Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out…” —Acts 8:26–27a
There is an amazing story in Acts 8:26–27. Phillip was having great success as an evangelist among the Samaritans. Suddenly, God calls him to go to the desert. There is no explanation, just the command to go. As you fast and pray for people far from Christ, be open to the idea that the Holy Spirit may take you down a path and lead you to people you never intended to meet.
I have a chair in my office that reminds me that God’s plans are not always what I have decided to do. Several years ago at Thanksgiving, my wife and I went to Brenda’s parents for the thanksgiving meal. It had been a very stressful time at church and I was glad just to eat a lot and watch football and probably fall asleep. Esther, Brenda’s mom, told me about her neighbor, Julie, who was very sick. Julie was a Lutheran, but she had not been to church for a long time and they could not get a pastor to come out and give her Communion. Esther wondered if I would go over and take Communion to Julie. I was less than excited. I needed a day away from constant demands! Surely Esther of all people should know that. I reluctantly went to Julie. She was a tiny woman sitting in this little lounge chair. I talked to her about Jesus’ love and had prayer with her and served Communion. The next day Julie told Esther that during that prayer she asked Jesus into her heart. Two week later Julie died. Every time I look at that chair I realize how close I came to missing God’s plan.
As you pray today, remind the Holy Spirit that you are available to the Julies in your world. The Bible calls these special moments kairos moments, opportune times that if we are available God can use us to change our world. Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
Dear Father, as I pray for people I know far from you, help me to be open to those opportune moments you place in my life. In the loving name of Jesus, amen.
Dr. Steve Birch, Pastor, White Chapel Church of God, South Daytona, Florida
Have an awesome Resurrection Day celebration with our risen Lord and carry the Focus 40 spirit with you all year long! MAY THIS BE "YOUR EASTER!"
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Prayers of the Righteous: Day 39
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. —James 5:16
Since I was a child, I have seen persons within the church anointed for healing as instructed in James 5:13–16. When I accepted my call to ministry, I followed what had been modeled for me by my pastor and the leaders of our church. Even as a teenager, when asked to pray for someone, I would quote this passage, anoint the person with oil, and pray for God’s will to be done. In the intervening forty-five years, I have prayed thousands of times for individuals seeking healing of body, soul, or mind. I have not kept a statistical account of how many were healed in the moment, some later, and some never. Yet all received the best I had to offer in that moment as I requested a mighty outpouring of God’s grace and power.
Often, people outside the church, and sometimes inside, make disparaging remarks about praying and fasting because they have not seen evidence of results. At the core of any type of prayer is the fact that you are addressing the Creator of the world, the holder of all destinies, and our ultimate adjudicator—asking for his will on this particular subject or issue. At times, our own understanding of the situation may be clouded by our own desires and biases. The text from James places in proper perspective the attitude of the one praying: “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”.
It is critical to understand what it means to be a “righteous person.” As I understand it, a righteous person is one who seeks the will of the Father in all situations and circumstances and has his or her life and lifestyle committed to living out the “perfect will of God” (Rom 12:2). The solution we envision in any given situation may or may not be the will of God. It can be very difficult to separate our personal viewpoint from the will of God. This is where fasting and praying intersect. There are times when we need to get our own wishes out of the way so we can hear from God. An extended time of prayer, an interruption in our normal schedule, or some other change in our normal routine, may provide the opportunity for God to speak into the situation in a fresh way.
A moment from my first pastorate illustrates how God may take our humble efforts and bless them. I had been called to the home of an elderly lady who was near death’s door. The family wanted me to pray for her before she died. She had been a faithful servant of the Lord for many years. As I entered her bedroom with other family members, I saw a very frail person having difficulty breathing and barely conscious. I prayed for God’s will to be done in her life, for support for the family as they walked this journey with her, and that God would be glorified through this experience. We all left the bedroom to let her rest. Later, as I was eating dessert with the family in the kitchen, she appeared in the door and asked if they had any more pie. We were pleasantly shocked and immediately gave thanks to God for her recovery. Some months later, I preached her funeral, but for that night, the prayers of the righteous were heard.
