This past month I was very blessed to attend the Presbyterian CREDO event for mid-career pastors. It is a huge investment that our denomination makes in us. They took very good care of us and created an environment for us to be able to assess where we are vocationally, spiritually, financially, emotionally, and physically. The end result was that we each wrote a CREDO plan for the next stage of our ministries.
One of the things that helped me the most was to assess my financial situation. I realize that I carry a lot of anxiety about finances: "When can I get these credit cards paid off?" "When will I be able to buy a house?" "What about college costs?" "Will I ever have money enough to retire?" My time at CREDO allowed me to observations. First, I am actually doing a lot of the right things with our finances. Besides a few tweaks here and there, Laura and I are on the right track. Secondly, I have created an idol out of money and not truly relied upon God, the One who has provided everything anyway.
So part of my CREDO plan was to pray more faithfully about money. It is rather simple, "Lord, I can't do this on my own. Help me. Take away this worry from my life. I've done all I can do. I trust You to take care of the rest." It's like the song we sing: "O, what peace we often forfeit. O what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer."
There's more to my CREDO plan. Suffice it for now to say that I hope that you notice me trying to do things a little different going forward. Things that will make me a better pastor, husband, father, and person. Sometimes little small things can make a big difference down the road. I'm grateful for the time away.
Thank you! David