“There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life - fear of death, fear of judgment - is one not yet fully formed in love.” I John 4:18 (The Message)
The story is told of a young man who became a part of Columbus’ crew. He had worked as an apprentice to the shoemaker in his village and planned to take his place when the shoemaker passed away. During the voyage he was so fearful that the shoemaker would die while he was gone and he would be replaced by someone else that he never knew the greatness of the adventured he shared.
This little story got me thinking about how many great adventures I might have missed because I was griped by fear, terrified to take the risk, to appreciate the moment.
How often do opportunities like crewing with Columbus actually come our way? How many times do we miss those special opportunities, the once in a lifetime chances simply because our focus is on the mundane, the everyday, the drudgery of the moment, the tasks at hand?
Or as Max Lucado shares in his book, God Came Near, “We live in an art gallery of divine creativity and yet are content to gaze only at the carpet.” (page 42)
Help me, Eternal Lord, to seize the day, to open myself to those God given moments that are housed in each day. Help me to break the chains that can hold me back and anchor me, in fear, to things that really don’t matter in the full spectrum of your Kingdom. In the name of freedom, Jesus Christ himself. Amen.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Three stories on one theme ... you are sitting in my seat!
Three stories about the importance of others and the often-unfriendly attitude of those who should have known better … just something to think about when you attend church tomorrow.
Story #1: … She was new to our church. After more than a six-month search for a place to call home she ended up in our sanctuary. She felt accepted and loved. She enjoyed the worship services – both the tradition and the contemporary. She loved the Sonrise Café and the rich fellowship around the table. She was very enthusiastic about our church’s work with Family Promise and the variety of mission outreach programs. On more than one occasion she would share her “sandy beach evangelism” (her words). She shared her renewed faith with everyone she could meet and invited them to join her on Sunday morning. Then I began to notice that she wasn’t there every Sunday. One Sunday turned into a month and one month turned into several. Then finally she returned. With my ever-present cup of coffee I joined her at her table to share that I had missed her. She lowered her head and shared that she really missed being here, but that she was beginning to feel unwelcomed. When I inquired why, she went on to share that during the beginning of one of the traditional worship service the “dear older women” turned to her and said, “We love having new people join us on Sunday morning as long as they don’t sit in our group. Please, next Sunday, find some place else to sit.” And it was said with a smile and a hug.
Story #2: … It was Sunday morning and the gathering place on the second floor had been arranged for the regular Quaker meeting. The circle of chairs numbered well over 100 and in typical Quaker fashion people would arrive as they felt like it and sit quietly waiting for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to fall upon someone to share. Well, this particular Sunday morning a stranger in town found the Quaker meeting room and he arrived, but no one else had. He found a sit and waited thinking that just possibly he had misunderstood the time. After nearly 50 minutes passed another person showed up and walked quietly over to where the stranger had taken a sit and bent down and whispered, “Thou are sitting in my seat!”
Story #3: … You took my parking space
One day, a man went to visit a church, He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, " I always park there! You took my place!"
The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!"
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing. After Sunday school, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!"
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing.
Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"
The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."
Story #1: … She was new to our church. After more than a six-month search for a place to call home she ended up in our sanctuary. She felt accepted and loved. She enjoyed the worship services – both the tradition and the contemporary. She loved the Sonrise Café and the rich fellowship around the table. She was very enthusiastic about our church’s work with Family Promise and the variety of mission outreach programs. On more than one occasion she would share her “sandy beach evangelism” (her words). She shared her renewed faith with everyone she could meet and invited them to join her on Sunday morning. Then I began to notice that she wasn’t there every Sunday. One Sunday turned into a month and one month turned into several. Then finally she returned. With my ever-present cup of coffee I joined her at her table to share that I had missed her. She lowered her head and shared that she really missed being here, but that she was beginning to feel unwelcomed. When I inquired why, she went on to share that during the beginning of one of the traditional worship service the “dear older women” turned to her and said, “We love having new people join us on Sunday morning as long as they don’t sit in our group. Please, next Sunday, find some place else to sit.” And it was said with a smile and a hug.
