He Made a Way in a Manger

We lit the third candle of Advent this past weekend:  the candle of Joy.  The Joy candle centers on the joy that Christ’s birth brings to ALL people.  As the coming of Jesus, our Savior, draws nearer, our joy builds with our anticipation of His birth.

At worship this past weekend, all of the Calvary children in Grace Place, from the two-year-olds through elementary age, performed their annual Christmas pageant during several of the services.  If you wanted to experience joy and feel the presence of God’s joy, it was on the faces and in the hearts of our children.  They sang from their hearts!  The hope, love, peace and joy of Christmas just came pouring out of them and touched each one of us in a profound way!

Certainly, our joy was muted this week by the tragedy in Newtown, Conn.  Still, it is at just such times that only the healing and peace of Christ can give us a glimpse of the joy He brings to the hearts and lives burdened with grief and loss.  I also know that many of you are also going through some tough situations in your own lives and are perhaps finding it hard to celebrate Christmas this year as well.  Yet, Christmas still comes.  No matter our circumstances or the struggles we face, Jesus still comes.  And, perhaps, it is in the valleys of life, that we need to remember that the baby in the manager, Jesus the Christ Child, came into this world for us.  His light still shines in the darkness of our valleys and in our world.   His light will always surround us no matter our circumstances and no matter how deep those valleys may be.  God’s love is deeper than all the valleys in our lives.

Last night, I was thinking about all that Christ’s coming has done for us and here are a few from my rather lengthy list. 

Christ’s coming is stronger than tragedy.

Christ’s coming overcomes even the deepest valleys in our lives.

Christ’s coming brings us strength in our weakness.

Christ’s coming heals our wounded hearts.

Christ’s coming brings hope to the hopeless.

Christ’s coming brings peace and contentment.

Christ’s coming mends the brokenhearted.

Christ’s coming heals the pain of grief, sorrow and illness.

Christ’s coming means there is victory over death.

Christ’s coming means I have a relationship with God.

Christ’s coming changed the world forever.

Christ’s coming changed my life forever.

There’s wonderful song "He Made a Way in a Manager."   In the chorus, the lyrics say, “He found a way in a manager, to find a way to the cross.”  May we always remember that the greatest gift ever given to the world was Jesus the Christ.  Because of Jesus, we are forgiven and forever connected to God.  What a gift that is to embrace!  It is a divine gift that lasts for all eternity.  

May the blessings of Christmas fill your heart with love, hope, joy and peace!  Merry Christmas!

Soli Deo Gloria! 

Pastor Carol

Love Came Down at Christmas

We lit the second candle of Advent this past weekend: the candle of Love. The Love candle centers on the love of God and how that love transforms us to love others.

We light this second candle as a symbol of God’s light shining in the darkness.  The Light has come into the world.  As we are told in the first chapter of John, the darkness has not understood it.  But the darkness will never overcome it.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being  in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.      John 1:1-5

I'm sure there are many things I could quote about love (love is a many splendored thing, love lifts us up where we belong, all you need is love...), but instead I keep returning to this thought of light shining in the darkness.   Jesus came as a light in the darkness full of grace and truth.  God in the flesh, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born without sin.  Emmanuel—God with us.  Born, as the angel of the Lord told Joseph, to “save His people from their sins.”  

Jesus was born to live a sinless life and born to die a cruel death.  A death He willingly went to in order to give us a relationship with God that we could never earn.  Jesus came with love.  He cared for the hurting; he cared for the oppressed and the outcast.  He encouraged his followers to love as well and to show others love. 

Over the next week, think about ways that you can shine the Light of Jesus’ love to someone.  You know, Mother Teresa was asked once how she was able to feed so many thousands of children over the years.  Her response was, I did it one by one by one.  She did it one child at a time.  Think of a person who needs God’s love showered on them this week.  Reach out to the person that God places on your heart this week.  Be Christ to that person.  Bring His Light and His love in your words and deeds.  Sometimes the smallest gift of love can change a life!  Love is a powerful gift.

Here is a wonderful song sung by Ali Mathews "Love Came Down at Christmas."   May the love of Christmas touch your heart anew this week.

Christmas Love,

Pastor Carol

Just Say "Yes!"

Welcome to Advent, the season of preparation and waiting. The word “advent” means “coming” or “arrival.” Advent is a celebration of two things: the celebration of the birth of Jesus and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King. The season of Advent started in the 6th Century AD as a four-week journey before December 25. Christians were to dedicate themselves to both remembering and anticipating Jesus during those four weeks. Advent is a time for us to slow down a bit and to look at both the past and the future. In the present, we find ourselves looking back and also looking forward at the same time.

