The Working Pastor Journal 3/29/26

A journal by

Pastor Bobby

There is this false narrative that Pastors are perfect. I am telling you as hands on experience since I am a pastor. We are far from perfect. We are all walking a spiritual journey. We are just different places in that journey. That's part of what sanctification is. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV "[23] Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do." My hope is to be closer to God today then I was yesterday. The only problem is like I said we all go through troubles, trials, and tribulations. I have hard time all the time. But I make it through because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. Let alone God has to use that spiritual Four by Four against my head all the time. To snap me out of the flesh desires and back on to the path He has for my life. He does this many ways. Like through His word the Bible, through moments, and through others and what they are going through.

When I did recovery meetings full time. The most powerful teaching we had was the open share times. When they were sharing their weekly struggles, and what God was teaching them. So many people would go on to say that was how they learned the most. And that is true. I learn a lot more from people sharing their stories. That is why Testimonies are such a powerful evangelism tool.

This is why I am starting this new series of articles called the Working Pastors Journal. To write about the struggles I go through, and the lessons God is teaching me. Because every trial we go through has a teaching moment and gives us a stronger faith. Now, in these articles it might sound similar to the Driving with Jesus videos we do. And I there will be some overlap sometimes. However, in this format we can get deeper. As well as my hope is to get other to share what God is teaching them. As believers, God is always moving and we need to share what He is doing with others. This is my hope through these journals. But I'll be upfront. I am not a journal type of person. So, these journals might look a little different. Also, I can't promise how frequent these will come out. It just depends. I'm going to shoot for every week at least. But i am not making any promises. So, let's start this journey together.

3/29/26-

Proverbs 1:32 ESV"[32] For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them."

Revelation 3:15-17 ESV"[15] “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. [17] For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."

My spiritual walk in a lot of ways. Mirrors my gym walk. In that there are times I do really, really well. And then I just get lazy and complacent, but I act like everything is going well when it's not when I'm not growing like I should. But in a lot of ways, I tell people that I am still growing when I'm just static. I don't want to be static in my walk with Christ or with my gym life. I want to get better. I want to grow in my relationship. I want to get stronger. I want to be the person who God can depend and the pastor who God can depend on. I want to be the person who is stronger than everyone else, not just physically but even emotionally. But spiritually, not for my will or so I can prove anything. But so that God can depend on me, this is not just ego talking. This is what I truly desire. God has done so much for me. Things that I can never pay back. And I know that. But... God has put a calling on my life and I know there will be times that I fell. That calling just like David, Paul, and Peter. But through Jesus Christ his power, not my own, he can use me in mighty ways. And I want that for my life. And for god's will. And I want to get stronger

I cannot continue to be doing well in my walk with Jesus one moment, then get lazy and static. God, Jesus and the holy spirit deserves so much more from me as his pastor that he called. As well as a mindset, where I get stronger and work out for his glory. Amen