Story #2: … It was Sunday morning and the gathering place on the second floor had been arranged for the regular Quaker meeting. The circle of chairs numbered well over 100 and in typical Quaker fashion people would arrive as they felt like it and sit quietly waiting for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to fall upon someone to share. Well, this particular Sunday morning a stranger in town found the Quaker meeting room and he arrived, but no one else had. He found a sit and waited thinking that just possibly he had misunderstood the time. After nearly 50 minutes passed another person showed up and walked quietly over to where the stranger had taken a sit and bent down and whispered, “Thou are sitting in my seat!”
Story #3: … You took my parking space
One day, a man went to visit a church, He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near the driver got out and said, " I always park there! You took my place!"
The visitor went inside for Sunday school, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!"
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing. After Sunday school, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!"
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing.
Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"
The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, "I took your place."
Friday, August 5, 2011
VACATION KINGDOM - another VBS/Mission Trip remembered - this one with some real clowns
It stands as an example of what can happen when a group of dedicated volunteers come together with determination and commitment. It stands as an example of how a group of youth can be inspired to reach beyond themselves in acts of unselfish service. It stands as an example of how walls can come down when a little love is shown.
Our Youth Director at St. Luke’s UMC had resigned and moved on to another assignment. What she left in her wake was a promise of a summer mission trip, but that is all there was … a promise. Not one penny had been raised. There was no designation secured. Nothing had been done except for the promise … and summer was only a few months away.
Our new Youth Director, Bruce, and a small group of adults made a commitment. We were going to keep the promise, but how, where, when and, the big question, how much hung heavy over our heads.
Betty’s in-laws were on the church staff as shut-in visitors. They made a phone call back to their hometown of Knoxville to their son’s church. That church was having a Youth Week and would be happy to kind of “host” our group during that event. But this was to be a mission trip. Traveling to Knoxville and joining up with another youth group would be great, but there wasn’t anything missional in that. Another phone call was made, this time to the old Methodist intercity Bethlehem center in Knoxville. They would love for us to come and share an experience with their children and the week of the church’s youth week would be great.
Fantastic – we now had a date, a place and a purpose … but still no money and not enough time to hold events to raise any money. Someone came up with “Buy-a-Kid” program. Essentially, any individual could accept the financial responsibility to pay for the trip of one of the youth. You can “buy” a half a kid, or a quarter of a kid, or even just a tenth of a kid. The selling job was on. We kept pushing, talking, praising and in no time the good folk at St. Luke’s had pulled out their wallets and donated enough money to send all of the youth and a sizable number of adults to Knoxville for a week.
BUT … what were we going to do with the children at the Bethlehem center. Here Jackie, one of the parents, and the good folk at Brethren House stepped in. With a tremendous amount of creativity, learning centers were developed for each weekday of the event. Our youth stepped forth to learn how to build and teach using learning centers. But we needed a theme.
Well, God gave us a new youth director to fill the gap when Flo left. Bruce was just getting interested in Clown Ministry. Two and two came together and bingo – VACATION KINGDOM – a VBS of sorts, with a recreation room filled with “tent” like structures indicating individual learning centers, and a group of teenagers who were learning how to Clown with a Christ-centered purpose. Vacation Kingdom was going to be a circus.
In a matter of just a couple of months it all came together. The day arrived for us to pile into the big yellow bus and head north. Bruce and I would drive that thing. We would travel all night allowing the kiddos to sleep – wise decision, less trouble to get into and less need to monitor the various activities … we did have a few loose cannons in the group. As we were loading up the material and luggage, a couple of the ladies said, “Let’s make some cookies for the trip!” What? We were almost ready to leave and they were heading to the kitchen to make cookies? That is insane, but in less than 30 minutes they were back with hundreds of cookies. I never heard of convection ovens, microwaves yes, but convection no. It is truly amazing what those large ovens can do in just a matter of moments.
VACATION KINGDOM was possible because of Bruce, Joyce, Betty, Jackie, Jon, Martha Ann, Harriet, Sunny and the good folk at St. Luke’s. It is another VBS that I won’t forget.
When we arrived the African-American children of the Bethlehem center were hesitant about this lily-white group of teenagers in clown make-up. Our teenagers were hesitant about what to say, how to say and what to do with these children. Slowly the interaction began. By the end of the week, when it was time to pack everything back on Big Yellow and head home, the tears were streaming. The Bethlehem center children didn’t want us to leave. Some wanted to get on the bus and go home with us. Hugs, hugs and more hugs were passed around. I don’t know who had the most impact on whom. Even our more “macho” guys had difficulty-saying good-bye to their “playmates” of the week.