At this weekend’s worship services, we lit the first candle of the Advent wreath: the Hope candle.  The Hope candle represents the hope that comes from the announcement of Christ’s birth and the expectation of His certain return.  We lit the candle as a symbol of God’s light shining in the darkness.  The Light has come into the world and it shines as brightly now as it did on the first Christmas.  The darkness didn’t overcome it then and it never will!

I can’t help but think of Mary this week.  I remember the many Sunday School Christmas pageants I was in at Calvary when I was growing up here.  All of us girls wanted to be Mary.  Sadly, I was only an angel most years--an angel with a rather crooked little wire halo, I might add! I remember my mom telling me that it was an angel who gave Mary the news that she was going to have a baby and that the angels were the ones who visited the shepherds.  She convinced me that being an angel was a really ‘big” deal and an important part of the Christmas story.  Still, deep down inside, I really, really wanted to be Mary. 

Think about Mary for a minute.  Here she is a 13-15 year old girl who has been told that she is favored by God and will bring into the world God’s Son.  Can you imagine!  Mary’s story is one of risk, sacrifice, deep faith and love.  Mary’s “yes” to God changed the world forever!

All week I’ve been thinking about Mary’s “yes.”  How often are we called on by God to do something and we either ignore His request, fail to hear His request or say no to His request?  So over the next three weeks of Advent, when God nudges your heart, why not try saying ‘yes” like Mary did and see what happens.  Open yourself up!  Open your heart wide and be a servant of the King in a way you’ve never done before.  Take a risk and say, "Yes!"  Do it boldly and without hesitation. 

Here is a wonderful song by Randy Albright called Mary Said Yes.   May the hope of Christmas lift your spirit and may you say “yes” to God with a servant’s heart this week.

Christmas Hope,

Pastor Carol

Let the Frenzy Begin!

Last Thursday we were all busy feeding our faces with turkey and dressing; watching the football games; reminiscing about holidays past; playing board games with the kids and deciding if we should have yet a third piece of Grammy’s homemade pumpkin pie.

How much can change in just a week?!  We moved from the calmness of thankfulness to the frenzy of making it through Christmas, to surviving yet another crazy four weeks.  Some of us were glad we got the Christmas lights up before the cold weather hit; others of us are climbing ladders in the cold this week trying to get those all-important lights up on the roof, reminiscent of Chevy Chase in the Christmas movie, Christmas Vacation, which is a classic to watch each year.  Then there are the Christmas cards to get ordered online.  We can no longer send plain cards.  No, we need to send photo cards with 3-4 photos on them.  It’s hard enough finding one picture that’s good of everyone, now we need to find 2-3 more! 

Then come all the activities and parties!  There are a myriad of church activities and wonderful concerts, plus the children’s Christmas services and the Advent Workshop.  Couple that with all the family get-togethers and all the holiday traditions, like going to the Guthrie to see A Christmas Carol, or going to the Nutcracker or going to the sing-along Messiah concert, and it’s easy to see why we are all stressed out.  Whew!  Just thinking about everything makes me exhausted! 

The question that kept popping into my mind this week, as I made my way to Target amid the sea of crazy shoppers, was this thought:  What about Jesus?  Now, I know we need to get all the right toys and things our kids want for Christmas, but have we become so driven by cultural and societal pressure that we need to top each Christmas past?  Do we go to more and more parties, more open houses, sing-a-longs, plays, concerts, and business/corporate events for our jobs, that we kind of push Jesus to the side more and more? 

On Sunday, we begin the first week of the Advent season, which is a season of preparation, the preparation for the birth of the King of Kings, our Emmanuel – God with us.  While all the Christmas activities are wonderful, there is nothing as wonderful as the gift that God gave to us on that first Christmas more than 2,000 years ago.  And, that gift, the gift of Jesus the Christ, is a gift that will never need to be returned, it always fits and it lasts longer than Aunt Martha’s fruit cake!  As we all enjoy the parties and fun Christmas activities in our lives over the next few weeks, may we never forget the real reason to celebrate! 

"Where are you, Christmas?"  That’s the theme of this year’s Calvary Christmas Concert, which is this Sunday at 3 and 6 p.m.  What a great question to ask ourselves every day during Advent!  Let’s keep our eye on the best present under the tree this Christmas – Jesus the Christ.  And, the best thing is – we don’t have to fight the crowds to find it and it is totally FREE to those who wish to receive it.  Wow!  Now that’s the REAL gift of Christmas!

May Christmas fill your heart with His love in a new way as we journey to the manger. 

Advent blessings,

Pastor Carol

I'm Putting My Ego in the Trunk

So, are you in the trunk or the driver’s seat?  That was the question Pastor Skip raised at this weekend’s services.  He said that when the ego is in the driver’s seat, the heart is in the trunk.  Yikes!  How often have we all left our hearts in the trunk, and how often have we tried to tell God what we want Him to do for us? 

