Question of Faith?

Please try to listen to as many of these sermons as you can it might help a little. http://www.hylesanderson.com/pages/chapel_sermons You might wanna try to find this sermon "Why Are You Here? by Dr. Pete Cowling" and I'll be praying for you.:flower:

 

Definitely try listening to those messages. A few months ago, I began thinking that I wasn't called to preach, however I knew I was. The thing was I knew that I was called to preach. I went to the three men that inspire me the most--my father, my youth pastor, and my preacher. My preacher told me, "The gifts and callings of God are without repentance." Those words hit me like a bullet in the chest and began burning inside of me. I still tried to resist the feelings of my calling but couldn't any longer. I knew that I enjoyed working in the church and others knew it to. If God gave you the gift and calling of working as a bus worker, keep doing it! I'll pray for you as soon as I finish this reply.

 

Working in the Bus Ministry is not only one of the hardest things, but also one of the most rewarding things as well.

As one who has been in it for many years, I can testify that it's not easy visiting your route on Saturdays, getting up a lot earlier on Sundays, running yourself ragged getting your riders on the bus, and then to their classes, then getting them back on the bus, then getting them to their homes--all this on the assumption that your bus will not break down somewhere along side the road. Then getting home sometimes one to two hours later than most of the rest of the people in your church.:thumbs: :thumbs:

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9

In my case, we ministered to children mostly in military families, so at best, they were only with us for just a short period of time before they were moved to somewhere else. Yet, because I spent some time loving their children, I was just about always welcomed in their homes by their parents. Of course, not everyone responded to the Gospel, but at least they did know that someone cared for them.

This is not to say that you should never "take a breather." Burn out is something we all may fall victim to from time to time.

Maybe God DOES want you to do something else or be on a "sabbatical" so to speak for a while. I'd talk to God raying: and your pastor about it.

God Bless You!!

 

Would you mind being a bit more specific for me and tell me exactly what it is that is discouraging you? Is it because you don't see people getting saved? What exactly is really bothering you that you think you might be losing your faith?

Joseph Botwinick

 

Something I have noticed in my own life is that during those times when I struggle spiritually, there is a lack of personal worship on my part. I dont mean going to church or just reading the Bible and praying. But worshiping alone through Scripture meditation, song, ...whatever. Maybe getting alone somewhere and doing this would help you to get your focus back.

 

I suspect it's fatigue to the point of exhaustion, and burnout. The bus ministry will wear out even the strongest.

Think about backing away for a while. Or just a different responsibility in the church. Sometimes a change of pace is just as good for burnout as rest.

I suspect that then the spiritual doldrums will take care of themselves.

 

Hello Shell,
Sorry to hear you are having difficulties. Tater Tot, Tom Butler and others have given you some good advice but I would like to add a little, if OK.

You say you don't feel like serving the Lord any more but cannot pinpoint it? Are you sure it is serving the Lord that is bothering you or maybe just driving the bus? Maybe you do not feel as close as you could be to the Lord, simply while at Church?

This is not meant as an insult to your Church, as such strengthens you and allows for fellowship. It is only advice in getting closer to the Lord in privacy such as Tater Tot was saying. I grew up hunting and quite honestly I always felt nearest to the Lord during these times. As I always had personal time to reflect on his many blessing for me and enjoy all his creations.

One could also serve the Lord by simply serving as a good example of him to others. Maybe it's not serving the Lord which is bothering you but just in need of personal time. Take a vacation and enjoy that which he has given you.

Take care!raying: Ralph

 

Thanks for the link to these sermons. Just what I needed today, too.

 

In the Old Testament, we see the instruction to plant the field for six years, and let it rest the seventh. It's since been scientifically proven that planting the same crop in the same field year after year "tires out" the soil, and causes decreasing crop yields.

Changing what you plant each year, or even allowing the soil to rest for a season, helps the soil recharge.

People aren't that much different from soil...especially considering that's where Adam came from....

 

I agree with the others. Take a break for a time.

There's another passage I come to for something like this. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah had passed on the message to Ahab and then God had told him to go to the brook Cherith. But then the brook dries up. The reason: God was finished with Elijah there. He had some more ministry to do with the widow and her son.

It may be that God has dried up the bus ministry brook to get you into another ministry or maybe even another place.

Just a thought.

 

Shell,
You state that you been through a depression. Are you currently taking medications for this? Perhaps you have a medical problem, not a spiritual one. I would suggest a trip to the doctor to see if all that you need is a change of medication.

 

I would recommend speaking with someone close to you if not your Pastor.

This is a good statement by you. I don't think you are losing desire to serve the Lord. On contrary, I think you truly have a great desire to serve the Lord or shine for him. Please don't take this wrong, but remember to put the Lord first and not your Church.

Another good statement. I think you are being to hard on yourself. Don't place so much on your "works" for the Lord that you actually miss out on good relationship with him. Your Pastor may spend everyday and a lifetime, preaching, witnessing, and helping others in Christ. How are we to compare our works to this?

Develope and grow that personal relationship with the Lord. He will smile upon you no matter how small you think your works are. Trust on him. raise:

Take care, Ralph

 

Please speak to your Pastor. He knows you personally and is concerned for your spiritual health. Please give him a chance.

 

Purple Lady:

Talk about getting discouraged..........I'm Seattle Mariners fan!!

(Or, as someone so eloquently put it: "That's OK....just wait 'til last year!")

 

Could be worse you could be stuck with the Arizona Cardinals...

Bro Tony

 

SHell,

I don't think you should back away from your ministry at all. You don't need a break from the overall ministry, but you do need to rest in the Lord. I agree with Tater when she said that perhaps you've grown stale in your personal walk with God. We all go through seasons like that because we are humans. Really get alone with God and let Him refresh you. Remember that church services are for you, too, and are more than just an opportunity for you to serve God. They are a time for you to learn and grow. But you also need that daily time with God at home.

Perhaps one thing that will help is if you get a good hymnal and read through a song each day in addition to your Bible reading. As you pray ask God what He wants you to pray about, and wait for Him to answer you.

 

Shell, God knows that we are not always going to desire to serve Him. He hasn't left us without motivation. God has promised us that if we suffer for Him, then we shall also reign with Him in the millennium. All the teachings that there is no kingdom, or all Christians will reign with Jesus have done nothing but rob believers of their proper motivation for serving Jesus, reward according to works. No slothful servant is ever going to stand before the Lord and hear Him say "well done, good and faithful servant". One thing God cannot do is lie. If we haven't done well, He will not tell us that we have. We should be excited about the chance to reign with Jesus, and if thats not enough, we should fear the Lord and the consequences for not serving Him.

Luke 9:62
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Don't take your hand off the plow now! This life is but a vapor, but there are rewards that fade not waiting for those who will win them through faithful service.