It was just one week in the life of the Bethlehem children. Just one week. It was just a couple of weeks in the life of the youth from St. Luke’s. What lasting effect this had on either group will not necessarily be known. Hopefully a life was touched, a different direction taken, a decision made that would not have been made prior to our arrival. You just never know, but hey, all we have to do is plant … God brings the harvest. So in Knoxville one summer in the lives of some teenagers and in the lives of some children a seed was planted. The harvest has only been known to God … as it should be!
Oh, one last note. We took an afternoon to drive Big Yellow and gang up into the Smokey Mountains. We got to Clingman’s Dome. Ever been there? Very steep climb to the highest point in the Smokey’s. A couple of our more “macho” types decided that they were going to run up while the rest of us “wimps” would just have to walk. Well, it wasn’t too long before us “wimps” caught them as they were laid out on the side of the trail trying to catch their breath. The “machos” did make it to the top before the rest of us, but with a little more respect for those who took it a little easier.
Our Youth Director at St. Luke’s UMC had resigned and moved on to another assignment. What she left in her wake was a promise of a summer mission trip, but that is all there was … a promise. Not one penny had been raised. There was no designation secured. Nothing had been done except for the promise … and summer was only a few months away.
Our new Youth Director, Bruce, and a small group of adults made a commitment. We were going to keep the promise, but how, where, when and, the big question, how much hung heavy over our heads.
Betty’s in-laws were on the church staff as shut-in visitors. They made a phone call back to their hometown of Knoxville to their son’s church. That church was having a Youth Week and would be happy to kind of “host” our group during that event. But this was to be a mission trip. Traveling to Knoxville and joining up with another youth group would be great, but there wasn’t anything missional in that. Another phone call was made, this time to the old Methodist intercity Bethlehem center in Knoxville. They would love for us to come and share an experience with their children and the week of the church’s youth week would be great.
Fantastic – we now had a date, a place and a purpose … but still no money and not enough time to hold events to raise any money. Someone came up with “Buy-a-Kid” program. Essentially, any individual could accept the financial responsibility to pay for the trip of one of the youth. You can “buy” a half a kid, or a quarter of a kid, or even just a tenth of a kid. The selling job was on. We kept pushing, talking, praising and in no time the good folk at St. Luke’s had pulled out their wallets and donated enough money to send all of the youth and a sizable number of adults to Knoxville for a week.
BUT … what were we going to do with the children at the Bethlehem center. Here Jackie, one of the parents, and the good folk at Brethren House stepped in. With a tremendous amount of creativity, learning centers were developed for each weekday of the event. Our youth stepped forth to learn how to build and teach using learning centers. But we needed a theme.
Well, God gave us a new youth director to fill the gap when Flo left. Bruce was just getting interested in Clown Ministry. Two and two came together and bingo – VACATION KINGDOM – a VBS of sorts, with a recreation room filled with “tent” like structures indicating individual learning centers, and a group of teenagers who were learning how to Clown with a Christ-centered purpose. Vacation Kingdom was going to be a circus.
In a matter of just a couple of months it all came together. The day arrived for us to pile into the big yellow bus and head north. Bruce and I would drive that thing. We would travel all night allowing the kiddos to sleep – wise decision, less trouble to get into and less need to monitor the various activities … we did have a few loose cannons in the group. As we were loading up the material and luggage, a couple of the ladies said, “Let’s make some cookies for the trip!” What? We were almost ready to leave and they were heading to the kitchen to make cookies? That is insane, but in less than 30 minutes they were back with hundreds of cookies. I never heard of convection ovens, microwaves yes, but convection no. It is truly amazing what those large ovens can do in just a matter of moments.
VACATION KINGDOM was possible because of Bruce, Joyce, Betty, Jackie, Jon, Martha Ann, Harriet, Sunny and the good folk at St. Luke’s. It is another VBS that I won’t forget.