In our praying, let’s keep God in the proper perspective as defined by the Bible and recognize that we are vessels made of clay. Praise God for the opportunity to pray. Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
Lord, empower me to be a righteous person seeking the will of the Father in all situations and circumstances; a person whose life and lifestyle are committed to living out the perfect will of God. Then, empower me to speak powerful and effective prayers that escort people into your presence to be touched, healed and transformed. Amen.
Dr. Ronald V. Duncan, General Director, Church of God Ministries
Since I was a child, I have seen persons within the church anointed for healing as instructed in James 5:13–16. When I accepted my call to ministry, I followed what had been modeled for me by my pastor and the leaders of our church. Even as a teenager, when asked to pray for someone, I would quote this passage, anoint the person with oil, and pray for God’s will to be done. In the intervening forty-five years, I have prayed thousands of times for individuals seeking healing of body, soul, or mind. I have not kept a statistical account of how many were healed in the moment, some later, and some never. Yet all received the best I had to offer in that moment as I requested a mighty outpouring of God’s grace and power.
Often, people outside the church, and sometimes inside, make disparaging remarks about praying and fasting because they have not seen evidence of results. At the core of any type of prayer is the fact that you are addressing the Creator of the world, the holder of all destinies, and our ultimate adjudicator—asking for his will on this particular subject or issue. At times, our own understanding of the situation may be clouded by our own desires and biases. The text from James places in proper perspective the attitude of the one praying: “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”.
It is critical to understand what it means to be a “righteous person.” As I understand it, a righteous person is one who seeks the will of the Father in all situations and circumstances and has his or her life and lifestyle committed to living out the “perfect will of God” (Rom 12:2). The solution we envision in any given situation may or may not be the will of God. It can be very difficult to separate our personal viewpoint from the will of God. This is where fasting and praying intersect. There are times when we need to get our own wishes out of the way so we can hear from God. An extended time of prayer, an interruption in our normal schedule, or some other change in our normal routine, may provide the opportunity for God to speak into the situation in a fresh way.
A moment from my first pastorate illustrates how God may take our humble efforts and bless them. I had been called to the home of an elderly lady who was near death’s door. The family wanted me to pray for her before she died. She had been a faithful servant of the Lord for many years. As I entered her bedroom with other family members, I saw a very frail person having difficulty breathing and barely conscious. I prayed for God’s will to be done in her life, for support for the family as they walked this journey with her, and that God would be glorified through this experience. We all left the bedroom to let her rest. Later, as I was eating dessert with the family in the kitchen, she appeared in the door and asked if they had any more pie. We were pleasantly shocked and immediately gave thanks to God for her recovery. Some months later, I preached her funeral, but for that night, the prayers of the righteous were heard.
In our praying, let’s keep God in the proper perspective as defined by the Bible and recognize that we are vessels made of clay. Praise God for the opportunity to pray. Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
Lord, empower me to be a righteous person seeking the will of the Father in all situations and circumstances; a person whose life and lifestyle are committed to living out the perfect will of God. Then, empower me to speak powerful and effective prayers that escort people into your presence to be touched, healed and transformed. Amen.
Dr. Ronald V. Duncan, General Director, Church of God Ministries
Friday, April 6, 2012
Building Bridges Day 38
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times that amount.” —Luke 19:7–8
Most of us have some negative feelings about evangelism. Rob Bell describes the guy with the bull horn screaming at people passing by that they need Jesus. I find it interesting that people far from Christ were attracted to Jesus. What was his secret? One of my favorite Bible stories is found in Luke 19:1–9, the story of Zacchaeus.
What I find most interesting about the story is that Jesus does not begin with the obvious: Zacchaeus is far from Christ. He is a sinner. Instead, Jesus begins by inviting himself to dinner. Truly a man after my own heart. What was Jesus doing? He was building a bridge so the gospel could be heard. He was demonstrating a true concern for Zacchaeus, the man, not the spiritual scalp.
