Romans 15:17 (New International Version, ©2010)
17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.
Last week I literally got a 'call' to lead the Sunday service at church. I would was asked to do all the announcements and the basic 'elements' of the service.
As I was asked... I suddenly was overwhelmed with a peace that I haven't had for a long time... I have been in the 'waiting room'... wondering when God would call me for a specific purpose to serve Him.
And so,last Sunday I was able to serve...interestingly enough, we were talking about Spiritual Gifts... and I felt so, so, blessed to be able to use the Spiritual Gift I have been given in order to serve Him.
After the service, many people came up and thanked me for sharing the gift with them this morning... and I am praying that I will receive another 'call' to serve Him in the near future.
And it is interesting to note... this was in a traditional church setting... not an alternative church that I thought I was being led to... maybe God has something else in store for me...
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Call to Start a Church
Awhile back, I meet with a church planting representative (person in charge of starting new churches) from the denomination that I have been involved with. He asked me a question that I have been mulling around for months... it was more of a statement actually than a question and it went something like this...
Pastors who are successful with starting a new church feel that God has called them to this ministry and there is no other ministry that they could be involved in... they feel that if they did not start a church that they would be disobeying God.
Ever since that meeting I have been thinking about the call that God has put in my heart. I feel that I am called to be a pastor of a different model of church... I have often mentioned a coffeehouse that would function as a church. The church would be a place where people who were Christian as well as those who were seeking could meet and talk about God with mutual respect for others opinions. We would be a church who cared about the community around us that took care of our neighbors both physically and spiritually.
That is my call.
Pastors who are successful with starting a new church feel that God has called them to this ministry and there is no other ministry that they could be involved in... they feel that if they did not start a church that they would be disobeying God.
Ever since that meeting I have been thinking about the call that God has put in my heart. I feel that I am called to be a pastor of a different model of church... I have often mentioned a coffeehouse that would function as a church. The church would be a place where people who were Christian as well as those who were seeking could meet and talk about God with mutual respect for others opinions. We would be a church who cared about the community around us that took care of our neighbors both physically and spiritually.
That is my call.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
What is the Fruit of Your Spirit?
Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version, ©2010)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Lately, I have noticed an increase in 'hot button' issues in my life... you know, the pet peeves... the items that raise your blood pressure with a simple syllable. After a day of fighting back these annoyances, I went to a membership orientation meeting at church this afternoon... and in the midst of it as we were talking about the church and it's beliefs, I felt a peace that I haven't had in awhile. The Spirit was present in that room today.
Later, we were discussing an issue that is dear to my heart (the same issue that was taunting me before the meeting) and we talked about the two opposite viewpoints. The woman sitting next to me (who also holds the opposite view as me) put her arm around me and I leaned into her with love as I said we were on the opposite side of this topic.
This is what church should be about... where you can still LOVE each other even if you don't agree. This is the Spirit bringing unity to the Church.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Lately, I have noticed an increase in 'hot button' issues in my life... you know, the pet peeves... the items that raise your blood pressure with a simple syllable. After a day of fighting back these annoyances, I went to a membership orientation meeting at church this afternoon... and in the midst of it as we were talking about the church and it's beliefs, I felt a peace that I haven't had in awhile. The Spirit was present in that room today.
Later, we were discussing an issue that is dear to my heart (the same issue that was taunting me before the meeting) and we talked about the two opposite viewpoints. The woman sitting next to me (who also holds the opposite view as me) put her arm around me and I leaned into her with love as I said we were on the opposite side of this topic.
This is what church should be about... where you can still LOVE each other even if you don't agree. This is the Spirit bringing unity to the Church.
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Greatest of These Is Love
1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
When I was a child, I was extremely compassionate to those who were hurting. My heart went out to any cause and social justice issue... and in college I took on the nickname of Peaceful (as in Give Peace a Chance... John Lennon was my favorite Beatle).
And suddenly I changed
I no longer felt my heart ache for those who were mourning... I became more pessimistic with life in general... and more specifically with religion. You see, I had become a Christian. Yes, this was the way to peace... deep meaningful inner peace and all I continue to experience the pessimism.
But I know better, as a Christian we are supposed to be known for our love... our compassion. I believe that since I once was able to love deeply the world around me and now I am struggling with it there must be some sort of spiritual stronghold preventing the deeper love to manifest itself in my life.
There is a song by Brandon Heath entitled "Give Me Your Eyes" that talks about having the compassion that Jesus has for the rest of humanity.
Brandon Heath - Give Me Your Eyes lyrics | LyricsMode.com
I am praying that the compassion that once flowed so freely would return to me anew and that the pessimism would leave.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
When I was a child, I was extremely compassionate to those who were hurting. My heart went out to any cause and social justice issue... and in college I took on the nickname of Peaceful (as in Give Peace a Chance... John Lennon was my favorite Beatle).
And suddenly I changed
I no longer felt my heart ache for those who were mourning... I became more pessimistic with life in general... and more specifically with religion. You see, I had become a Christian. Yes, this was the way to peace... deep meaningful inner peace and all I continue to experience the pessimism.
But I know better, as a Christian we are supposed to be known for our love... our compassion. I believe that since I once was able to love deeply the world around me and now I am struggling with it there must be some sort of spiritual stronghold preventing the deeper love to manifest itself in my life.
There is a song by Brandon Heath entitled "Give Me Your Eyes" that talks about having the compassion that Jesus has for the rest of humanity.
Brandon Heath - Give Me Your Eyes lyrics | LyricsMode.com
I am praying that the compassion that once flowed so freely would return to me anew and that the pessimism would leave.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Is God Calling You?
Recently both my husband, Eric and I have had a pull toward ministry. We are looking at going to school again... or applying for positions... or....
We are wanting to serve God, but life is getting in the way. I am pretty sure that other pastors have the same issues... would love to pursue full-time ministry, but we need to pay the mortgage, get the kids through school... just live.
So... we wait... for the call to let us know the direction that God will have us going into ministry.
We are wanting to serve God, but life is getting in the way. I am pretty sure that other pastors have the same issues... would love to pursue full-time ministry, but we need to pay the mortgage, get the kids through school... just live.
So... we wait... for the call to let us know the direction that God will have us going into ministry.
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