In Acts 8 this past week, it’s easy to see that Stephen’s faith and heart was in Jesus.  Jesus was in the driver’s seat and Stephen’s heart was filled with faith.  No matter his fate, he knew that Jesus was driving the car and because of that he would be okay, even if that meant bodily death.

When we read about Stephen’s stoning, we often times marvel at his faith.  Deep inside, we ask ourselves, if we were called upon to stand our ground and proclaim the Gospel even onto death, could we or would we be willing to do it? 

In our world of consumerism, it’s easy for us to relate to Simon in Acts 8, when he offers to buy the power of the Holy Spirit.  Simon is a reflection of his society, just as we are.  In our world, if you have money and resources, you can most likely buy just about anything you want.  But the one thing you and I can’t buy is a relationship with God.  That must be sought after; and then it’s given freely to those who ask for it with a contrite heart.  The Gospel is not for sale, as Pastor Skip reminded us, but God’s love, mercy and grace are given freely as gifts to those who truly seek Him.  

Next week is Thanksgiving.  For many of us we will gather with family or friends for a feast.  We will stuff our faces and watch football; eat some more and watch still more football; then hit the stores on Friday morning stampeding like a group of wild buffalo to a watering hole, to grab the latest toy or flat screen TV sometimes taking someone down to grab it.  Of course, none of you good Christians would ever think of doing that?!?

Amid all the consumerism and feasting next week, let’s remember that the best gift can’t be purchased at any store.  It is not for sale!   It’s a relationship with God!  And His free gifts can’t be bought or sold, but only graciously received.  So, in between the turkey and the football games next week, take time to remember the One who has provided all the blessings in our lives. 

I’ve waited to find a time to use this song by Bobby Bare called Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goalposts of Life.  While it’s a funny song, there are some simple truths in it.  Enjoy!

May we always park our egos in the trunk and put our faith in Jesus Christ in the driver's seat!  Can I have an AMEN?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Carol

We Win Either Way!

Last weekend, Pastor Steve challenged us to have a “but, if not” faith no matter the circumstances we face.  Whether we look at the story of Stephen in Acts chapter 7 or if we read about Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego from the book of Daniel, they all had a faith that realized that, even if they die, they win because God’s promises are forever.  They knew that they had a God who would never fail them.  They may be persecuted, stoned or thrown into a fiery furnace, but God’s promises to them would never fail them. 

When my dad was dying from prostrate and bone cancer a number of years ago, I asked him if he was praying for healing; after all, I had scores of people at Calvary and around the world praying for him to be healed.  My dad turned to me, with his deep brown eyes and with a smile on his face, and said, “Carol Ann, yes, I pray for healing, but you see I win either way!  If God chooses to heal me in this world, then I have more time with all of you, but if God calls me home, I will spend more time with Him.  I win either way, whether I live or whether I die.”  Wow!  In those 30 seconds, I realized the depth of my dad’s faith.  It was simple and direct; yet it was profound and full of depth. I win either way!  My dad had that “but if not” kind of faith that Pastor Steve was talking to us about this weekend. 

We, as Christians, win either way!  That thought empowers me.  So, if that’s the case, why do so many of us hold back from sharing our faith with friends and neighbors?  Why do we shy away from standing firm in our faith when we know that we win either way?  Why do we not speak up?  What do we fear?  Death?  In a world that tells us that faith doesn’t matter and what we believe is a fairy tale, we need to stand firm in the Word of God knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us.  His promises are as true today as they were for Stephen. 

Shane and Shane have a great song called Burn Us Up.  It tells the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel Chapter 3.  The first part of the song is Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego talking to King Nebuchednezzar, and the second part is them talking to the God Almighty.  It’s a song about having a “but if not” faith. 

Whatever fiery furnace you are in or whatever stones are being hurled at you this week, remember that God walks with you.  And, as my dad so wisely said to me, we win either way!  Praise be to God!

In His Mighty Grip!

Pastor Carol

Get into the Ring for Christ

At the worship services a couple of weeks ago, I challenged each of us to get into the ring for Christ.  So, how did it go for you over the past couple weeks?  Did you get in the ring and pull out all the stops?  Did you have an expectancy that God would show up and give you the holy boldness you needed? 

Many people on that Thursday night and Sunday morning came up to me after the services with many questions about the Holy Spirit.  How do I get filled?  How does the Holy Spirit work?  How can I have the boldness of Peter in my life and faith?  Some mentioned the services this week were so wonderful and so filled with the Spirit.  Yes, that weekend’s services were pretty lively.  There were the children’s’ choirs, the adult choirs, and of course, a crazy pastor running down the aisle to the theme song from Rocky with big red boxing gloves on challenging you to get in the ring for Christ!  I must admit, all of those special things did add to the service, but as worshippers of Jesus Christ, we should come each Sunday with an expectant attitude.  We should expect God to show up, not be surprised that He did! 

