WHAT DO I DO NOW? This question may be trivial for some but for the person that's stepped out to live their big dream and then experienced failure this can be a huge question. Think about it, you've poured all your energy and resources into this dream thats been burning in your heart and your whole life has been captivated by what you believe is God's plan for your life. The big day comes, you step out of the boat, and then you sink. You've just faced the biggest discouragement of your life and now the question is, WHAT DO I DO NOW?
Some have left good jobs to live the dream. Some have left family to live the dream. Some have left communities they were raised in to live the dream. For me and Jeanie we left a perfectly good church with incredible people that didn't want us to leave but we had this dream burning in our hearts to plant a church in Colorado.
I really think Peter, a disciple of Jesus Christ, was in a similar frame of mind when he said in John 21:3 "I'm going fishing." Just think about it. Approximately three years prior to this the Bible tells us that Peter, who was a fisherman, dropped his nets at the beckoning of Jesus Christ to follow Him. Basically Peter left his family business to follow Jesus and become a disciple of the Messiah who was to give His life for the salvation of humanity.
Now just before the events of John 21 Peter watched the Man he left everything for die on a cross and in the process of Jesus journey to death Peter denies Him three times! But now Jesus is alive again and Peter's got to be wondering about his future as a disciple. For those who know the Bible we know that in John 21 Jesus shows up where Peter and some friends are fishing and later in the chapter Jesus commissions Peter to "feed His sheep." What a powerful moment for Peter who certainly had questions about what his future looked liked.
But this encounter with Jesus Christ all started with Peter saying "I'm going fishing." I've read several commentaries on this chapter in the Bible and all with different thoughts on the idea of Peter going fishing. But here's my view on this story and I've used this principle for this season of our life and ministry that we didn't know what to do.
When you don't know what to do, do what you know to do! I think that's what Peter was doing. He didn't know what to do so he went fishing, something he knew how to do. And in that environment Jesus shows up and has an encounter with Peter that established the direction of Peters life, the rest of his life.
When you've experienced tragic situations there's the opportunity for the rest of your life to be one big pity party! Many people get offended at God and stay mad at the world. I promise you this is the road to nowhere and you will live a miserable life and make life miserable for those around you. I know that's direct but it's the truth.
I'm not trying to minimize the pain you've experienced but don't allow your pain to become a life long pity party. If you'll give your pain to God and start doing what you know to do God will turn your pain into a life long praise party!
In the midst of our pain Jeanie and I started doing what we know to do. We currently serve as Associate Pastors in a great church. In the past two years I've traveled to Romania, Denmark and Uganda speaking in Pastors conferences and Bible Schools. Next month I travel back to Denmark to speak in a conference.
I know God has called me to encourage people all over the world which is the reason I started writing this blog and I use Facebook almost daily to encourage people. We're just doing what we know to do!
As a result of this some cool things have happened and some doors have been opened. A person who reads my blogs has strongly recommended that I write a book and has connected me to a publisher. This same person has told me that he believes there's not just one book in me but several. I'm not boasting but I am testifying of the restoring power of God if you'll just pick yourself up and start doing what you know to do. I boast in Jesus Christ alone!
Recently we had a Pastor from New Zealand speak at our church who flows in the gift of prophecy and word of knowledge. He knew nothing of our past journey and what we had experienced. He prayed over my wife and told her that we had "passed the test and were coming up out of the wilderness". He also told her it was good she was married to me. I liked that one! Well, I'm also glad it's time to come up out of this wilderness!
While praying with me he confirmed the five-fold ministry gift of Pastor that God has entrusted to me. That's when I had what I've mentioned before in other blogs as a "sandy sea shore moment." He then communicated that Jesus was commissioning me and said "it's time to feed My sheep."
In some peoples eyes Jeanie and I probably have every reason to be mad at God, other people and ourselves. But we made a decision and with the decision comes the following declaration. "God still has a great plan for our lives!" We're going to do what we know to do and experience the restoring power of God.
If one devastated pastor reads my blog and decides to "get back in game" then our mess has become a ministry. If one woman who has been through a tragic divorce decides to pick herself up and move forward then our test has become a testimony. If someone who has failed in business decides to "go for it" again then our failure has become fruitful!
But it all begins with just doing what you know to do when you don't know what to do!
