Happens every time

Last night after church Pastor Dave asked if I would like to preach this Wednesday or Sunday night. I quickly agreed to preach Wednesday. I'm always eager to have an opportunity to preach and Wednesday nights are usually better because my Sundays are always full with leading the music and choir practice. Wednesday nights aren't without their perils though...

Seems like every time I get the opportunity to preach, my days at work are twice as hard. I went in to work this morning and my co-worker took the day off. We are always short handed anyway but when one of the three of us are out it is completely insane at work. Right off the bat I had ranting, raving, cursing, angry customers. My friend, if you've never experienced getting cussed out first thing in the morning by an angry customer, you have no idea what its like. Working in tech support is hard enough without customers taking their frustrations out on the very people that are there to help them! It makes absolutely no sense to me why anyone would even imagine that yelling, screaming, and cursing would make me want to help them any better or faster. It actually has the reverse effect.

So, I spent the first 4-hours getting totally bombarded by calls, thinking there was no way I could ever dig my way out. Eventually I took a break for lunch. I was so exhausted and bewildered that all I could do was eat and stare into space. I usually use my lunch hour for studying, praying, meditating, etc... but when it was like it was today, I just couldn't concentrate. I guess its the Devil having his way with me. It happens every single time I have a preaching engagement coming up. I might as well expect it.

If you think standing behind the pulpit delivering the Word of God is a simple thing, you've never done it. Or if you have, and still think that, you haven't done it right or in God's will. I am not one of those preachers that can just wait until the last minute for divine inspiration. Sometimes the Lord gives me a message at the last minute but if I'm going to be preaching I like to have a good 20-30 hours of study time put in before I stand to deliver a message.

So, last night I poured through my Bible and prayed, seeking the message the Lord wants me to preach, but, nothing. Again tonight I have sat here on the couch praying, reading, studying, and still, nothing. Oh sure, there are many topics I could preach on or teach on but it would all be just me coming up with a message on my own. I'm still waiting on that familiar tingle I get when I know just what God wants me to preach. I'm praying for a better day at work tomorrow. Perhaps if you aren't a preacher you don't understand this post. I'm not complaining I'm just typing out my frustrations.

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