God is here every Sunday, but sometimes we may come to worship with a vast array of other things on our minds that clutter our experiencing Him.  However, if we come each week and put those things aside and focus on God during worship, we will experience God!  God is always “in the house!”  It’s not about feelings, it’s about our hearts.  Our hearts need to be open.  Moving those 16 inches from our heads to our hearts makes all the difference.

Peter was changed by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and he was never the same!  He knew God was with Him and that God was directing His path.  He knew that God would show up!  He didn’t doubt that for a second while he and John stood before the Sanhedrin after their arrest for preaching and teaching about Jesus Christ.  The holy boldness they had came from the Holy Spirit.

Just like Rocky, a fighter who was past his prime, who was a lost cause, he goes on to victory, beating the more talented opponent in the original Rocky movie.  We too are like Rocky.  We are all lost causes, but through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit we can also become like Peter and John.  All we need to do is get on our knees and pray, believe and receive God’s power in our lives! 

So, if you have not yet given it a shot, try to get into the ring for Christ and see how He shows up!  I guarantee you He will show up!  Get ready!

Here’s an older worship song that reminds us of God’s amazing presence!

To God be the Glory!

Pastor Carol

Are You Ready to Die?

Last week, Pastor Matt’s challenging message to us forced us all to reevaluate our commitment to Christ.  Wow!  Chapter five of Acts, which was the chapter we read for last week, focused on the story of Ananias and Sapphira.  They sold their belongings, but held back a portion of the proceeds rather than giving it all to the apostles.  And, because of that act of disobedience to God and because they lied to God, both died.  Not a happy story with a happy ending, like we are used to hearing. 

However, it is an important story for us as Christians to look at and understand.  Pastor Matt showed a video at the end of his sermon that I thought really illustrated what it means to “die” for Christ.  There was a line-up of men sitting in chairs who were all holding towels.  You see they were preparing for Holy Baptism.  They were preparing for their deaths.  That’s why they looked so repentant and sorrowful.  The end to their current life was fast approaching.  And, then, when it was their turn, each man went for his Baptism.  He was literally put to death and was raised to new life in Christ. 

Through the waters of Holy Baptism, whether you are immersed or sprinkled, we are literally putting that person to death to rise up to a new life--a life with Christ.  We are literally washed clean and marked with the cross of Christ forever in our Baptism.  We are initiated into a very special priesthood.  We are made children of God. 

Martin Luther woke every day and, before his feet hit the ground, he would make the sign of the cross on his forehead and reclaim the promise given to him at his Baptism.  As baptized children of God, we have been given special status and we need to claim it each and every day! 

Over the next week, think about what it means to be a child of the Living Lord!  And while many of us were baptized as babies and do not remember our baptismal day, we can still make the sign on our forehead each morning just as the pastor did on that day when we were baptized and reclaim our status as God’s child.  We have been forgiven and washed clean by the blood of the Lamb and we are raised again on this very day to a new life in Christ Jesus. 

This weekend we celebrate Reformation Sunday and we also celebrate the Rite of Confirmation.  On Sunday afternoon, about 100 young people will stand before God and the congregation to say, “Yes, I believe" and claim their status as children of God.  They will “reclaim” or “confirm” their belief in the Triune God and in living a Christian life.

How about each of us?  Are we willing to die to self and reaffirm our status as children of the Living God?  Are we, like the young people at their Confirmation this Sunday, willing to stand up and proclaim ourselves as Christ followers even unto death?   Are we willing to die for Jesus sake?   Are we willing to let God lead our lives so completely that we truly die to self?  More of you, God, and less of me!  More of you God, less of me!

The Christian group Leeland has a song that helps us to picture what it’s like to die to self and to lay down all of our troubles.  It’s called Holy Spirit, Have Your Way. 

To God be the Glory!

Pastor Carol

Jumping and Leaping Happening in the Church!

At this past weekend’s services, something was a little different:  people were leaping, jumping and praising God!  Yes, Calvary members were on their feet singing the song that goes along with Acts chapter 3, the story of the lame beggar who Peter and John healed by the temple.  As you recall, the beggar was lame from birth and, at the name of Jesus Christ, his ankles knit together and he was able to walk.  Oh, he did much more than that; we read that he went walking and leaping and praising God. 

Let’s think about this for a minute. If you had never walked in your life and you were lame from birth, can you even imagine what was going through this guy’s mind?  Wow!  Can you just see him running and jumping and testing out his new found legs?  He was excited and astounded, just as the crowd was that day. 

