Words of Encouragement
As Asian Americans, we often don’t hear words of affirmation. I’m one of those people who naturally beats myself up and Satan likes to use that against me. For much of my life I’ve been a realist which is the other word for a pessimist. I tend to see the negative things in myself rather than the positive. It’s a sin and I’m not too proud of this.
One of my new heroes has become Francis Chan, pastor of Cornerstone Church Simi Valley, CA. He’s the author of a new book called Crazy Love published by David C. Cook. I went to his website to listen to a recent sermon in which he just shared with the congregation about God’s faithfulness to him, his family, and to his church over the last 15 years since its inception. As a young pastor, 32, I often wonder what it’s like to pastor the same church for 15 years plus. What an awesome thing that would be for God to use someone in the same place over such a span of time. What ups and downs one would see. Chan shared how God had done some amazing things in that church and he encouraged the congregation to keep growing and maturing.
My congregation, Logos Central Chapel, has been around since 1999. We’re a relatively young church comprised of mainly 30 and 40 somethings. We want to be a church that ministers God’s love and grace to the lost souls in Denver, Colorado. I want to take a moment out of my day and say a word of encouragement to my church. That I’m proud of them and proud to be their pastor. Yes, I’m young. I’m hard on myself which sometimes translates into being hard on my people. But, over the last 3 years I have been here, we’ve grown in so many different ways. I praise God for that. But, my encouraging word of the day is to thank God for our blessings. Thank God for all of the ways he’s been faithful. Let’s not be like the Israelites who forgot how much God had done for them. And let’s use that blessing and pour our lives into the wounded souls around us. Let’s love God with passion and be transforming agents to all the people we meet.
Forgive me for seeming harsh and always pointing out our flaws. I’m trying to be healed of my own insecurities and my sin problems. But I recognize that God’s grace is sufficient for me and for our church. Let’s be the body of Christ and save this world with the message of God’s love through his son Jesus Christ. Go out and live for him!