Sometimes I share with my church the concept of seven touches; there is another one called five touches. Basically the concept is we need to build relationships with people so we can share the good news of Christ. Those bridges can be sports or a lunch. While I was pastor at Lexington, at one time we had four or five people coming to church through bridges built while working out at Gold’s Gym. When you think about the whole gospel message, it is about relationships, a relationship with God and a relationship with others. Relationships are by nature messy. It is easier to preach to someone than it is to get involved in their life.
When I came to White Chapel and we began to pray for the families in our community, I warned them that the families in our community had messy lives, and if we were going to pray for them, we would have to get involved in the mess. That has proven true. Various people over the years have made this statement, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” It is our acts of love that give us the open door to share God’s love. So when you pray for someone far from Christ, realize this means you must be willing to get involved in lives that can be messy lives. Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
Dear Father, as I pray for people I know who are far from Christ, I realize their lives are a mess. I am willing to get involved in their mess if it means I can build a bridge to you. My prayer is that you will show me how to build that bridge. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dr. Steve Birch, Pastor, White Chapel Church of God, South Daytona, Florida
Most of us have some negative feelings about evangelism. Rob Bell describes the guy with the bull horn screaming at people passing by that they need Jesus. I find it interesting that people far from Christ were attracted to Jesus. What was his secret? One of my favorite Bible stories is found in Luke 19:1–9, the story of Zacchaeus.
What I find most interesting about the story is that Jesus does not begin with the obvious: Zacchaeus is far from Christ. He is a sinner. Instead, Jesus begins by inviting himself to dinner. Truly a man after my own heart. What was Jesus doing? He was building a bridge so the gospel could be heard. He was demonstrating a true concern for Zacchaeus, the man, not the spiritual scalp.
Sometimes I share with my church the concept of seven touches; there is another one called five touches. Basically the concept is we need to build relationships with people so we can share the good news of Christ. Those bridges can be sports or a lunch. While I was pastor at Lexington, at one time we had four or five people coming to church through bridges built while working out at Gold’s Gym. When you think about the whole gospel message, it is about relationships, a relationship with God and a relationship with others. Relationships are by nature messy. It is easier to preach to someone than it is to get involved in their life.
When I came to White Chapel and we began to pray for the families in our community, I warned them that the families in our community had messy lives, and if we were going to pray for them, we would have to get involved in the mess. That has proven true. Various people over the years have made this statement, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” It is our acts of love that give us the open door to share God’s love. So when you pray for someone far from Christ, realize this means you must be willing to get involved in lives that can be messy lives. Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
Dear Father, as I pray for people I know who are far from Christ, I realize their lives are a mess. I am willing to get involved in their mess if it means I can build a bridge to you. My prayer is that you will show me how to build that bridge. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dr. Steve Birch, Pastor, White Chapel Church of God, South Daytona, Florida
Thursday, April 5, 2012
God Healed Her Negative, Bitter, Critical Attitudes Day 37
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. —Ephesians 4:31–32
If we would model, teach, and empower people to live like these verses instruct us, we could transform the world. God is still in the prayer-answering, life-transforming business! In my morning prayer time, I wrote a list of prayer requests, leaving space to record their answers. One of those requests was for Geri1
Those of us who knew about Geri’s situation began praying for her. I wrote on my prayer request list Geri’s need for healing of her negative, bitter, critical attitudes. I prayed that she would experience release from these feelings and would be able to make amends with Penny. My wife Sandie had tried to talk to Geri in a helpful way, but Geri had tuned her out. Two weeks later, Geri called Sandie and our office manager to tell them that she regretted the way she had handled the situation with Penny. She felt that she had committed sin in the way she had acted. She had already called Penny to apologize and ask for her forgiveness. , who lived in personal turmoil and frustration. She always had a critical attitude, looking for the worst in almost every situation. She complained to the parents of children she taught in Sunday school, about things she didn’t like in the church. Geri found it difficult to talk constructively about changing her attitudes. She said things that severely hurt our hand-bell choir director, Penny, and Geri didn’t want to deal with her harsh attitudes in a positive way.
When Geri brought a plate of homemade Christmas goodies to me two days later, I sensed a spirit of release in her. God had begun his healing work in her spirit. She began growing spiritually and relationally. I prayed that she would allow him to continue and complete the work, for she was one of our most gifted children’s teachers. If she could be released from those negative, complaining, critical attitudes, she could be used by God to teach children about his love, forgiveness, and acceptance.