Why was it so hard for us, this weekend, to stand to our feet and sing that simple song from Sunday School with hesitation?  Some were excited to stand up and sing, while others looked a little irritated.  We all had to be reminded by Pastor Steve to SMILE. 

Why is it that we don’t come to church excited to be here most Sundays?  Why is it such a chore to come?  As we read the Book of Acts, church was not dull at all!  What would happen if we come with a sense of expectancy that God would not only show up, but that people would be healed and the Holy Spirit would be filling us to overflowing each week?  The Early Church encountered signs and wonders all the time.  God always showed up! 

The truth is, God still shows up, but we often have other things on our minds.  There’s the Viking’s game we need to get home to see and the brunch we need to get to after church.  Then there are the myriad of tasks we need to get done at home before the kids go to school on Monday.  The list that goes through our minds as we enter church is usually pretty long. 

What would happen if we could set aside our agendas for one hour and just focus on God’s agenda?  We need to ask God to shake the church like He did in chapter 4, to fill each of us with His Holy Spirit and to give us all a sense of boldness for Christ like never before. 

Just think, church could be an exciting place just like we read in the Book of Acts, but we need to pray and believe.  The Early Church was a church that was literally on its knees.  And notice that God always showed up, God always filled them with His Spirit, and God gave them the courage and boldness they needed. 

If you and I want to have the same boldness of faith like Peter and John, then we need to start by getting on our knees in prayer and then rising up to praise God with a thankful heart and a smile on our faces!  God will give us the boldness, and God will use us in ways we can’t even imagine to change this world and to bring glory to Him.  Let’s leap and jump and praise God all the days of our lives!

Here’s a great song the reminds us to be bold and strong in the Lord!

To God be the Glory!

Pastor Carol

Come, Holy Spirit! Fill Us! Empower Us!

Those who had the opportunity to hear Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba this past Sunday walked out of Calvary with a fresh spring in their step!  He is truly an anointed man of God.  I know I felt uplifted, encouraged, filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to go out into the world and serve the Living Lord with a newness of spirit and fervor. 

During his sermon, Dr. Buba said, “Churches that are filled with the Holy Spirit focus on the WONDERS OF GOD.  Those that are not so filled focus on the problems of man.”  Calvary is truly blessed to be a church that is filled with the Holy Spirit.  Over the years, visitors have often commented to me that, when they walked into this church, it just felt different.  While they couldn’t name it, what they were really referring to was the Holy Spirit’s presence. 

Every Sunday before anyone gets here, the Calvary Prayer Warriors are praying throughout the building, then over the pastors.  The worship space, the parking lots, Atrium, Grace Place rooms and other spaces in the church have been prayed over.  So, when you come in the door, you should feel something holy, something different.  Yes, the Holy Spirit lives in the lives of Calvary members and in this church!  Praise be to God!

This past week, as I was thinking about those words that Dr. Buba so eloquently presented, I started to rephrase it into a personal statement:  Christians who are filled with the Holy Spirit focus on the WONDERS OF GOD.  Christians who are not filled with the Holy Spirit focus on the problems of man.  Yikes! 

So then I had to ask myself, Carol, do you see and focus your attention on God’s wonders or do you focus your attention more on the problems of man?   Sometimes, even as a pastor, we get mired in church issues and day-to-day things that have little to do with the mission and vision that God is calling us and Calvary to be in this world.  Isn’t that how it is in all our jobs and professions?  We are hired to do a specific job, but find ourselves having to do things that have very little to do with the job we were hired for. 

Now think about your calling as a Christian – that’s a full-time 24/7 calling on your life.  So, how many times do we find ourselves wishing God would use us more?  How many times do we feel inadequate to share our faith or to call on and believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is real in our lives?  Sure, it was real for the disciples, but what about me?  What about the Holy Spirit’s power for our generation? 

Friends, God is afoot!  God’s Spirit lives inside us, but far too often we don’t realize it and we don’t fully and completely rely on God and His power in our lives.  What if we followed the example of the Jerusalem church?  This tiny group expanded into a world-changing force.  How did they do this?  Well, through the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through their lives, God enabled a group of rag-tag followers to literally rock this world and bring change.  We can learn a lot from their priorities and passion for Jesus Christ.  That’s why we need not only to read the Book of Acts this year, but to actually hear it and live it. 

My Calvary small group is currently doing a DVD study by Mac Lucado called How to Outlive Your Life.  It’s a study of the Book of Acts.  In this study, Max challenges us to live out our faith in our own Jerusalem, in our own generation.  Max Lucado says in his book by the same name, “The church cannot be who she’s supposed to be until you are willing to be who you’re supposed to be.”

