Rabun for the Gospel
Now, more than EVER, we need to seek God. By Avery Lawrence
I
t seems that lately, we have become too busy to talk to God. A couple of months ago, my life was filled with all the “things” I needed to do, places I needed to be, and so many other obstacles that had me worn down. Honestly, I thought the world wouldn’t survive if I didn’t do all the things I was “doing.” Then, the world stopped. I found myself less Nawana, Anni, Casi, Homer Liam, Avery Lawrence important than I had ever been. People didn’t need me quite as much as I thought they did. I found myself with something gone for walks, played tag, hide and seek, and “pretend,” and I hadn’t had in quite a while...TIME. As I pondered what to laughed uncontrollably. In short, my family has had fun! Not do with all of my time, I realized that in the rush of things, I to mention, we have eaten. A LOT! We are spending time had neglected my family, my home, and more eye-opening, together; time that we didn’t know we had until now. my relationship with God. Now, don’t get me wrong, I was praying, and reading my Bible, and studying for each week’s During my alone time with God, I have spent a lot of time sermon and Bible studies, but it seemed that my time alone asking Him to help me as a pastor, to lead my congregation with God was suffering. I had been making time for everyone in a way that honors Him, and still provide protection for and everything and telling God that I would get to Him later, my people. Have I mentioned how much I love the folks when I was worn out and tired, and often at the end of the day. at Persimmon Baptist Church? They are more than I could ever ask for! They are simply the When I found myself waking up to best. We are navigating through God wants us to slow down a little. make the long trek to the kitchen bar to start my day with emails, Maybe He is calling us back to Him; uncharted territory during this time; marching off the map, you might I found myself communing with say. Overnight, pastors across to put first things first. God more often. As I would ponder the country became Facebook on what the day would bring, televangelists. Many churches are which parents I would call, which students I would email, using Zoom, Google, FaceTime, YouTube, and other streaming which teachers I would call or text, I found myself talking to services to provide access to live and pre-recorded sermons God. I would ask Him to bless my “kids” from school; ask and Bible studies. Most of us have never relied solely on Him to send me someone whom I could help, and praying for virtual meetings. This is hard on us as pastors. We rely heavily the safety of my daughter, who works as an emergency room on the feedback of the congregation (and speaking for myself, critical care nurse in one of the biggest corona hotspots in the FEEDINGS that the congregation provides!) I could eat my Northeast Georgia. I found my evenings catching up on things around the house...things I was too busy to do. I also found weight in my folks’ cooking right now! We miss the personal myself earning “brownie points” by catching up on some of touch...the hugs, handshakes, and smiling faces. We miss the things my wife had been wanting me to do for years. We hearing the rustle of restless children when it gets close to even remodeled the kitchen last weekend…. I found myself lunch time, and even the crying babies while we preach. I have having uncontrollable dance parties with Anni and Homer preached to an empty church for several weeks now, but the Liam (my favorite grandbabies). We have even had a water Holy Spirit still stirs. As I have pondered in my alone time with balloon fight, practiced piano, planted flowers (lots of flowers), God, I have come to the realization that maybe, just maybe,
42 - June 2020
