Gap-standing: The New Extreme Sport

Are you a gap-stander or merely a spectator?  This past weekend, Pastor Steve challenged us all to become like Elijah and to be willing to stand in the gap for God in this world.  It’s easy to be a Christian when you are surrounded by other believers on Sunday, but it’s a whole other story on Monday morning.  What happens to us that we become paralyzed and unable to stand up for what we believe in once we leave the church building? 

John Ortberg, in his book If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat, talks about how most of us stay in our “spiritual comfort zone” and never venture past that point.  Perhaps we all need to be more like Peter and step out of the comfort of OUR boats and get our feet wet in the water.  We may be fine talking about God and our faith at church, but for many of us, we get super nervous about sharing our faith or standing up for our values and beliefs at work or school.  I would bet for some of you right now you can feel your blood pressure rising! 

Yet, God calls us ALL to be water-walkers, not boat potatoes!  God invites all of us to walk on water, to stand in the gap, to make a difference in this world, to stand up for the values and beliefs we hold, and to expand His Kingdom one person at a time.  As Pastor Steve said on Sunday, God needs people who are willing to stand and say with a clear voice, “There is a God and it does matter what you do.” 

Standing in the gap isn’t easy.  In fact, gap-standing means that we may be mocked, rejected and even persecuted for our values and beliefs.  Gap-standing is probably one of the most extreme sports you could ever take part in.  Yet, it is in those moments when we are standing in the gap that our faith leads us to a significance that will last for all eternity.  It doesn’t get much better than that!

Try the move this week from spectator to gap-stander!  Share your “gap-standing” stories on the blog.  Remember every one of us can be a gap-stander. 

On this Memorial Day weekend, let us also remember and honor those who are serving and have served in our military – surround them and their families with our prayers.  Here is a wonderful song by Allen Asbury about standing in the gap through prayer. 

Pax,

Pastor Carol

I Want It NOW!

We were blessed this week to have Dr. Gemechis Buba preaching at the Thursday service and all Sunday services.  Dr. Buba’s message focused on the 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection.  His sermon title was:  “Go, but stay!”  I don’t know about you, but I’m a “go” person, not a “stay” person.  I like to go-go-go.  The faster I go, the more I think I accomplish.  As I reflected on this past week’s sermon, I realized that, for many of us and especially in our fast-paced culture, the idea of waiting is not only a foreign concept to many of us, but also something we find very, very uncomfortable. 

Dr. Buba challenged us to wait on the Lord and to be ready to go, but to wait, just like the disciples.  He encouraged us to spend time in deep prayer and to live in God’s Word.  Dr. Buba also shared a prophecy he received from God as he prayed and fasted before coming to Calvary.  That prophecy was that Calvary’s best days are ahead. 

Over the past few days, I’ve been reflecting on that and what that might mean for us as a congregation, but also as individuals.  As I turned to Scripture, I was drawn to many stories of people who faced uncertainty, just like we all do in our lives, and how God worked in unbelievable ways through them.  Look at Joseph.  After he was sold into slavery, I would bet that he didn’t think that his best days were ahead of him, nor did he know how God was going to use him. 

Today, I’m going to challenge all of us to look at our own lives and ask God for His direction.  Go, but wait!  What is God calling you to “go, but wait” for during Summer 2011?  For each of us, it will be different.  Share those on the blog.

When I was little, I remember one Christmas that I refused to wait to open my presents.  I decided to open them a few days before Christmas.  The gifts that I opened were not what I expected – a swimming suit, goggles, a snorkel and other beach toys.  I was so disappointed.  After all I wanted the Easy-bake Oven and the Barbie Beauty Center.  Where were they?  I was pretty mad at my mom and dad for not getting me the toys I had requested.  What I didn’t know was that on Christmas Eve, my parents were going to let me know that we were going on a trip to Florida in January. 

By opening those gifts early and not waiting, they appeared to be inappropriate gifts and gifts that were not wanted or asked for.  After I found out that we were going to Florida, my little mind quickly saw these as wonderful gifts!  If only I would have waited until Christmas Eve to open those gifts, then I would have realized what perfect gifts they really were.

