I leave next week for my first trip around the globe. I plan to minister to church planters and leaders in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then continue on to Nairobi, Kenya, for leadership training of young apostolic leaders from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and India. This is a season of my life that is focused on training and mentoring the next generation. As Elijah passed on a double portion of what the Lord gave him to Elisha, we are called to do the same.

In last week’s blog, I talked about the seasons of life that we all face. Let me emphasize again; regardless of the season you are in right now, remember; it is just for a season. God will use it in your life to prepare you for your future if you allow Him to. Esther in the Bible went through a hard winter season as an orphaned child. But she was taken in by her kind cousin, Mordecai, and entered into a spring season of her life. She was then chosen to be prepared to become the wife of the king of Persia, and eventually, she became the queen. The Lord had been preparing her for years to be in the right place at the right time so that when the evil Haman tried to wipe out all of God’s people, Esther was at a place of influence to stop his hideous plan. Mordecai told his cousin Esther, “Who knows but that you have come into the Kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

How about you? You have also come into the Kingdom for such a time as this. Don’t waste your season … God has great plans for you!

You know, as I look back on my life, it has gone so fast! My first 15 years, I was simply learning about life. During the next 15 years, I became totally committed to Jesus and learned about youth ministry, business, marriage and family and making disciples. The next fifteen years I served as senior pastor of DOVE Christian Fellowship in Pennsylvania, where I learned a ton about leadership. This prepared me for my next fifteen years serving with an amazing team of international leaders helping start churches on six continents.

Now, at age 60, I am asking the Lord what He has for me for the next 15 years of my life. Every season of my life has been preparation for the next season. And everything that the Lord does through us in our present season is helping to prepare the way for our next season and for the next generation to experience a double blessing.

Stand up tall and trust Jesus for much grace for a bright future. The best is yet to come!