This is evidence of the power of intercessory prayer to heal inner wounds, strained or broken interpersonal relationships. This opens our inner spirits to the healing balm of God’s love and grace. It reminds me of on my hand. My hand and forearm were red, swollen, hot with fever. When I saw the doctor, I wasn’t prepared for his treatment. He cleaned it with alcohol. With small sharply-pointed scissors, he cut an X-incision in the boil. The pain was excruciating! It got worse! The doctor closed the scissor blades, inserted them into the incision and opened them, spreading the incision wider. I thought I would pass out as the infection gushed out. After pressing around on the boil and draining a lot of infection, the doctor cleaned the incision and covered it with antibiotic ointment and a bandage, and wrote an antibiotic prescription. Within a few days, the pain, swelling, and fever left. It was painful, but by lancing the boil, the doctor set the stage for healing to begin.
Likewise, “getting rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” from a person’s heart is painful like draining a boil. Applying kindness, compassion and forgiveness is like the antibiotics that aid in the healing process. In intercessory prayer we escort people to God for healing. It’s about Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
Lord, shape me as a bearer of Your healing balm of love and grace to bitter, hurting, broken, critical folks I meet; a carrier of kindness, compassion and forgiveness. Enable me to open my heart to your great heart of love and compassion as an intercessory prayer warrior. Amen.
Dr. Sam Bruce; President, Sam & Sandie Bruce Ministries; Pastor, Hope Point Church, Pearl, Mississippi; Online Instructor, Mid-America Christian University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
If we would model, teach, and empower people to live like these verses instruct us, we could transform the world. God is still in the prayer-answering, life-transforming business! In my morning prayer time, I wrote a list of prayer requests, leaving space to record their answers. One of those requests was for Geri1
Those of us who knew about Geri’s situation began praying for her. I wrote on my prayer request list Geri’s need for healing of her negative, bitter, critical attitudes. I prayed that she would experience release from these feelings and would be able to make amends with Penny. My wife Sandie had tried to talk to Geri in a helpful way, but Geri had tuned her out. Two weeks later, Geri called Sandie and our office manager to tell them that she regretted the way she had handled the situation with Penny. She felt that she had committed sin in the way she had acted. She had already called Penny to apologize and ask for her forgiveness. , who lived in personal turmoil and frustration. She always had a critical attitude, looking for the worst in almost every situation. She complained to the parents of children she taught in Sunday school, about things she didn’t like in the church. Geri found it difficult to talk constructively about changing her attitudes. She said things that severely hurt our hand-bell choir director, Penny, and Geri didn’t want to deal with her harsh attitudes in a positive way.
When Geri brought a plate of homemade Christmas goodies to me two days later, I sensed a spirit of release in her. God had begun his healing work in her spirit. She began growing spiritually and relationally. I prayed that she would allow him to continue and complete the work, for she was one of our most gifted children’s teachers. If she could be released from those negative, complaining, critical attitudes, she could be used by God to teach children about his love, forgiveness, and acceptance.
This is evidence of the power of intercessory prayer to heal inner wounds, strained or broken interpersonal relationships. This opens our inner spirits to the healing balm of God’s love and grace. It reminds me of on my hand. My hand and forearm were red, swollen, hot with fever. When I saw the doctor, I wasn’t prepared for his treatment. He cleaned it with alcohol. With small sharply-pointed scissors, he cut an X-incision in the boil. The pain was excruciating! It got worse! The doctor closed the scissor blades, inserted them into the incision and opened them, spreading the incision wider. I thought I would pass out as the infection gushed out. After pressing around on the boil and draining a lot of infection, the doctor cleaned the incision and covered it with antibiotic ointment and a bandage, and wrote an antibiotic prescription. Within a few days, the pain, swelling, and fever left. It was painful, but by lancing the boil, the doctor set the stage for healing to begin.
