resume that part of my calling from God. As Solomon noted in Ecclesiastes 3:1 above, life unfolds in seasons. For me, sadly, a much-loved season has come to a close and I have moved into the next season – which will include going on mission trips.

This morning a mission team from our church will leave for a week in Peru and I will be going with them. Therefore, this will be the last daily devotional message until we get back. The next devotional will be on Monday August 12^th. So, instead of reading a daily devotional message from me on those days, I would like to ask you to do two things instead. First, pray for our team. Second, prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about the adventure of your own life as a Christian. Are you approaching this life with Jesus as a great adventure? Are you eager to see what each new day holds? Are you involved in ministry activities that excite you, bless others, and help to advance the kingdom of God on earth?

For me, it’s time to begin traveling for the Lord again. What about you? What is He calling you to do during this current season of your life? We will think more about this in upcoming devotionals. For the coming week, please spend extra time in prayer for our team, and for yourself and your own adventures with the Lord.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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