When we arrived the African-American children of the Bethlehem center were hesitant about this lily-white group of teenagers in clown make-up. Our teenagers were hesitant about what to say, how to say and what to do with these children. Slowly the interaction began. By the end of the week, when it was time to pack everything back on Big Yellow and head home, the tears were streaming. The Bethlehem center children didn’t want us to leave. Some wanted to get on the bus and go home with us. Hugs, hugs and more hugs were passed around. I don’t know who had the most impact on whom. Even our more “macho” guys had difficulty-saying good-bye to their “playmates” of the week.
It was just one week in the life of the Bethlehem children. Just one week. It was just a couple of weeks in the life of the youth from St. Luke’s. What lasting effect this had on either group will not necessarily be known. Hopefully a life was touched, a different direction taken, a decision made that would not have been made prior to our arrival. You just never know, but hey, all we have to do is plant … God brings the harvest. So in Knoxville one summer in the lives of some teenagers and in the lives of some children a seed was planted. The harvest has only been known to God … as it should be!
Oh, one last note. We took an afternoon to drive Big Yellow and gang up into the Smokey Mountains. We got to Clingman’s Dome. Ever been there? Very steep climb to the highest point in the Smokey’s. A couple of our more “macho” types decided that they were going to run up while the rest of us “wimps” would just have to walk. Well, it wasn’t too long before us “wimps” caught them as they were laid out on the side of the trail trying to catch their breath. The “machos” did make it to the top before the rest of us, but with a little more respect for those who took it a little easier.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
A VBS remembered ... my first experience as pastor-in-charge nearly 40 years ago this summer
As I see signs throughout the community; as I read about VBSs on Facebook; as colleagues share their experiences this year … I think about two quite different experiences with children, the church, the community and Bible school events.
The first was in a student appointment during seminary. I served a small membership church 50 miles due west of Atlanta. Temple was centered between Bremen and Villa Rica (west and east of the town) and between Carrollton and Rome (south and north of town) and was on the main railroad run between Atlanta and Birmingham. Every 10 to 15 minutes, around the clock, a train … a long train … was heading in one direction or the other. We had three crossings in this small town … three long whistles … all night long. I didn’t get much sleep that first week, but that is another story for another time.
The major employer was a Sewell Suit manufacturing plant. Oh, you’ve never seen the label, but you have worn their suits if you purchased a store brand at Sears, Penney’s and Monkey Wards. A high percentage of the citizens of the town worked at the plant. Both sets of parents worked at the plant. And, when the plant went on vacation – the first two weeks of July – the entire town shutdown ... another experience for a preacher who liked to take his vacation in August.
The churches responded to this phenomena by planning their VBS in coordination with each other. The first week of summer vacation the children were in a VBS in the community at one of the churches and they were in a VBS every week thereafter except for the two weeks when the town went on vacation.
This reality didn’t faze me until I realized that on Friday evening, when everyone and their families would gather for the closing celebration, which included a covered dish dinner, we would be responsible for feeding a mess of folk. It kind of blew me away.
I remembered covered dish dinners in my home church. There never was enough food. If you were in line as a part of the last third of the people you didn’t get a whole lot. I had determined that under my ministry that would never happen. Therefore, with great fan fare and dramatic illustrating the challenge facing us I requested that everyone bring 2 dishes on Friday evening. “Are you sure preacher? Two dishes?” they started asking. I stuck to my guns … and learned a hard lesson that when people respond I really need to ask why they were asking what they were asking.
Friday night arrived and the food started piling in. Dish upon dish upon dish upon dish. We had enough food to feed the entire town for the rest of the summer. I had never seen so much food. Extra tables had to be set up just to hold all the dishes. What nobody explained to me, but I soon learned was that a dish, as in 1 dish, included a salad, 2 vegetables, a starch, a meat and a dessert – for a total of 6 dishes and I was asking them to bring 12 dishes. In their mind a single dish was one complete meal.
Everyone got a good laugh at the new preacher’s expense. Nobody really minded since leftovers were a mainstay in these blue-collar homes. Besides, we really impressed the people of Temple, GA that year. The Methodist made a lasting impression!
Tomorrow I will share the second experience called Vacation Kingdom in Knoxville, TN with the youth from St. Luke’s UMC in St. Petersburg.