Likewise, “getting rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” from a person’s heart is painful like draining a boil. Applying kindness, compassion and forgiveness is like the antibiotics that aid in the healing process. In intercessory prayer we escort people to God for healing. It’s about Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
Lord, shape me as a bearer of Your healing balm of love and grace to bitter, hurting, broken, critical folks I meet; a carrier of kindness, compassion and forgiveness. Enable me to open my heart to your great heart of love and compassion as an intercessory prayer warrior. Amen.
Dr. Sam Bruce; President, Sam & Sandie Bruce Ministries; Pastor, Hope Point Church, Pearl, Mississippi; Online Instructor, Mid-America Christian University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
A Burning Bush in Haiti Day 36
So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” —Exodus 3:3–4
Our church was planning to send a work team to Haiti, but for various reasons the trip fell through. One of the most disappointed people was Brandon. Brandon was a seeker who had been attending church with his family for some time but just hadn’t put the whole “becoming a Christian” thing together yet. However, he was deeply affected by the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti. Finally, after two more failed attempts, Brandon was able to join a team (this one with people from Texas and Colorado) that successfully made their way to Haiti.
Since the arrival of construction materials for their project was delayed, Brandon ended up doing “people” things and spending a lot more time in deep conversation with his other team members and the people he was assigned to work with.
Through many different conversations Brandon continued to seek and God continued to reach out to him. From his Haiti journal, “I have been asked many questions about my relationship with God that I have been unable to answer. I am trying to figure out why I can’t really ‘talk’ to God, or if I am, how to understand it.” One night after some serious table talk at dinner, Brandon gave his heart to the Lord. After Brandon returned home, he wrote in his journal, “I was not able to build any walls for the people of Haiti, but I was able to tear down most of my own. It is a daily struggle to fill up my newfound space, but I have learned so much. I have learned what we are doing is not just a series of random events but a plan. Not my plan, and that’s ok with me.”
Brandon is now discovering the spiritual disciplines and their relationship to spiritual transformation. Just like Brandon we have to remember that our primary task is not to calculate how many verses of Scripture we read, how many minutes we spend in prayer, or how many meals we’ve missed. Our task is to use these types of activities to create opportunity for God to work—to get ourselves out of the way so God can do his work.
Just as Moses and Brandon found out, God’s responsibility is to provide the burning bush. Our responsibility is to turn aside and give attention to the bush. We never know what burning bush God will use. For Brandon, it was an earthquake in Haiti. But, as God does his work, transformation will take place. God will change us, from the inside out, as we get out of the way and allow him to work. Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
God, today help me to turn to the burning bush you have put in my way so you can do your work—transforming my heart and then my life. Amen.
Rev. Gary Moore, Transformation Team / Cultivate Member; Associate Pastor, Cloverdale Church of God, Boise
Our church was planning to send a work team to Haiti, but for various reasons the trip fell through. One of the most disappointed people was Brandon. Brandon was a seeker who had been attending church with his family for some time but just hadn’t put the whole “becoming a Christian” thing together yet. However, he was deeply affected by the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti. Finally, after two more failed attempts, Brandon was able to join a team (this one with people from Texas and Colorado) that successfully made their way to Haiti.
Since the arrival of construction materials for their project was delayed, Brandon ended up doing “people” things and spending a lot more time in deep conversation with his other team members and the people he was assigned to work with.
Through many different conversations Brandon continued to seek and God continued to reach out to him. From his Haiti journal, “I have been asked many questions about my relationship with God that I have been unable to answer. I am trying to figure out why I can’t really ‘talk’ to God, or if I am, how to understand it.” One night after some serious table talk at dinner, Brandon gave his heart to the Lord. After Brandon returned home, he wrote in his journal, “I was not able to build any walls for the people of Haiti, but I was able to tear down most of my own. It is a daily struggle to fill up my newfound space, but I have learned so much. I have learned what we are doing is not just a series of random events but a plan. Not my plan, and that’s ok with me.”
Brandon is now discovering the spiritual disciplines and their relationship to spiritual transformation. Just like Brandon we have to remember that our primary task is not to calculate how many verses of Scripture we read, how many minutes we spend in prayer, or how many meals we’ve missed. Our task is to use these types of activities to create opportunity for God to work—to get ourselves out of the way so God can do his work.
