When Did I Become Middle Aged?

A couple of months ago, I finally came to the realization that I was now becoming middle-aged.  I’ve tried my best to deny it, but the truth has finally started to set in!  One day, I found I couldn’t thread a needle any longer without the help of reading glasses!  Yikes!  When did this happen?  That same week, my hairstylist told me that my hair was thinning out, which she assured me was part of the normal aging process!  Double yikes!  Nothing like having these “middle-aged” issues surface in the same week.  I even got my first pair of bifocal glasses with graduated bifocal lenses a few weeks ago.  That’s an interesting experience!  The floor and the walls move now when I try to walk. 

So, this week, when Pastor Steve talked about Abraham and the fact that his call to ministry happened when he was 75 years old, I felt a sense of hope come upon me!  Gosh, if God can use Abraham at 75, he can sure use me even at my advanced age!

How often have we all found ourselves saying things like, “I’m too old to________.”  You fill in the blank.  We find excuses or we just don’t believe that God can really use us. And if He did ask us to do something, we may not be too open to saying, “Here I am Lord, send me!”  Right?  So what does Abraham do – he listens to God and he GOES.  He trusts God.  He believes God.  He really, truly believes the promises that God told him.  Talk about radical faith! 

Has God ever asked you to GO?  What was your response?  Did you jump up and down and right away and say, “Alright, just what I want to do, God!”  I would suspect, if you are as human as I am, your first response was probably a little more hesitant.  Maybe your response was more like, “You want me to do what, God?  Are You kidding me?”

This week I would challenge all of us to be more like Abraham and have radical faith in the God we serve, to really believe God’s Word and to trust Him with our lives and our families' lives like never before.  Let’s step out in faith knowing that whether we are five years old or 75 years old, God does and will use all of us for His glory.  We just need to say, “Yes, Lord, I will go!”

Here’s one of my favorite songs that was sung at my ordination this past July.  It’s by Steve Green and it’s called “I Will Go.”  

Soli Deo Gloria!

Pastor Carol

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

I’ve never visited Italy and have never seen firsthand the Sistine Chapel that Michelangelo painted.  I know that many of you have been there and have seen this masterpiece and I must confess I am little jealous!  Even though I’ve never been there and have not seen it “live and in-person,” I do feel like I’m familiar with it – I’ve seen countless videos, TV specials and photos of it in books and online.  And even without seeing it, I am left in awe and wonderment.  First of all, to have the vision to paint this seamless work of art that transcends history and shows the story of God intrigues me.  Then to have the artistic ability to make this work of art come to life makes me realize that Michelangelo did far more than merely paint a masterpiece – he used his gifts and talents that were God-given to glorify God and to share God’s story to a world.  Wow! 

When I think about the story of creation, I’m also left with a sense of “shock and awe,” along with wonderment.  It’s hard for me to look at the universe and realize that just as God created the heavens and earth, He also created us and He cares about us.  The story of Genesis is the story of God’s love for us.  He created you and me so He could be with us.  Have you ever thought about that?  God looked at the sunrise, the sunset, the mountains and all of the beauty of nature and He said it was good, but when God created us, He said it was "very good."  God looks at you and me and sees a masterpiece of His own design! 

I know some days I sure do not feel like a masterpiece!  I think we have all asked God at one time in our lives, “Why did You create me?  What is my purpose?”  Despite our many failings and shortcomings, God loves us and sees us as His masterpieces and we are part of God’s story – His never-ending story of redemption, grace and love.  That makes my heart leap with joy! 

So, today, if you are not feeling that you are a “masterpiece” designed by God, just look out your window at God’s creation in nature and remember that God said in Genesis that “it was good.” Then look in the mirror and realize that God created YOU and God said it was “very good!”  God created you and God loves you! 

Here’s a great video and song that reminds us of God our Creator and His love for us.  

Pax,

Pastor Carol

Pivot Points

Just as God’s story is full of defining moments as God’s interaction with His people unfolds, our lives – our stories -- are full of defining moments as well.  Those moments can be negative or positive; big or small; life-altering or no big deal; difficult or easy.  When I think of those various defining moments in my life, I like to think of them more as “pivot points” in my journey.  Those pivot points led me to the place that I am today and they are reflected in the person that I have become. 

In any story we read or movie we see, the plot usually has three stages.  There is the beginning or opening of the narrative; then there is a climax, a crisis that leads to action or a decision on the part of the character(s); and then there is the ending, where we learn how their choice(s) affected the outcome.  I guess, in many ways, that’s the story of our lives as well.

What are some “defining moments” in your life that changed the course of your story or your family’s story?  Share your insights and stories on the blog. 