The first was in a student appointment during seminary. I served a small membership church 50 miles due west of Atlanta. Temple was centered between Bremen and Villa Rica (west and east of the town) and between Carrollton and Rome (south and north of town) and was on the main railroad run between Atlanta and Birmingham. Every 10 to 15 minutes, around the clock, a train … a long train … was heading in one direction or the other. We had three crossings in this small town … three long whistles … all night long. I didn’t get much sleep that first week, but that is another story for another time.
The major employer was a Sewell Suit manufacturing plant. Oh, you’ve never seen the label, but you have worn their suits if you purchased a store brand at Sears, Penney’s and Monkey Wards. A high percentage of the citizens of the town worked at the plant. Both sets of parents worked at the plant. And, when the plant went on vacation – the first two weeks of July – the entire town shutdown ... another experience for a preacher who liked to take his vacation in August.
The churches responded to this phenomena by planning their VBS in coordination with each other. The first week of summer vacation the children were in a VBS in the community at one of the churches and they were in a VBS every week thereafter except for the two weeks when the town went on vacation.
This reality didn’t faze me until I realized that on Friday evening, when everyone and their families would gather for the closing celebration, which included a covered dish dinner, we would be responsible for feeding a mess of folk. It kind of blew me away.
I remembered covered dish dinners in my home church. There never was enough food. If you were in line as a part of the last third of the people you didn’t get a whole lot. I had determined that under my ministry that would never happen. Therefore, with great fan fare and dramatic illustrating the challenge facing us I requested that everyone bring 2 dishes on Friday evening. “Are you sure preacher? Two dishes?” they started asking. I stuck to my guns … and learned a hard lesson that when people respond I really need to ask why they were asking what they were asking.
Friday night arrived and the food started piling in. Dish upon dish upon dish upon dish. We had enough food to feed the entire town for the rest of the summer. I had never seen so much food. Extra tables had to be set up just to hold all the dishes. What nobody explained to me, but I soon learned was that a dish, as in 1 dish, included a salad, 2 vegetables, a starch, a meat and a dessert – for a total of 6 dishes and I was asking them to bring 12 dishes. In their mind a single dish was one complete meal.
Everyone got a good laugh at the new preacher’s expense. Nobody really minded since leftovers were a mainstay in these blue-collar homes. Besides, we really impressed the people of Temple, GA that year. The Methodist made a lasting impression!
Tomorrow I will share the second experience called Vacation Kingdom in Knoxville, TN with the youth from St. Luke’s UMC in St. Petersburg.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Reflecgtions on being a grandparent
I’m a grandparent … twice over. I am amazed and slightly jealous of those who announce that they have umpteen grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and even several great great grandchildren. They must have started much earlier than we did and their children followed suit.
We live in Bradenton because of our grandchildren. Margaret baby-sits four days a week and although she is exhausted when she gets home each evening she really won’t trade it for the world. She is in her element … and thank God, that the soon to be 3-year old hasn’t gone through her “terrible-twos” period. Oh, there have been meltdowns and more than one temper tantrums, but by in large she is very thoughtful and loving … can you guess that I’m bragging just a little.
Now her brother … well that is another case entirely. One of those, “if we had had him first we won’t have had another” syndromes … at times. He will melt your heart with his smile and warm your soul with his hugs. Strong willed is putting it mildly, but that kind of comes with the territory.
Grandchildren are precious, but I can full appreciate the grandparent who wrote the following:
GRANDPARENTS ANSWERING MACHINE
Good morning . . . At present we are not at home but please leave your
message after you hear the beep.
beeeeeppp ...
If you are one of our children, press 1
If you need us to stay with your children, press 2
If you want to borrow our car, press 3
If you want us to wash your clothes and do the ironing, press 4
If you want the grandchildren to sleep here tonight, press 5
If you want us to pick up the kids at school, press 6
If you want us to prepare a meal for Sunday or to have it delivered to your home, press 7
If you want to come to eat here, press 8
If you need money, press 9
If you are going to invite us to dinner, or take us out tonight -- start
talking.....we're listening !!!!!!!!
Frankly, I do not understand individuals who choose to move south to be in warmer weather and leave their children and grandchildren back up north. Oh, I don’t think that I would enjoy shoveling snow and fighting the icy roads, but my-oh-my those wintry conditions are simple inconveniences when compared to sharing the journey with your children and grandchildren.
