Soar On High

It has been an exhilarating month for me. A test-flight so to speak of leading at least six studies and one preaching every week. Pastor has reminded me to pace myself and carefully plan my schedule, that I have to look after my physical well-being too. Indeed, it would be tough to do the six studies and a preaching every week that started early this month and would run for the next three. I could not imagine how he did it for the past 25 years in MCC. He says I am a “one-man band” when playing music alone sometimes on Sunday praise and worship, I say he is a one-man army all these years in MCC – commanding, directing, disciplining and most of all teaching people of God’s ways and principles. Always leading people and teaching them how, and why it is important to win our personal and spiritual battles. Never afraid to tell people of their mistakes and failures, but always with a note of encouragement to stand firm in the LORD. Now that I have been given this privilege to teach, week in and and week out, for the next few months, I must say and pray, LORD give me the wisdom, strength and courage to do what you have appointed me to do, just as you have given the very person you first appointed here in MCC. He has soared for 25 years, and still soaring, perhaps even with a clipped wing, yet he is a true example to my own flight, my test flight. I would easily pray for a double portion 2 Kings 2:9 but we are no Elijah and Elisha. We are 21st century servants, sustained physically, sometimes by tv dinners and comfort food, and of course with modern-day meds. I am aware that the LORD would take me home anytime, as he has ordained it, I know not when; no one knows when, but this am sure that this 15 shekel worth of human body right now is what I am making available for the LORD to use for his ministry. The spirit and the mind, by God’s grace, will always choose to obey, even if the body says “time-out”. This mindset I believe is the key and what fires up my service to the LORD. Amazingly, I don’t feel old at all. Aged, yes, but not old. Somebody said to me recently, you don’t look your age, even after turning another year older, but younger. I hope she spoke the truth for this I know also, that the joy of sharing God’s word primarily puts me on a mountain. A dose of spiritual high which often I have shared to others that it is adrenaline rush for me when speaking about God’s word to jail inmates, to ex-drug addicts, to struggling Christians and even to the learned. More than an adrenaline rush, it is a high that is most humbling. The only high that keeps oneself low. For it is during those times that I get to mirror myself of what and how the LORD has done wonderful things in my life. From a low lifer in my twenties and thirties, doing all sorts of unspeakable bad things, to soaring high on wings like eagle serving the LORD on this second half of my life Isa 40:30-31. As recently spoken in the pulpit, do not forget where you came from, but do not stay there for always. Get up, move, run and soar. Seize every moment that the LORD gives you to serve him. And you will soar on high.

Pastor Andy