Just as Moses and Brandon found out, God’s responsibility is to provide the burning bush. Our responsibility is to turn aside and give attention to the bush. We never know what burning bush God will use. For Brandon, it was an earthquake in Haiti. But, as God does his work, transformation will take place. God will change us, from the inside out, as we get out of the way and allow him to work. Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives!
God, today help me to turn to the burning bush you have put in my way so you can do your work—transforming my heart and then my life. Amen.
Rev. Gary Moore, Transformation Team / Cultivate Member; Associate Pastor, Cloverdale Church of God, Boise
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
A Voice in the Storm Day 35
The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. —Psalm 29:7
The Churches of God in Southern Idaho had junior high camp in June at a United Methodist camp in the Sawtooth Mountains. We always recruit a nurse to go with us since the Idaho wilderness plus junior-high energy and decision-making ability often lead to “medical opportunities”. This year we found ourselves without a nurse close to camp time. A mother (an ER nurse) of one of our preschoolers, even though not a church-goer, saw a camp registration form we had posted, remembered she had attended this same camp in her youth, and contacted our youth pastor, Brian Seidel, about the opportunity.
After Brian interviewed her and prayed about the situation, he felt God was telling him that Jenna was the person he wanted for the position. Brian contacted the other camp director, Drew Stenson, about the situation only to be told that Drew had already engaged someone for the assignment. However, after they talked Drew also felt impressed that God wanted Jenna and so he disengaged the other person. As Brian was making the final arrangements with Jenna, she asked if her seventh-grade son, Tucker, could attend the camp. Brian quickly assented.
To say this was a camp unlike any other and that God moved in mighty and miraculous ways would be a classic understatement. Major miracles began on a stormy Wednesday night. In Jenna’s own words, “Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of such an awesome week. How do I thank you for helping me find God again? How do I thank you for being with me and guiding me as I opened my heart and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior? Thank you for making me feel safe when I was scared and uncertain. Thank you for helping me find the words I needed to begin my journey again …thank you for not judging…Thank you for offering me every opportunity to find my faith again…I have been ready for years, but found too many excuses. I was too scared, too doubtful, and too weak. But you helped me find my strength again so I would be ready to witness the miraculous events I did…I have a long road ahead of me as I continue my journey. I know I have much to learn. But I also know he waited for me for so long and he will lead me if I just keep working and keep my heart open.”
Jenna’s son Tucker also committed his life to the Lord on that eventful Wednesday evening. Again in Jenna’s own words, “I love seeing the change in him. He prays every night. He sends me scriptures that relate to events going on in his life. He has much to learn as well, but his heart is open. He speaks openly of his relationship with God and seeks his guidance. Thank you.”
Lord, may we always listen for your voice, whether in the flash of lightning or in solitude. And in hearing, may we obey. Amen.
Rev. Gary Moore, Transformation Team / Cultivate Member; Associate Pastor, Cloverdale Church of God,
The Churches of God in Southern Idaho had junior high camp in June at a United Methodist camp in the Sawtooth Mountains. We always recruit a nurse to go with us since the Idaho wilderness plus junior-high energy and decision-making ability often lead to “medical opportunities”. This year we found ourselves without a nurse close to camp time. A mother (an ER nurse) of one of our preschoolers, even though not a church-goer, saw a camp registration form we had posted, remembered she had attended this same camp in her youth, and contacted our youth pastor, Brian Seidel, about the opportunity.
After Brian interviewed her and prayed about the situation, he felt God was telling him that Jenna was the person he wanted for the position. Brian contacted the other camp director, Drew Stenson, about the situation only to be told that Drew had already engaged someone for the assignment. However, after they talked Drew also felt impressed that God wanted Jenna and so he disengaged the other person. As Brian was making the final arrangements with Jenna, she asked if her seventh-grade son, Tucker, could attend the camp. Brian quickly assented.
