Matthew 18:20 NKJV
“ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Isn’t it wonderful to know that when we gather together in worship, our Lord and Savior is there with us? In the scripture just before that verse, Matthew 18:19, Jesus said, “Again I say[c] to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”
While both of these verses should give you comfort in knowing that Jesus is with us when we gather together in worship, I don’t want to take the text out of context. Jesus was addressing his disciples in Matthew 18. Verses 15-20 show how to deal with those who may have sinned against you and to confront your accuser openly and honestly in a Christian way. If that step didn’t work, take two or three witnesses; if he still refuses, then take it to the church leadership.
Matthew 18:19 & 20 remind me of the value of small groups and prayer, for when we gather together, just knowing that Jesus is present and with us should give us comfort.
The Who and The Why
I want to address why I’m starting this blog and how this all came to be. A few months back I had lunch with Pastor Jeremy Pickwell, Executive Director of Operations, at LifePoint Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. During our lunch, I asked him to help me understand what I’m to do with the messages the Lord had been placing in my heart.
Now please, let me step back for a moment. I’m not a pastor or a leader in any church. I grew up in a Southern Baptist church. My mom was the church secretary and my father was one of the Deacons. I grew up being taught to love and fear the Lord at the same time, and I never doubted whether He existed. I sang in the church choir and saw myself at one point even going into ministries when I was 12 years old. Then I grew older and saw my relationship with God fading away. Let me be clear, I didn’t lose my faith, I just didn’t seek him the way I should have. I lived a sinful life and I’m still a sinner, but I know God loves me and I seek him now daily in my walk. There was a point during my truly sinful years that I had a daughter named Brittany. I wasn’t married and at the time didn’t plan it. I did, however, love my daughter with all my heart. Brittany became the center of my world, so when she became sick with Meningitis and was near death, I prayed asking the Lord to take away her pain. He did just that. He took her to be with him, but that wasn’t good enough for me at the time. I was angry. I didn’t want her to die, I just wanted her to be healed and with me. So on May 18, 1992 while she was dying in my arms, the more life that left her, the more my relationship with God died. For 25 years I kept my distance when it came to my relationship with God. Yes, I did go to church now and then, and even led a few church groups, but when someone truly asked me about my relationship with God, I would just find an answer to make them feel comfortable. It wasn’t until I was attending Grace Church in St Louis, MO that the mask fell off. You see, I was at a men’s retreat and one of the things we were reviewing at the retreat was The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. When one of the church leaders asked me, “Do you know God’s purpose for your life?” I said, “Yes, but I won’t follow his plans for me.” That same church leader pulled me to the side later that evening and I told him my story. Three weeks later I left the church – I was living a lie. I wasn’t walking living a faith-filled life, I was just checking off a box.
Next in my journey I met this beautiful lady named Virginia Appadoo. The relationship was going well for a time, but then I started living for myself and not caring about her. It was all about me, my world, everything revolves around me, and if she didn’t like it I told her there was the door. I didn’t believe she would leave me. She started going to church and made it clear for this relationship to work we both needed to go. Virginia made it clear that if I didn’t go then our relationship was most likely over. We started attending RiverCity Church in Richmond, VA. I started getting involved with the church and we joined a small group. We met with Pastor John and his wife, Kendra. I opened up about why I felt God had let me down and came to realize that God had never left me. Brittany was in a better place and there was no more pain or sorrow. For me to be with her again, I had to change. Now I was feeling guilty and ashamed of what I had said and thought of God. While Pastor John made it clear that God had already forgiven me, I couldn’t forgive myself. That guilt I was carrying was not only hurting me, it was hurting my relationship with my wife.
My wife and I moved to Ruther Glen, VA due to work and we looked for another church to find fellowship. We found LifePoint Church. How we came to LifePoint Church is another blog! While at LifePoint, Senior Pastor Daniel Floyd opened my eyes to healing with his messages by first learning to forgive yourself and knowing God is always seeking you. Then we joined Pastor Brent Parker’s small group, went on to lead a small group, and now we lead a Freedom group. If you don’t know what a Freedom Group is, I suggest you get with one of the Campus Pastor at LifePoint – they will point you in the right direction!
( Now let me step out of context for a moment)
Let me say this about the Freedom program: If you put 100% of your effort into it, you will have a life changing experience. My wife and I have led three Freedom groups and the changes you see in people as they go through this Freedom Walk is truly amazing and wonderful to be a part of.
( Now let’s step back into the moment)
While at LifePoint Church I realized I couldn’t be a Jonah anymore, and that I needed to follow the path God had set for me. So I went back to school to complete my degree in Theological Studies so that I might learn more about God and his word. I must give thanks to Pastor Jeremy and Pastor Michael for getting me to into the LifePoint Leadership lab, it is helping me to understand more of what God’s plan is for me.
Now let’s get back to the lunch meeting with Pastor Jeremy… in my conversation with Pastor I shared something with him only my wife knew. There are times when the Lord lays heavy thoughts in my heart that I write down. I have even created sermons or messages , and I couldn’t understand why he puts them in my heart or what to do with them. Pastor Jeremy suggested I start a blog, maybe that would be one way of getting the message out. I had to laugh to myself at that thought! What’s funny you ask? I’m not a writer – it’s one of my weakest areas, and for weeks after our lunch meeting I have been using every excuse I could come up with on why I couldn’t do this. I came to realize you can’t say, “Lord, I’ll do whatever you want of me and then make excuses.” So my wife has agreed to assist me in my area of weakness, and I have my sister in law, Kate, who is going to assist as well and together this blog will be just fine because it’s for His glory, not my own.
This blog will not be a political or negative agenda; its words will be used to enlighten you spiritually, in hopes of drawing you closer to our Lord and Savior.
In the coming weeks, I will be addressing the Book of Job, a man that God said, there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? Job 1:8 NKJV
The Blog will be called the Job Effect and I hope it will give you some insight on how, in some ways, we all have our Job moments.
Where two or three are gathered together in my Name 