This week, why not pray for the Holy Spirit not only to fill you to overflowing, but to use you to touch and change this world.  Ask the Holy Spirit to open doors that seemed closed and ask Him to help you to start seeing the WONDERS OF GOD right before your eyes!

Here’s a great song from Third Day that reminds us of the wonders of God!

To God be the Glory!

Pastor Carol

Member or Disciple?

At last weekend’s services, Pastor Steve mentioned that the church should not be focused on membership, but rather on discipleship.  He even mentioned that perhaps we should get rid of the membership “rolls” that we keep and start over.  I know some of you wanted to shout “Amen,” while others of you wanted to say something else!

I’ve been thinking about that over the week.  What does it really mean to be a member versus a disciple?  Well, let’s look at what Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary has to say: 

Member  (noun, often attributive)

a body part or organ; a unit of structure in a plant body; one of the individuals composing a group; a person baptized or enrolled in a church; or a part of a whole.

Disciple (noun)

one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another; one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers according to the Gospel accounts or a convinced adherent of a school or individual.

While both are nouns, they differ in that one is merely focused on being part of a structure or part of an organization; the other requires more activity.  As a member, technically, I don’t have to do anything once my name is in the roll book.  In fact, I get some rights as a baptized member.  I have the right to vote at annual meetings or special meetings regarding other church-wide decisions. I can have my wedding at the church. I can even have my funeral at the church.  Sure, I can get more involved in the church, but that isn’t a requirement to maintain my membership.  Once I’m in, I’m in! 

Now, if I consider myself a disciple rather than a member, my focus changes from being listed in a book to actively professing my faith and “assisting” in the spread of the Gospel.  Yikes!  Some would say, isn’t that the job of our pastors or the evangelism committee?

While “membership” has been historically part of normal church organizational structure for years, what would happen if we considered ourselves not merely “members” of Calvary or a church, but rather as disciples of Jesus Christ who happen to worship at Calvary?  Notice the shift?  How might being a disciple for Christ change our view on how we live out our faith each week?  To really live out what we confess to believe in? 

I know for me, if I refer to myself as a disciple of Christ Jesus, rather than only a member of this church, that requires me to live out my faith, to be a little Christ to others.  Wow!  That puts a little more pressure on me to live out my faith in word and deed whether I’m at church or at sporting events or even at neighborhood block parties. 

My challenge to all of us this week, and for the next few months, as we journey through the Book of Acts, is for us to really LIVE in the chapters each week.  Don’t just read them.  Let’s challenge each other to wrestle with the chapters and apply what we read to our lives each week.  To truly go beyond being a member and take that leap of faith and become a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ!   

Here’s a great song from Matt Maher that reminds us to rise up and be a disciple!

In His Grip!

Pastor Carol

Simple Acts with Eternal Significance

Over the past week, my Calvary small group finished our summer study called Finding God in the Desert of Your Soul.  In this week’s study, one of the main verses we focused on was Romans 12:9-13.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

I’ve read this passage many times, but never really stopped and went through it line by line before.  As a pastor, I could write a sermon for every verse and every sentence!  These verses are all calling out to be preached!  I’ve really been noodling verse 12 over the past week – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.”  Now, at first glance, those seem like good things to do, but what if we all truly believed and lived just those three things out in our everyday lives.  Would our lives change?  Would our faith-lives change or deepen?  Would our willingness to serve others change?  Then I started to think more deeply about the last verse:  “Share with God’s people who are in need and practice hospitality.” 

You know, “...our Christian walk is not just made up of those mountaintop experiences or great feats of spiritual strength,” as Buddy Owens, the teaching pastor at Saddleback Church, said in this DVD study, but rather, “It is made up of faithfulness to simple, small acts of generosity, kindness, devotion to each other, and caring for each other.”  It’s the little things that we must be faithful to, not just the big things in life.  They will indeed make a difference.  In fact, sometimes the little acts of service can have far-reaching and even eternal consequences that we may never know. 

Perhaps that smile you gave to the checkout person at the grocery store lifted their spirits and encouraged them to make it through one more day; perhaps calling or stopping by to visit an elderly person in your neighborhood made them realize that they are not alone; perhaps giving the littlest word of encouragement to someone who is going through a dark valley made them feel a sense of hope in their darkness.  Speaking words of hope into someone’s life can and will have eternal results.  In God’s Kingdom there are no small or insignificant acts.  Remember, the measurement is not ours to determine; rather that measurement is in God’s hands!  Look at Mathew 25:21 where Jesus says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” 

We often think that we need to go out in this world and do huge things to leave an imprint on society.  Instead, how about trying to help one person this week and leave a holy handprint on their life?  Oh, I know we sometimes compare ourselves to others and think what we have to offer is so small.  Remember this: God’s greatest gifts are not reserved for those that have merely received advanced college degrees or people who have advanced theological training or are famous in our society; God’s gifts are given to us all.  In fact, those gifts do not require anything more than a humble, willing, and contrite heart.  In fact, the only way to attain those gifts that really matter are found when we are on our knees. 