So, if you have grandchildren (or children) hug them well, spend as much time as possible with them, spoil them rotten, shower them with praise, encourage them to take risks, share your journey with Jesus Christ with them and take time to have a tea party. Time is passing you by faster than you can imagine. Don’t miss out on their lives.
We live in Bradenton because of our grandchildren. Margaret baby-sits four days a week and although she is exhausted when she gets home each evening she really won’t trade it for the world. She is in her element … and thank God, that the soon to be 3-year old hasn’t gone through her “terrible-twos” period. Oh, there have been meltdowns and more than one temper tantrums, but by in large she is very thoughtful and loving … can you guess that I’m bragging just a little.
Now her brother … well that is another case entirely. One of those, “if we had had him first we won’t have had another” syndromes … at times. He will melt your heart with his smile and warm your soul with his hugs. Strong willed is putting it mildly, but that kind of comes with the territory.
Grandchildren are precious, but I can full appreciate the grandparent who wrote the following:
GRANDPARENTS ANSWERING MACHINE
Good morning . . . At present we are not at home but please leave your
message after you hear the beep.
beeeeeppp ...
If you are one of our children, press 1
If you need us to stay with your children, press 2
If you want to borrow our car, press 3
If you want us to wash your clothes and do the ironing, press 4
If you want the grandchildren to sleep here tonight, press 5
If you want us to pick up the kids at school, press 6
If you want us to prepare a meal for Sunday or to have it delivered to your home, press 7
If you want to come to eat here, press 8
If you need money, press 9
If you are going to invite us to dinner, or take us out tonight -- start
talking.....we're listening !!!!!!!!
Frankly, I do not understand individuals who choose to move south to be in warmer weather and leave their children and grandchildren back up north. Oh, I don’t think that I would enjoy shoveling snow and fighting the icy roads, but my-oh-my those wintry conditions are simple inconveniences when compared to sharing the journey with your children and grandchildren.
So, if you have grandchildren (or children) hug them well, spend as much time as possible with them, spoil them rotten, shower them with praise, encourage them to take risks, share your journey with Jesus Christ with them and take time to have a tea party. Time is passing you by faster than you can imagine. Don’t miss out on their lives.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Changes comes when we cry out to the Lord
Pastor Craig Moore, the senior pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg, FL, wrote in his church’s newsletter:
“But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer…” (Judges 3:8-9)
If you invest time into someone who has not yet come to the place of wanting a spiritual solution to their problem, you will become emotionally exhausted. The apostle Paul understood this principle when he actually turned such people over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh (I Cor. 5:5).
The people of Israel were finally in enough pain to cry out to God for relief from their oppression. Like so many times throughout the scripture, God answered by raising up a deliverer. “But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.” (Judges 3:8-11)
Are you in a difficult place in your life? Are you only talking about changing or are you really ready to cry out to the Lord for a solution? Start now the process of changing your situation for the better and asking for help if needed.
Sincerely, Pastor Craig Moore
Change is never easy. We always hold out hope that things will pick back up and return to “normal”, especially if you have been let go from your job. Speaking with a church leader, husband and father, some months ago, who after a lengthy career in one industry with excellent pay was laid off, he shared, “It is very humbling to have to take a job at a much lower pay than what you were making or what you think you need in order to survive. Change is always difficult and too often, painful.”
Reinventing oneself is never easy, but in the process it is possible to discover new things about ourselves, face new challenges and, in many situations, actually end up in a better place than if we had stayed where we were. As the old saying goes, “God never closes a door without opening a window … but why do some of the windows have screens?”
Welcome to the world of change … and new discovery. It comes to all of us at one point or another … and if we are patient enough, praying ourselves through the process, we will be stronger as we grow into the new person God’s wants us to become.
Also included in St. Luke’s newsletter was this quote from Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer:
Today is in God’s hands and so are you.
His hands are strong and will uphold you;
His hands are great and will enfold you;
His hands are gentle and will embrace you;
His hands are protective and will cover you;
His hands are reassuring and will quiet you;
His hands are powerful and will defend you;
His hands are parental and will train you;
His hands are masterful and will comfort you;
His hands are compassionate and will care for you;
His hands are healing and will renew you;
His hands are claming and will comfort you;
His hands are giving and will bless you.
