Are we there yet?

(Part 2 of “VICTORIOUS” Series)

Going on vacation with your family is fun and stressful, especially if it’s a long road trip. Everyone is excited about the trip. Snacks, games, movies are prepared for the kids to enjoy. Each person is anticipating having a great time. However, as time goes by, the kids begin to get antsy. Then, you hear the famous question, “Are we there yet?” It seems like every few minutes the children are asking that same question. It really becomes annoying to the adults that the children or youth can’t discern that sometimes it takes time to arrive at a destination; there are no shut cuts. Just like our children, sometimes we start complaining about the journey we are on. Although we are headed in the right direction and will end up at a wonderful destination of victory, we get weary. The Bible encourages us to finish and be patient. Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ISV) says, “The conclusion of something is better than its beginning, and a patient attitude is more valuable than a proud one.”

Tips for the Journey

The road that we travel can be filled with bumps, potholes and other obstacles. It can become frustrating and scary. However, we must choose peace, by meditating on God’s word, reminding ourselves of the many times he has brought us through other difficulties, and thanking God for what he has already done in our lives. Colossians

3:15 (AMP) says, “Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise].

To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].” Waiting on God doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means to have an expectation for the manifestation of the promise, and move in faith. While you wait, spend time serving others, seeking God’s will, and obeying his instructions. I remember when I prayed about being married. While I waited, I served in my local church and volunteered in outreach events for the community. While I was volunteering and focused on the Lord, I met my husband. Psalm

27:14 (AMP) says, “Wait for and confidently expect the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the LORD.”

PRAY THIS PRAYER:

“Father, you are the God of endurance and encouragement, I praise your holy name. Thank you for being good to me. Forgive me for wanting to rush through the process that you have set for me. I know that Christ has given me the victory in all things. Help me to stay focused on your goodness and not doubt you in any way. You are the God of the impossible. Lord, strengthen me to persevere and bring glory to your name. In Jesus’ name I pray - Amen.” take him to get some help?” my friend questioned. We decided that the most help we could give this man was to take him to an alcohol treatment center. We Googled for treatment centers and found one about five miles from where we were. Slowly, the three of us staggered to my friend’s car; it was quite the experience getting the man in the back of the car.

Danyale Patterson would love to hear from you! Contact her at www.danyale.com to share a testimony, send a prayer request, or book her to speak.

By the time we pulled out of the parking lot the man had passed out again. About a minute passed and then, all of a sudden, the man started yelling, cussing, and kicking. “Hold him!” my friend shouted, while I tried to wrestle the man with everything I had. The more I tried to hold him, the more the man shouted, “Snakes, snakes! Everywhere! Snakes!” It was all I could do to steady the man, but he kept wriggling out. At the red light, on Main Street he managed to open the door, “Help me!” he began shouting to people on the sidewalks. “Help me! I don’t even know these guys and they are trying to take me someplace.”

I managed to get him back in the car, I rolled down the window and said, “It’s okay, we are preachers, I’m a Methodist preacher; my friend is the Baptist preacher. We are trying to get this man some help.”

As we sat at the longest red light ever the man shouted, “I don’t want no help from preachers. I’m Church of God. Baptist is the ones that put me in this fix in the first place. For the love of God help!” Finally, the light turned green, the car moved, the man passed out again. When we made it to the treatment center, the man was completely knocked out. So, my friend and I once again had to try and steady him as if we were playing ‘Weekend At Bernie’s.’ The Alcohol Information Center consisted of a young woman seated behind a desk with leaflets on substance abuse. It was obvious when we went in that she had never seen a very inebriated person – or two preachers carrying one in – before.

“You can’t bring him in here,” she said to us. “But he needs help,” I protested. “Not here,” she said, “We provide information, phone numbers; we are not a certified treatment facility.” When we persisted, she agreed to go upstairs and ask her boss what we might do with this man, who was now sleeping in one of the metal chairs in the small lobby.

As soon as she left that office my friend and I looked at one another and, without a word of deliberation, quietly but quickly tiptoed out of the office and dashed for the elevator, leaving the intended recipient of our goodwill sleeping soundly in the office.

Once downstairs and on the street, we sped away, my friend and I, back to our respective churches to work on our sermons for the upcoming Sunday.

Luke 10:29-37 is far easier to preach than it is to practice, because I don’t think Jesus was playing around when He called us to “Go, and do likewise.” pray.

Anthony Grove Baptist Church 100 Anthony Grove Road Crouse, NC 704-435-6001

Bess Chapel United Methodist Church 6073 Flay Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-7969

Bethlehem United Methodist Church 6753 NC 182 Highway Cherryville, NC 704-435-1608

Blessed Hope Baptist Church 3357 Fallston-Waco Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-8530

Body of Christ Fellowship Center 405 S. Cherokee Street Cherryville, NC www.bodyofchrist7.com

Calvary Way Holiness Church 1017 Second Street Cherryville, NC Pastor Clifton Morgan

Cherryville Church of God 810 East Main Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-2275

Cherryville Missionary Methodist Church 318 W. Ballard Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-6934

Emmanuel Baptist Church 1155 Marys Grove Church Rd Cherryville, NC 704-435-5764

Fairview Baptist Church 415 South Mountain Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-4299

First Baptist Church 301 East 1st Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-3796

First Church of the Nazarene 301 North Elm Street Cherryville, NC 828-838-2428

First Presbyterian Church 107 West Academy Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-6064

First United Methodist Church 601 N. Pink St. Cherryville, NC 704-435-6732

First Wesleyan Church 800 North Pink Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-6069

Free Saints Chapel Church 813 Self Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-0949

Gospel Way Baptist Church 3904 Tryon Courthouse Rd. Cherryville, NC 866-356-3219

Legacy Church 805 Self Street Cherryville, NC 704-457-9615

Living Word Ministries 306 East Academy Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-3213

Marys Grove United Methodist Church 1223 Marys Grove Church Rd Cherryville, NC 704-435-5544

Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church 235 A.W. Black Street Waco, NC 704-435-8842

Mt. Zion Baptist Church 112 Mt. Zion Church Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-9636

North Brook Baptist Church 7421 Flay Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-4471

Oak Grove AME Zion Church 542 Flint Hill Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-3687

Oak Grove Baptist Church 219 Tot Dellinger Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-3053

Revival Tabernacle 1104 Delview Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-4073

Rudisill Chapel AME Zion Church 417 South Mountain Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-5621

Second Baptist Church 201 Houser Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-9657

Shady Grove Baptist Church 3240 Tryon Courthouse Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-9605

St. John’s Lutheran Church 310 West Church Street Cherryville, NC 704-435-9264

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church 1203 St. Mark’s Church Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-5941

Victory Life Assembly of God 1655 Shelby Highway Cherryville, NC 704-435-5539

Waco Baptist Church 262 N. Main Street Waco, NC 704-435-9311

Washington Missionary Baptist Church 1920 Stony Point Road Waco, NC 704-435-3138

Word of Faith Ministry 306 Doc Wehunt Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-5560

Zion Hill Baptist Church 3460 Zion Hill Road Cherryville, NC 704-435-3355

If your church is in the Cherryville area and is not listed, please give Lorri a call at 704-484-1047 or email