Reread Romans 12:9-13.  These are indeed the keys to being a servant of Christ.  Those simple verses hold the keys to spiritual greatness and significance.  This week, set out to be faithful in the simple and small things and see how God uses those small steps of faithfulness to accomplish great things for His Kingdom.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."  (Isaiah 6:8) 

Here’s a song that calls us to stand up and be faithful by merely offering ourselves to be used by God.  May we always be faithful, especially in the small things!

In His Grip!

Pastor Carol

Okay, God... You Can Remove My Thorn NOW!

As many of you know, over the summer, I spent six weeks with severe abdominal pain, which was finally diagnosed as ACNES (abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome).  The Apostle Paul talked about his thorn in his side that was never healed; well, I began to understand Paul’s situation and suffering in a very personal way this summer! 

After countless doctor visits, dozens of tests, multiple CAT scans, hospital stays and one doctor after another referring me to yet another specialist saying, “I don’t know what is wrong with you,” I soon began to ask God the all-important question – why?  I would ask God, "How can lying in this bed in severe pain bring glory to You?  How can I serve You in the midst of this pain?  How can You use this illness for good?"  And, most importantly, I asked God, "What I was supposed to learn from this?" 

I learned a lot over those six weeks.  Being in bed and in pain allowed me to bathe in God’s presence every minute, of every hour, of the day.   I had to!  God and I had many “interesting” conversations!   Yes, they were honest, heartfelt, and tough conversations.  Being a Type-A person and having to learn to just “be” and to trust fully in God, forced me to look at my faith from a deeper perspective. 

At several doctors’ appointments, I found myself having conversations with the receptionists, the nurses, the lab techs and the doctors.  And on more than one occasion, I was asked by someone about Calvary and had opportunities to share my personal faith in ways that only God could have orchestrated!  I handed out more Calvary business cards and gave more hugs to total strangers from my hospital bed and at various doctors’ offices than I’ve ever handed out when I was well and just “visiting” others in the hospitals.  Hmmm…Did God use these six weeks of my illness to His glory and to be His hands and feet to others?  Well, I would have to say, yes! 

You see God uses us all the time, not just when we are doing great and sailing through life, but more times than not, He uses you and me in the midst of our own suffering and problems to minister to others.  You know, a season of suffering in our own lives can oftentimes have consequences that are life-changing for someone else.  Through our own suffering and pain we live out our faith in a more powerful way then words could ever express.  Your pain and my pain does indeed have a purpose. 

Rather than resent our problems or suffering, we need to ask God to use them to His glory.  Yes, the pain or problems may still persist in our lives, but when we allow our problems, our suffering and our heartaches to unite WITH God’s bigger purpose, then God can be glorified in miraculous ways we may never understand.

Michael W. Smith had a song a few years ago called "The Heart of Worship."  It’s a wonderful song that reminds us that no matter what we go through and no matter what is stripped away from us, we simply need to come just as we are, to the One who is at the heart of our worship, Jesus. 

To His Glory!

Pastor Carol

God's GPS

I recently got a new phone and with it I have discovered the wonderful world of apps!  Lots and lots of different apps.  One app that I’ve found very helpful was the navigation/GPS app.  I always thought that GPS was a luxury and one that I didn’t need.  After all, there’s Google Maps and that has worked fine for me over the years.  Then I got GPS!  Wow, my luxury item soon turned into a much needed item! 

One day as I was using my GPS, it suddenly hit me that GPS is a lot like having a relationship with God.  GPS keeps you on the right road and even when you miss the exit or go left rather than right, the GPS patiently “recalculates” and tells you how to get back to the correct road and to get to your destination.  God is like that too.  When we spend time with Him and develop a relationship with Him, He will patiently direct our path.  He’s got plenty of time.  No matter how far we stray from the “main road” God will wait.  Sometimes He bring people into our lives who help us to get out of the “ditch” or “path” back up onto the road.  Other times, He simple speaks to our hearts and points us back to the road. 

God and I have had some interesting journeys over the years.  Oftentimes, we grow deepest in our relationship with Him when we are going through a valley in our life or walking through a desert wilderness.  You want water; you are thirsty; you are tired and in despair.  You may cry out to God and say “I want my life back!”  When God seems to be silent, remember He is listening.  He will gently and patiently use your valley to His glory.  Oh, we may not realize it at the time we are going through the pain and suffering, but when we have the vantage point of being “back on the main road” we can oftentimes look back and see how God directed our path even when we seemed to be hopelessly lost and hurting. 

