Fully Rely On God

So, it has been years since I have posted. I am now the assistant pastor of a church plant in Frederick, MD.  Check out our web site at www.ballengercreekbaptist.org. As I embark on this new journey in my life: marriage, pastoring, parenting (a lot has happened in these few years!) I can't help but ask my self whether or not God really can use me. Why should he? There is nothing special about Curtis King; I am not some spiritual giant! But then I stop to think about some of the heroes in the Bible. You know, men like Moses, Abraham, and David were just normal everyday guys. They were a lot like you and me. The difference between the great Bible heroes of old and Christians today is that those men understood how big of a God they served. Yes, sometimes they faltered (Abraham and Hagar, David and Bathsheba) but it is pretty clear that when they were walking with God and fully relying on Him, that was when great things happened. So what? I see two thinks out of this: 1. As a pastor and a Christian I must fully rely on God. 2. As a church, we must fully rely on God. A lot of churches rely on programs, activities, musicals, and cook-outs for their growth. Other churches rely on their outreach ministry for growth. There is nothing wrong with these things, especially the outreach ministry, we must reach out to our community and we must do door to door visitation. But are we relying on that? Am I relying on how many doors I knocked this week instead of relying on God? I have often heard a phrase "Pray like it all depends on God; work like it all depends on you." I agree completely with this statement. God will not bless a church or a Christian who will not work, but on the flip side, God will not use a Christian or a church that is relying on their work rather than on their God. All that was to say this one simple thing: God WILL use Curtis King and Ballenger Creek Baptist Church when we sincerely believe that GOD will give the increase. I want to see a great work done in Frederick, so does God; I do not want to be the one to hold God's blessings back on my city. Ultimately, when we are fully relying on God, he will get the glory for the great work done in the church and in the changed lives of people. Isn't that what we are here for? to glorify God? Yes! So here is my challenge to myself and to whoever may read this (you know, the thousands of people just dying to read what I have to say!): Trust God! Everything else will fail you! People will fail you, programs will fail you, outreach ministries, yes, will fail you. There is only ONE person who we can trust and that is God. Lean not unto thine own understanding, in ALL thy ways acknowledge Him. Then and only then will we see God truly use our feeble attempts. If you are reading this, please pray for me and for Ballenger Creek Baptist Church, that we will fully rely on God and that we will reach the city of Frederick, MD for the glory of God. Thank you!