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A Time to Debrief & Surrender
September 25 - October 1, 2011
PRAY
Before you begin reading, reflecting, discussing, and applying, begin by
opening your heart up to our Savior and Lord. Praise Him and ask Him
to incline your heart to His. Invite Him to search your heart and make
Himself known.
STUDY
Read James 1, Philippians 1, and Ecclesiastes 3. It's a weird combination, but it is how God spoke to me this week. I trust God will do the same with you.
DISCUSS
How is your heart as it relates to the path and pace our Church is on? Are you surrendered to God and one another in this way? Are you being purposeful about growing in God? How are you serving your Church family? Has your financial giving to our Church family been generous and sacrificial? What are you doing about the opportunity to participate or serve Freedom Sessions? Do you pray for our Pastor, Elders, and Council?
LIVE
I know the above section had a ton of questions... instead of getting overwhelmed and doing nothing. Focus on one and do that well.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Prayer Focus
Church Family
- Friend of Rob G. who is fighting cancer.
- Friend of Eugene D. who is fighting cancer.
- Shaela Warkentin (eyesight)
- Zain Krikau's friends and family
- Mike K. (Health)
- Friend of Angela N. who has undiagnosed pain.
- Foursquare Family Church (Dawson Creek, BC)
- Barry Buzza (President of Foursquare Canada)
- Doug Friesen (Unit Supervisor)
- Cedar Valley Mennonite Church (Mission, BC)
- Mayor James Atebe & Council
- Premier Clark & MLA's
- Prime Minister Harper, Senate, & MP's
- India, Libya, Pakistan.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Friday Mashup
I am overwhelmed today. Lot's on the plate... both good and painful things. I think there's a reason that I've been drawn to James 1 for the past few weeks... I needed not only to read it, but understand it. So, today I am practicing 'considering it pure joy' by seeing with eyes of faith the way in which the trials of today are used by God bring about great things for our future.
I believe that our Church is transitioning into a new season that will be filled with more of God's grace and power. Even though I don't understand how we'll get there and even though I don't feel capable of getting there, I know that God will be faithful work it out... "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6).
I also feel as though the things I am doing in serving as our Church's pastor (under Jesus who is our Pastor) are so fragile and sometimes worry about the what if's. My flesh response is to run around like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to tie up all the loose ends and shore up weak areas. I know that I am fool to think that I am the answer to all our loose ends, but I love our Church family so much and believe in our purpose that I don't want anything to hit the floor or anyone to fall through the cracks. I also know that the heavy lifting is always done by Christ, so I will begin my day on my knees surrendered to Him... trusting that as I put Him first the rest will fall into place.
This season that we are entering is definitely interesting...
- We are beginning Freedom Sessions and I'm sensing a lot of tension around those wrestling with their decision to go or not to go. There is a spiritual and flesh battle that is going on in the lives of our Church. I am praying for clarity and strength for all those in the decision making process. I am praying for Eugene and Catherine as they lead us in this ministry that they would be strengthened and encouraged.
- Our Church is hosting an inter-church young adults outreach on Saturday nights in the Youth Centre. Its design is to help those who made a commitment to Christ in their youth and now struggle with their faith to be encouraged, equipped, and connected. We'll be starting with the Truth Project series. Please be in prayer for this ministry and consider helping out: we need help in the area of set-up, food serving, and clean-up.
- We are entering a pivotal few months in the life of Church where we can either repeat history or embrace with a heart of faith new opportunities to be the Church. We have some new families metaphorically knocking on our door to see if there's room for them in our family... our willingness to take the awkward hit, initiate and pursue a loving relationship with them, and adjust to the new feel of our Church family is up to us. My hope is that every "regular" will develop a new relationships with someone else. My hope is that every "regular" will step out and serve in ways that require faith and not comfort.
- Our Council will be increasing their involvement in the administration of our Church. Please pray for them, encourage them, and make it easy for them to support and lead us.
- Our Elders will be entering a season of greater reflection of where we've been and where we are going. Please pray for them, encourage them, and make it easy for them to support and lead us.
- Zain's promotion to Heaven, I am coming to believe, has been very timely. In some ways I think his life and his death serves to illustrate to me the changing of seasons in our Church. Zain was a man who would give you the shirt off his back; serve our Church family from sun up to sun down; stand behind you and with you no matter what; and do it all out of a humble love for Christ and His Bride. John 16:7 comes to mind where Jesus said to his disciples, "It is for your good that I am going away." Everyone I talk to about Zain says that they are happy for him, but sad for everyone he left behind. Yet, through eyes of faith, I am beginning to believe that it is actually better for us that Zain is with the Lord... his promotion is not only great for him, but it is great for us. Jesus knew when He said those words that the only way the disciples would grow and the Kingdom could expand would be if Jesus left and sent the Holy Spirit to empower the disciples to reach the world. Zain's promotion will be a good thing for us... the hole he left in our Church family now allows for others to experience the joy he had in serving in the many ways that he did.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-14 (NIV) "1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him."