Psalm 119:105 tells us that God’s “Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”  No matter the direction we take in life, God will always point us back to Him.  He is our GPS!  He will shine the light of His love and will direct our paths.  We may mess up or go through trials we never imagined.  Yet God’s Word and His promises will always bring us back out of the ditch or path back to the “main” road.  Remember, God’s GPS doesn’t rely on correct satellite images and it doesn’t ever need to be recharged.  He is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Here’s a great song that reminds us that the God is always beside us even when we lose our way. 

To His Glory!

Pastor Carol

The Heat Is On!

With temperatures soaring to 101 degrees on Wednesday and record temperatures are to reach 100 degrees again today, I started to think about how much I do not like the heat.  I’m so thankful for the gift of air conditioning and friends who have pools!  Without either of them, the heat this week would probably make life a lot harder to tolerate. 

As I reflected on the heat over the Fourth of July, God reminded me of all the times that He turned up the heat in my life.  Sometimes for the good, other times to learn and to grow.  When God turns up the heat for good, we are usually confronted with something that we need to get moving on.  Perhaps it was that phone call to a friend or to finish a big project or to stop procrastinating and get moving in the direction He wants you to move. 

Other times, when God turns up the heat in our lives, we find ourselves asking a lot of the “why” questions. Why me?  Why am I suffering?  Why can’t I ever get a break?  Why is it that everyone else seems to breeze through life and I don’t?  Why didn’t I get into the college I wanted?  What’s wrong with me God?  Why don’t I ever get the promotion?  During these type of “heat sessions,” God seems to direct us to His Word and to look inwardly at our own hearts and actions.  God is gently nudging us to re-evaluate our lives.  A very wise friend, who is an adopted mom to me, Dar Sjostrom, told me that while we like the mountain-top experiences with God, the grass grows in the valleys, not on the mountain tops.  God is nearest to us in the valleys and struggles of our lives.  And we grow the most in our faith and relationship with God in the valleys of life. 

So while the heat continues outside, think about the heat that God may be turning up in your life.  Let Him walk with you.  Take His hand and let Him take the lead.  Yes, you will go through some interesting walks and places, but the journey will be worth it.  Embrace the heat! 

Here’s a great song that reminds us that the God on the mountain is the God in the valley.

In His Grip!
Pastor Carol

What's Your Mountain?

Have you ever hiked up a mountain or, if you live in Minnesota, a large hill?  Often times, there is more than one way to climb the mountain.  Some routes are easier and more tested than others; some are a bit more challenging and require more skill and more knowledge.  It’s that way in life too. 

We all have mountains in our lives that we face every day.  Some parts of our lives are easier than others; some days are easier than others. Then there are parts of our lives and periods of our lives that are more challenging.  Sometimes we face something that seems insurmountable and too hard for us to conquer.  It could be an illness, health-related issues, grief, loss of a job, addictions, loneliness, depression or any other type of problem in our lives when we find ourselves saying, “Where is God in this?”

A number of years ago, when I went through the deaths of both of my parents within a few months of each other, I felt like there was a huge mountain in front of me and I found myself asking that same question.  While I was in the wilderness of my despair looking for God and asking all those questions, a friend gave me a book by Ken Gire called The North Face of God.  He compared the pain and suffering we go through as a walk with God up the north side of Mount Everest. 

“Sometimes in the midst of suffering, God can seem distant, cold, and strangely silent—an Everest of indifference,” Gire says.  When we come to Him with our questions and doubts, sometimes it seems we are climbing the North Face of Mount Everest, scaling unstable rocks, unsure of our next step.  What we need to remember is that God is there in the climb with us – holding us tighter than ever before.  God is an expert mountain climber!  Even when we face those tough climbs in life, and we all do, He is with us no matter what. 

We need to remember God’s faithfulness to us in the past and His mercies that never cease.  Just as Jeremiah went through one adversity to another, he remembered.  We too are called to remember: 

“Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:  The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.  I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore I will hope in Him.’ ”  (Lamentations 3:21-24)

I want us to dare to hope, just like Jeremiah, the author of Lamentations did.  Dare to hope!  I know many of you are going through some tough challenges in life right now and feel as if you are not going to make it.  Through God, we have a fresh hope every day.  Nothing can separate us from His love and nothing can rob us of our hope in Him.  Hope is found simply by remembering His faithfulness to us in the past and never letting go of God’s promises to us.

Here’s a song by Third Day called "The Mountain of God" that reminds us that God is faithful and His mercies are never ending. 

In His Grip!

Pastor Carol