“But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer…” (Judges 3:8-9)
If you invest time into someone who has not yet come to the place of wanting a spiritual solution to their problem, you will become emotionally exhausted. The apostle Paul understood this principle when he actually turned such people over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh (I Cor. 5:5).
The people of Israel were finally in enough pain to cry out to God for relief from their oppression. Like so many times throughout the scripture, God answered by raising up a deliverer. “But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.” (Judges 3:8-11)
Are you in a difficult place in your life? Are you only talking about changing or are you really ready to cry out to the Lord for a solution? Start now the process of changing your situation for the better and asking for help if needed.
Sincerely, Pastor Craig Moore
Change is never easy. We always hold out hope that things will pick back up and return to “normal”, especially if you have been let go from your job. Speaking with a church leader, husband and father, some months ago, who after a lengthy career in one industry with excellent pay was laid off, he shared, “It is very humbling to have to take a job at a much lower pay than what you were making or what you think you need in order to survive. Change is always difficult and too often, painful.”
Reinventing oneself is never easy, but in the process it is possible to discover new things about ourselves, face new challenges and, in many situations, actually end up in a better place than if we had stayed where we were. As the old saying goes, “God never closes a door without opening a window … but why do some of the windows have screens?”
Welcome to the world of change … and new discovery. It comes to all of us at one point or another … and if we are patient enough, praying ourselves through the process, we will be stronger as we grow into the new person God’s wants us to become.
Also included in St. Luke’s newsletter was this quote from Roy Lessin, DaySpring co-founder and writer:
Today is in God’s hands and so are you.
His hands are strong and will uphold you;
His hands are great and will enfold you;
His hands are gentle and will embrace you;
His hands are protective and will cover you;
His hands are reassuring and will quiet you;
His hands are powerful and will defend you;
His hands are parental and will train you;
His hands are masterful and will comfort you;
His hands are compassionate and will care for you;
His hands are healing and will renew you;
His hands are claming and will comfort you;
His hands are giving and will bless you.
Monday, August 1, 2011
The secret of taking time for ...
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12
From an unknown author comes some insightful ideas about taking time … after all, we are given the same amount of time each day how we use it speaks volumes about our priorities.
Take time to think – it is the source of power.
Take time to read – it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to exercise – it is the secret of staying young.
Take time to be aware – it is the opportunity to seek God.
Take time to love and be loved – it is God’s greatest gift.
Take time to laugh – it is the music of the soul.
Take time to be friendly – it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream – it is what the future is made of.
Take time to pray – it is the greatest power on earth.
When I need something done in the church or community I always look for the busiest person around and ask them … especially if I really need it done and done well.
Can people be overburdened by responsibilities? Absolutely, but the busy person usually has discovered the power of accomplishment and the wisdom of prioritizing their time and energy.
They’ve learned the secret of taking time to plan.
I heard of an extremely busy and highly successful executive of a Fortune 500 company. He would traditionally spend long hours at his desk or in meetings or on the phone, but he began each day with four hours of prayer. When asked why he would spend so much time praying when there was so many issues sitting on his desk and waiting for his attention he responded: “I am able to handle all those pressing matters because I spend the first four hours of every day in prayer.”
He learned the secret of taking time!
From an unknown author comes some insightful ideas about taking time … after all, we are given the same amount of time each day how we use it speaks volumes about our priorities.
Take time to think – it is the source of power.
Take time to read – it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to exercise – it is the secret of staying young.
Take time to be aware – it is the opportunity to seek God.
Take time to love and be loved – it is God’s greatest gift.
Take time to laugh – it is the music of the soul.
Take time to be friendly – it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream – it is what the future is made of.
Take time to pray – it is the greatest power on earth.
When I need something done in the church or community I always look for the busiest person around and ask them … especially if I really need it done and done well.
Can people be overburdened by responsibilities? Absolutely, but the busy person usually has discovered the power of accomplishment and the wisdom of prioritizing their time and energy.
They’ve learned the secret of taking time to plan.
I heard of an extremely busy and highly successful executive of a Fortune 500 company. He would traditionally spend long hours at his desk or in meetings or on the phone, but he began each day with four hours of prayer. When asked why he would spend so much time praying when there was so many issues sitting on his desk and waiting for his attention he responded: “I am able to handle all those pressing matters because I spend the first four hours of every day in prayer.”
He learned the secret of taking time!
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