When we go ahead of God, rather than waiting on Him for direction, we experience the same thing.  We wonder why things didn’t work out the way we had hoped.  Often times it is because we “do it alone” without discerning God’s will and we go-go-go.  However, we worship a God who has “just-in- time” delivery.  He’s never late, nor is He early.  He is always just in time.  So we need to be prepared, but we need to wait!  Go, but wait!

Here’s wonderful song from the movie "Fireproof" called “While I’m Waiting.” 

Pax,

Pastor Carol

Legos, Children & Mothers

Last Sunday at Calvary was an amazing place to be!  The children’s musical was performed by our kids at two services, and we had Legos being handed out at the other services that Pastor Matt preached at.  And, to top it all off, it was Mother’s Day.  So, we had the opportunity to celebrate our mothers, grandmothers and the women who are like mothers to us in our lives.  It was a good day! 

The children’s musical touched all of our hearts.  They gave every one of us a “piece of Heaven!”  They provided the entire Gospel message to us in less than an hour.  That’s better than most of us pastors can do!!  Thank you to all the kids, choirs and staff who were involved in planning, rehearsing and performing the musical.  It was a real GIFT to us all.  

If you attended the traditional worship services, you received a Lego piece as you walked into church.  It was fun to see everyone’s reaction to the comments that the ushers made:  “We are going to be building something this Sunday!”  I know that many of you were a bit perplexed by it, while others wondered if we were going to start another building campaign, and still others wondered how to stick the Lego piece on the Lego table up in front of the church.  Pastor Matt’s sermon helped us to see how we are all part of building the Church.  The Legos helped each of us to see in a tangible way how the Church is built and how we need each other -- a community --  to BE the Church.  

Where’s YOUR Lego in the Church?  Share your Lego moment on the blog.  

Check out this Lego church video.  

Pax.

Pastor Carol

Thank You, Lord, for Dandelions

Today marks the 60^th anniversary of the National Day of Prayer.  This year, the national theme is “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” and is based on the Psalm 91:2, which says, “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Today, millions of people around the country will participate in organized prayer events held in thousands of public venues, churches and convention centers. 

Early this morning, at 6 a.m., I participated in the West Metro National Day of Prayer Breakfast and was honored to offer the prayer for our military men and women.  There were close to 400 people present, including police officers, military, church leaders, Calvary members, and many brothers and sisters in Christ.  What a powerful event!  To witness 400 people praying full-heartedly for the government, the military, the media, businesses, our schools, our churches and our families, I began to think how this event should not be an annual event held each May, but an “everyday” event.  What would happen if God’s people prayed EVERY day? 

When I was little, I remember how every night when my mom would tuck me in bed, we would say prayers.  They were simple prayers, but they were prayed from my little heart.  I would thank God for everything, even the dandelions!  From my perspective, I saw them as pretty yellow flowers, not weeds.  Once I finished thanking Him for everything but the kitchen sink, I would then pray for all my friends, family, my fish, my dolls, my stuffed dog named Rufus and anyone I thought God could help.  There was never a doubt in my mind that God heard my prayers, and I knew God would answer them.  After all, I was connecting with God in a personal, heart-to-heart way as only a child can. 

I think we can learn a lot about prayer when we look at children pray.  They don’t use a bunch of BIG words or meaningless phrases.  Prayer isn’t about reciting endless laundry lists of what we want God to do for us, nor is it about using a magic formula.  Children just talk to God from their hearts.  They just pray!  They pray with simplicity and enthusiasm.  So, what would happen if we prayed with the same simplicity, enthusiasm and heart-felt trust as children do?  Could we change our world?  Our nation?  Our community?  Our church?  Our schools?  Our families? 

On this National Day of Prayer, let’s share our prayer stories on the blog.  How has prayer changed your life or deepened your faith journey? 

Here’s a wonderful song about what happens when God’s people pray. 

 

Remember, when life gives you more than you can handle... kneel.

Pax,

Pastor Carol