As we begin The Story this week and read chapter 1, I would encourage you to look for the defining moments for Adam and Eve, Cain, Abel, and Noah; then look at yourself and your family.  I’m reminded today of Psalm 133:

It is truly wonderful when relatives live together in peace. It is as beautiful as olive oil poured on Aaron's head and running down his beard and the collar of his robe.  It is like the dew from Mount Hermon, falling on Zion's mountains, where the LORD has promised to bless his people with life forevermore. 

(Contemporary English Version)

Here’s a song by Hillsong called “Everyday” that reminds us that God guides every step we take and God gets us through those defining moments in our lives.

Pax,

Pastor Carol

Sleeping With Lights On!

Do you remember the show Dark Shadows?  It was a show from the late 1960s that was on in the afternoons as re-runs when I was growing up.  My mother never let me watch that show because it dealt with vampires, coffins and other “scary” and weird things that a seven-year-old child should not watch. 

One summer afternoon I was playing with the neighbor girl and we snuck into her house and watched Dark Shadows.  I remember the thrill of being able to watch a “forbidden” show.  It was exhilarating at first!  Then, that night, I found myself afraid of the dark and I had to sleep with the lights on.  I was convinced that Barnabas Collins, the vampire, was going to come in through the window and bite me on the neck that night. 

The realization that my mother was indeed right, that I should not have watched that show, became evident to me that night as I huddled underneath the covers clinging to my stuffed dog Rufus for protection that night.  I never watched that show again until many years later.  There was a reason that my mom didn’t want me to watch that television show, but I watched it anyway.  My mind could not remove the impact that my eyes experienced while watching Dark Shadows.

This past weekend, Pastor John talked about training our eyes to see what is good and the dangers when we stray from that.  What we look at does affect us.  God wants us to look at things that bring “light” into our lives, not things that lead your heart to darkness, despair and fear.  In this media-saturated culture that we live in, how can we guard what we see?  How can we focus our eyes in directions that bring light to ourselves, our families and to the world? 

Over the next week, especially as we remember 9-11 this week, I would challenge each of us to take notice of all the negative and dark images we face each day in our world and find ways to replace and refocus our thoughts and our eyes on things that bring “light” to us and the world. 

Here’s a great song by Selah called “One Thing I Know.”   Jesus changes lives and he opens eyes to see.  May our eyes be opened to things that bring light to our souls this week!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Pastor Carol

The Great Bubble Bath

Sin, sin sin!  I was starting to have “flashbacks” to Saturday Night Live and Dana Carvey’s “Church Lady” character after this weekend’s sermon.  Pastor Steve focused on a subject that we do not like to talk about much – our sinful nature.  So often we see our sin as a mistake rather than as sin.  Sometimes we think that our sin is not nearly as bad as other people’s sins!  Reality is, my sin and your sin both smell.  We stink!  God doesn’t like sin, period.  To God, sin is sin.  There is no ranking of sin or distinction in God’s eyes.  We are all helpless sinners!

Something that I’ve found helpful over the years to help explain sin is what I call the “sin continuum.”  Who would you say is a person who is almost “next” to God, someone who you think doesn’t sin much?  I know I think of Mother Teresa or Billy Graham.  Who would you say is a person or kind of person that sins a lot?  Most would say something like mass murderers, thieves, child molesters and abusers.  I’m sure some specific names might come to your mind.  Now, where would you put yourself?  If Mother Teresa is a “10” on the sin continuum and mass murderers are “ones,” where do you fall?  I think most of us would put ourselves as a five or six – right?  I didn’t kill anyone, but I'm not a saint like Mother Teresa either.  I’m not really a bad person, I just make some mistakes from time to time.  I’m not a really big sinner like my neighbor down the street is. 

The truth is we are all ONES on the great sin continuum!  Sin is sin – there is no way around it!  While we can’t ever stop sinning, since it’s part of our fallen human nature, we can come to a realization that only through Jesus can we find forgiveness and be washed clean.  And, I know I need to be continually “cleaned up” every moment of every day. 

When I was little, I loved bubble baths.  I would play in the tub for an hour or more!  My mom would finally have to tell me that I was clean enough and it was time for bed.  I loved those bubble bath nights!  And, when I think about my prayer life with God, I think about those bubble baths I use to take as a small child.  In all honesty I need to be in a perpetual “bubble bath” with God.  My bubble bath is now called confession and prayer.  I have found that continual prayer is the best bubble bath around!  It does a lot more than merely making my body clean – it cleans me from the inside out. 

Why not take a bubble bath today?  Try to pray without ceasing today and ask God for His forgiveness and see how He will transform you from the inside out and free you from your sins.  Get washed clean through the blood of the Lamb. 

Here’s an old hymn called “Are You Washed in the Blood,” sung by Alan Jackson live on the Grand Old Opry.  

Pax,

Pastor Carol