Rest

"Rest in The Lord and wait patiently for him, fret not thyself . . . " --Psalm 37:7

The past few weeks have been challenging. 

Many of you know that Wednesday, May 8 was a tough day for our family. Because of financial issues, the college where Rodney has ministered for 10 years asked him to "take one for the team" and resign his position. He taught various Bible Classes and has Chaired the Bible Department for 7+ years. The president of the college has stated publicly that there were no "personality or performance" conflicts. The decision was "purely financial." He also stated publicly that if Rodney was the pastor of a church in the city where he lived, he would be pleased to call him pastor.

This is the official statement, posted on the college website here: 

May 10, 2010

Dear Friends and Fellow Laborers:

It is with a heavy heart that I am informing you of the resignation of faculty member Rodney Holloman from his position at Southeastern Free Will Baptist College in Wendell, NC. His resignation was necessitated by the budget cuts of the upcoming fiscal year.

Brother Holloman has faithfully served Southeastern for 10 years and ministered with passion and excellence. I made the announcement of Mr. Holloman’s resignation in chapel to our student body on Thursday and went into detail. I should have shared some of that information with the graduation attendees this morning. The lack of information was not intentional, but was certainly short-sighted on my part. I have known Brother Rodney and is family for many years. I love them all and offered my deepest apology to Brother Rodney personally and extend my regrets and apology to all of his family members.

Brother Rodney’s departure will not be immediate. He will be completing his duties through the summer months by taking our students to Cuba on a short term mission trip and will be teaching online classes. As the Lord opens the door Mr. Holloman will be entering back into full-time church ministry. Please pray for him as he seeks the direction God has for him and his family.

Brother Rodney has been and is a great servant of the Lord and will be missed by all of us at Southeastern. We love and respect him and are thankful for his years of service to Southeastern and his willingness to sacrifice for the cause of our Lord. Please keep the Holloman family and the college in your prayers as we continue serving together in His Kingdom.

Jim Marcum, President, Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College

On the one hand, we have a new adventure afoot. Saddle up the horses! 

On the other hand, we have a new adventure afoot! The saddle's been packed up for ten years . . . Where did I put that thing?

I was reminded today that "Launching out for God does not require talent, personality, or giftedness. It requires obedience." (Paul Chappell)

As hard as it is for me to admit it, God does not NEED me. He desires my obedience to His will and His plan for my life, but He does not NEED me for His purposes to be fulfilled. His will WILL be done, with or without me. When I finally realize His omnipotence, everything else falls into line.

It it my job to trust HIS plan for my life (and the lives of my family), even if that means completely changing the course that seemed (to me) to be *perfect*.

I have explained (or at least tried to explain) to my children (and myself at times) that "God goes before,  He goes behind, and He's right here with us all the time." (Sorry for the rhyme, it just happened.) This statement has become our mantra. When we doubt and have questions that we cannot answer, we say this sentence repeatedly. 

Yesterday, while perusing Facebook, I saw the most amazing picture that my sister had posted and was reminded yet again of our family mantra.

I figured out that this was a song and looked up the lyrics. I was floored when I read them.

You hear me when I call

You are my morning song

Though darkness fills the night

It cannot hide the light

I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever

He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

My strength is in Your name

For You alone can save

You will deliver me

Yours is the victory

And nothing formed against me shall stand

You hold the whole world in Your hands

I'm holding on to Your promises

You are faithful

HE IS FAITHFUL.

And because He is faithful, I can rest. . . knowing that HIS will is so much better than anything I could ever imagine. I can place my family's future in HIS wonderful plan and rest.