Ever get caught up in a job or a task so intensely that you forget where you were going in the first place? It's easy to do as you begin to get involved in the details of each day. I find myself looking at the broad view most of the time, then when it's time to actually get down to the details I'm less motivated by the ins' and outs' of the admin tasks. With that in mind, the lesson learned is one of humbleness and determination.
Humbling in the fact that as you begin with the vision you lay out the entire scene in your mind and the image is one of a working, thriving, active ministry. But knowing that the vision may represent success, failure, side tracks, derailments, short cuts, and finally a steady momentum. And in the midst of all that the determination to stay in the saddle during the entire ride. It all comes down to allowing Gods plan to work through you according to His will and time schedule not mine. Oh don't get me wrong there are plenty of business models that can put you on the fast track to growth accompanied by almost immediate success. Only then will someone either recognize that it's just another slick model or you are trying to out run Gods will for your life. The later being the correct place to be, Gods will.
Just think what your reaction would be if you saw what God sees for you two, five even ten years down the road. I might make your head explode. It may take time to grow but if God is cultivating it then He will prune, graft, tend the soil and water your vision for His purpose. Remember we are caretakers, fishermen, cowhunters and men and women called to service in partnership with Jesus Christ. We know the plan, let's not rush into it or try and reinvent the wheel. God prepares a mans heart, we plant the seed through the truth of Gods plan, Jesus provides the way for eternal life and again it is our task to cultivate each person as they grow in the knowledge of Gods truth.
There's a friend of mine who is now in fulltime Cowboy ministry at 76 years of age. He goes to most every Junior and High School Rodeo in the state of Florida conducting devotionals and Cowboy Church. This past weekend he drove about 350 miles round trip to share the Good News of Jesus Christ at a rodeo in Okeechobee, on his own money. The other day while we were having lunch he said "I can't believe I waited this long to go and share the gospel to these young men and women." He's been around rodeo most of his life and knows many of the stars of the sport. But one of the other cowboys sitting at the table wisely said God has you right where He wants you, here and now.
So with that said I'll quote the words of another fine cowboy philosopher;
Sit tall in the saddle
Hold your head up high
Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky
An live like you ain't afraid to die
and don't be scared
Just enjoy the ride
Chris LeDoux
Cowboy up!