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday Morning Thoughts
I was sad to miss out on our gathering this Sunday, but proud of everyone who served and lead our Church in the worship, instruction, ministry, and fellowship of our God! I'm looking forward to hearing the message given by Catherine. I heard the Skatin Team did a great reflection of their time too.
I was away with Pacific Life Bible College at their annual Fall Retreat weekend. Dave P., Isaac D., and Chris K. from our Church were there as well. It was a good weekend filled with rest, worship through music, and encouragement through the Word. Russell Schlecht (Pastor of Living Word [a Foursquare Church in Oak Harbor, WA]) shared some great thoughts for young leaders.
One thing that Russell said this weekend is that a leader's approach to training and equipping leaders needs to done with an attitude of diving down under others and holding/pushing them up rather than reaching down and pulling others up to "our level". The latter is done with arrogance, the former is done with humility. I like this illustration... it serves Church leadership well in that it is consistent with the heart of God.
I got home last night around 5:00pm and was exhausted... I fell asleep on the couch at 6:30pm and then stumbled into bed at 8:00pm. I got to see my family for a bit, but was too tired to be "present"... I'll have to make up for that tonight. The first year of pastoring I was quite diligent in my scheduling and did a good job of loving and serving my family. That slipped a bit in the second year, so as I begin my third year, I'll have to fight for that time. I've been amazed at Angela's strength and grace... when most people would lose both, she has increased in these areas. This renders me humbled and grateful.
I trust you had a good weekend and that you are looking forward to this week. When you follow God, the best is always yet to come!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
You Just Need To Have More Faith!
"You just need to have more faith!" has been a common expression in many Churches in recent decades. The was often said in response to self-perceived unanswered prayers usually related to ones comfort (i.e. our health or finances).... [heaven forbid we pray for someone other than ourselves].
There is a segment in the Christian community and in most Christian minds that feel as though if we live following God's ways that everything will be comfortable. And if things aren't, it's because of our level of faith. And yet when we read Acts, the early Church was filled with great faith (perhaps the greatest faith the Church has ever seen) and it resulted in greater discomfort. This leads me to believe, that in this season of life (before Christ's return), those with the greatest faith will be hurled into incredibly uncomfortable situations and those with little faith will be lulled to sleep by the comfort of our world and the appetite of our flesh.
God isn't cruel however. He has a purpose in mind when we journey through trials and temptations... he is working in and through us, preparing us and others, for what's in store... Heaven! Hebrews 11 captures this well...
Excerpts from Hebrews 11 (NIV) - Read all of Hebrews 11 for even greater context.
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. ... 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. ... 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
As Christians we shouldn't seek pain and discomfort... we should seek to share, by faith, Christ's death and resurrection by following Him, guided by His Word, and empowered and gifted by His Spirit. Following Him, however, will result in uncomfortable situations (like having less things, going to foreign lands, using our time for things that aren't our flesh-preference).
So who do you think has more faith, the person who worships God in the midst of comfort or the person who worships God in the midst of difficulties? This isn't a rhetorical question either... there is actually a good argument for both... in comfort faith fights pride and in sacrifice faith fights pride. I guess this all could be simply summarized by saying follow God and worship Him in the good and bad... God's grace can be revealed in both.
There is a segment in the Christian community and in most Christian minds that feel as though if we live following God's ways that everything will be comfortable. And if things aren't, it's because of our level of faith. And yet when we read Acts, the early Church was filled with great faith (perhaps the greatest faith the Church has ever seen) and it resulted in greater discomfort. This leads me to believe, that in this season of life (before Christ's return), those with the greatest faith will be hurled into incredibly uncomfortable situations and those with little faith will be lulled to sleep by the comfort of our world and the appetite of our flesh.
God isn't cruel however. He has a purpose in mind when we journey through trials and temptations... he is working in and through us, preparing us and others, for what's in store... Heaven! Hebrews 11 captures this well...
Excerpts from Hebrews 11 (NIV) - Read all of Hebrews 11 for even greater context.
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. ... 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. ... 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
As Christians we shouldn't seek pain and discomfort... we should seek to share, by faith, Christ's death and resurrection by following Him, guided by His Word, and empowered and gifted by His Spirit. Following Him, however, will result in uncomfortable situations (like having less things, going to foreign lands, using our time for things that aren't our flesh-preference).
So who do you think has more faith, the person who worships God in the midst of comfort or the person who worships God in the midst of difficulties? This isn't a rhetorical question either... there is actually a good argument for both... in comfort faith fights pride and in sacrifice faith fights pride. I guess this all could be simply summarized by saying follow God and worship Him in the good and bad... God's grace can be revealed in both.
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