Staying in prayer is key to staying in leadership. How to pray? Pray with faith. Prayers in the Bible.
My son, Robert, tracks the long punt, hunting to convert a goal.
To watch those kids jog during the soccer game made me disgusted! How do they expect to win if they won’t run? If they only play half-hearted?
Then, I saw myself on the field. I was jogging.
Rob faces a dilemma. How do you turn a losing team into a winning team?
A fairly steady stream of withering criticism took the wind out of my sails. When I returned to my sponsoring church after 16 years as a missionary in Guatemala, I threw myself into ministry. Then I started cutting back — why give my ALL when ALL I got was negative feedback? God spoke to me through a State Cup Cal South tournament. Instead of running, I was jogging. How did I expect to win?
I cut the oranges for the kids’ halftime.
Handling criticism is no piece of cake. Making transition from head pastor to just one of the guys has not been easy either.
I wanted those kids to run with everything they had. Who cares if they were losing? Who cares if they made mistakes? Who cares if the coach screamed at them? Run — for the love of the game — run! Don’t give up.
It’s pretty easy to see others’ faults. But when I saw my own faults reflected in those kids, it was horrifying. I’ve got to run — for Jesus (not for detractors). Thank You, Jesus, for helping restore me to the intense servant I always was. Forgive me for becoming a mechanical, half-hearted servant. Thank You for showing me to renew my passion for service.
Mustard Seed Budget 
Thank you for sharing this . . .You have me looking at my service to Him too. God bless you!
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thank you so much for stopping by and visiting Ivegotconfidence recently and liking my recent posts. I so appreciate your taking the time from your busy schedule to check it out. And I’m so grateful that the Lord has you doing a good work for Him as well. God bless you bunches!
Really cool way to look at it!!
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We all get into a slump in life even the Babe Ruth or Willie Mays did. The Victory is getting out of it thru gut and humility. Personally I’ve been struck down with a impairment called sciatica syndrome and too top it off piraformas syndrome my spelling is probably off base too. These ailments bring pain that resemble a broken back yet I walk twice daily minimum 1.7 miles each time because I refuse to let them beat me down, I have to be my own coach with help from my best friend & King Jesus. I know Robert got hurt again I’m praying for him, he will recover stronger and wiser, amen!
I need more of that attitude:: “refuse to be beat down.” You are a great testimony Barry!
Priase the Lord that the injury was not serious.
I’ve nominated you for the Leibster Blogging Award ❤ God Bless you!
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I want to share this song with you that our 10 yr. old grandson sings in church with a friend. Our daughter is married to a Pastor. We KNOW prayer works! We’ve seen too many results of prayer and there was NO other way to explain it!
“I Pray” by The Collingsworth Family
Very powerful. As a pastors wife, I get alot of negative feedback which gets my eyes off the race. Thank you for the encouragement!
Pastors’ wives take A LOT of flak. Hang in there! God will bless you as you turn the other cheek.
Everyone has down time and I seriously do not think God or Jesus would be disappointed in you. The important thing is to get back up again – which you’ve done. You can’t do better than that!
Oh, and keep smiling. That’s another thing you achieve so easily. 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement!
I don’t really like down time.
NONE of us like down time. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Amen! Good post!