Be encouraged today! You can DREAM.......AGAIN!
JUST START DOING WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO AND WATCH GOD DO WHAT HE KNOWS HOW TO DO!
Encouraging the world,
Ken Woolf
Some have left good jobs to live the dream. Some have left family to live the dream. Some have left communities they were raised in to live the dream. For me and Jeanie we left a perfectly good church with incredible people that didn't want us to leave but we had this dream burning in our hearts to plant a church in Colorado.
I really think Peter, a disciple of Jesus Christ, was in a similar frame of mind when he said in John 21:3 "I'm going fishing." Just think about it. Approximately three years prior to this the Bible tells us that Peter, who was a fisherman, dropped his nets at the beckoning of Jesus Christ to follow Him. Basically Peter left his family business to follow Jesus and become a disciple of the Messiah who was to give His life for the salvation of humanity.
Now just before the events of John 21 Peter watched the Man he left everything for die on a cross and in the process of Jesus journey to death Peter denies Him three times! But now Jesus is alive again and Peter's got to be wondering about his future as a disciple. For those who know the Bible we know that in John 21 Jesus shows up where Peter and some friends are fishing and later in the chapter Jesus commissions Peter to "feed His sheep." What a powerful moment for Peter who certainly had questions about what his future looked liked.
But this encounter with Jesus Christ all started with Peter saying "I'm going fishing." I've read several commentaries on this chapter in the Bible and all with different thoughts on the idea of Peter going fishing. But here's my view on this story and I've used this principle for this season of our life and ministry that we didn't know what to do.
When you don't know what to do, do what you know to do! I think that's what Peter was doing. He didn't know what to do so he went fishing, something he knew how to do. And in that environment Jesus shows up and has an encounter with Peter that established the direction of Peters life, the rest of his life.
When you've experienced tragic situations there's the opportunity for the rest of your life to be one big pity party! Many people get offended at God and stay mad at the world. I promise you this is the road to nowhere and you will live a miserable life and make life miserable for those around you. I know that's direct but it's the truth.
I'm not trying to minimize the pain you've experienced but don't allow your pain to become a life long pity party. If you'll give your pain to God and start doing what you know to do God will turn your pain into a life long praise party!
In the midst of our pain Jeanie and I started doing what we know to do. We currently serve as Associate Pastors in a great church. In the past two years I've traveled to Romania, Denmark and Uganda speaking in Pastors conferences and Bible Schools. Next month I travel back to Denmark to speak in a conference.
I know God has called me to encourage people all over the world which is the reason I started writing this blog and I use Facebook almost daily to encourage people. We're just doing what we know to do!
As a result of this some cool things have happened and some doors have been opened. A person who reads my blogs has strongly recommended that I write a book and has connected me to a publisher. This same person has told me that he believes there's not just one book in me but several. I'm not boasting but I am testifying of the restoring power of God if you'll just pick yourself up and start doing what you know to do. I boast in Jesus Christ alone!
Recently we had a Pastor from New Zealand speak at our church who flows in the gift of prophecy and word of knowledge. He knew nothing of our past journey and what we had experienced. He prayed over my wife and told her that we had "passed the test and were coming up out of the wilderness". He also told her it was good she was married to me. I liked that one! Well, I'm also glad it's time to come up out of this wilderness!
While praying with me he confirmed the five-fold ministry gift of Pastor that God has entrusted to me. That's when I had what I've mentioned before in other blogs as a "sandy sea shore moment." He then communicated that Jesus was commissioning me and said "it's time to feed My sheep."
In some peoples eyes Jeanie and I probably have every reason to be mad at God, other people and ourselves. But we made a decision and with the decision comes the following declaration. "God still has a great plan for our lives!" We're going to do what we know to do and experience the restoring power of God.
If one devastated pastor reads my blog and decides to "get back in game" then our mess has become a ministry. If one woman who has been through a tragic divorce decides to pick herself up and move forward then our test has become a testimony. If someone who has failed in business decides to "go for it" again then our failure has become fruitful!
But it all begins with just doing what you know to do when you don't know what to do!
Be encouraged today! You can DREAM.......AGAIN!
JUST START DOING WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO AND WATCH GOD DO WHAT HE KNOWS HOW TO DO!
Encouraging the world,
Ken Woolf
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