Monday, March 19

Putting On the Brakes...

I was in the car repair shop today, waiting to get my brakes done (actually, waiting for the Lord to drop some money from the sky in order for me to get my brakes done...lol), and I got a call from a friend, who was speaking hard truth to me... truth that I didn't want to hear at the time (more about what he was saying in a later post). I remember standing there, saying to myself, "This is the last thing I need right now..." But the truth is - I did need to hear it... and I needed to hear it right then. I had to put the brakes on my frustration, and listen to what the Spirit was saying through Steve...

Sometimes, planting a church is just like that... there are times when you simply need to say, "Wait a minute... let me slow down... put on the brakes... and listen to what the Spirit is saying." We read all the books... we go to all the conferences... we read all the blogs of so-called guru church planters... we can do all that, and still miss what the Spirit has to say to us.

You know what?

We need to put on the brakes...

... and listen to the Spirit.

I believe wholeheartedly that my friend had my best interest at heart today... even though it sorta stung at the time. Because I truly believe the Holy Spirit was speaking through Him. No one loves us like the Father, and no one knows the heart of the Father like the Spirit... just makes sense that we would want to hear from Him above and beyond anyone else.

Make sure if you're a church planter that you're listening to the Spirit... because, if not... if you're simply listening to and reading about what others have done... you won't plant the church God is calling you to plant. You'll just plant someone else's church.

Listen...

Do you hear that sound?

Screeeeeeeecccccchhhh!!!!!!!

Okay, maybe that's overdoing it...

But maybe the Spirit is trying to get your attention... and telling you to put on the brakes.

Are you listening?

Putting on the brakes doesn't mean to stop what you're doing (unless you're not following His vision). Just stop listening to others before you hear from him.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Rev. 2:7).

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