To say this was a camp unlike any other and that God moved in mighty and miraculous ways would be a classic understatement. Major miracles began on a stormy Wednesday night. In Jenna’s own words, “Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of such an awesome week. How do I thank you for helping me find God again? How do I thank you for being with me and guiding me as I opened my heart and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior? Thank you for making me feel safe when I was scared and uncertain. Thank you for helping me find the words I needed to begin my journey again …thank you for not judging…Thank you for offering me every opportunity to find my faith again…I have been ready for years, but found too many excuses. I was too scared, too doubtful, and too weak. But you helped me find my strength again so I would be ready to witness the miraculous events I did…I have a long road ahead of me as I continue my journey. I know I have much to learn. But I also know he waited for me for so long and he will lead me if I just keep working and keep my heart open.”
Jenna’s son Tucker also committed his life to the Lord on that eventful Wednesday evening. Again in Jenna’s own words, “I love seeing the change in him. He prays every night. He sends me scriptures that relate to events going on in his life. He has much to learn as well, but his heart is open. He speaks openly of his relationship with God and seeks his guidance. Thank you.”
Lord, may we always listen for your voice, whether in the flash of lightning or in solitude. And in hearing, may we obey. Amen.
Rev. Gary Moore, Transformation Team / Cultivate Member; Associate Pastor, Cloverdale Church of God,
Monday, April 2, 2012
Never Too Late for Salvation Day 34
So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. —Galatians 6:9–10 MSG
Ninety years old, a retired railroad engineer wearing the weight of the past, unforgiven sin and grief on his face, Paul came to church one Sunday night. He had never been a church-goer, but he had married a widow who loved the Lord and attended church every time the doors were open. Because Paul wanted to be with his bride, he came along. Usually, on Sunday night the pastor gave an opportunity for testimonies, prayer requests, and praise. A short sermon would follow and a prayer of dismissal. Although he didn’t normally give an invitation on Sunday night, this night the pastor opened the altar for anyone who wanted to come pray.
Paul got up out of his seat and slowly made his way to the altar, with his expression of sadness, grief, regret, despair, pain, fear of dying written on his face. Who knows all he was feeling at that moment? The pastor asked him how we could pray for him, what was he seeking. Paul said he had never been saved and he wanted to do that now. The pastors and congregation gathered around Paul and laid their hands on him. Fervent prayer went up for Paul.
What a glorious transformation in countenance the congregation saw when Paul raised himself up from that altar with the help of people near him. His face was literally shining with freedom from sin and guilt, release from fear of dying, and his sorrow turned into joy. Paul was changed from the inside out. Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives! He was still ninety years old, but now he was ready to meet the Lord whenever his name was called.
As pastors, sometimes we assume everybody coming to church is okay—everyone is saved. Sometimes we miss the expressions, the meanings behind the words spoken, and the body language that would give us a clue that all is not well. Of course we ask and the person usually says “I’m fine”. Many people in the church are not fine. Sometimes people have a mask in place and we truly believe they are fine. The Holy Spirit speaks to hearts even on Sunday night when one might assume only the faithful are present. Every time the Word of God is proclaimed in a service, in a book, on the radio or television, the opportunity for someone to get saved exists.
Lord, help me to really see people, really comprehend when they are in pain or are afraid. Make me willing to stop doing what I think is most important and just listen, just be there for them. Amen.
Mary Bruce Fuller, Minister and Attorney, Florence, Mississippi
Ninety years old, a retired railroad engineer wearing the weight of the past, unforgiven sin and grief on his face, Paul came to church one Sunday night. He had never been a church-goer, but he had married a widow who loved the Lord and attended church every time the doors were open. Because Paul wanted to be with his bride, he came along. Usually, on Sunday night the pastor gave an opportunity for testimonies, prayer requests, and praise. A short sermon would follow and a prayer of dismissal. Although he didn’t normally give an invitation on Sunday night, this night the pastor opened the altar for anyone who wanted to come pray.
Paul got up out of his seat and slowly made his way to the altar, with his expression of sadness, grief, regret, despair, pain, fear of dying written on his face. Who knows all he was feeling at that moment? The pastor asked him how we could pray for him, what was he seeking. Paul said he had never been saved and he wanted to do that now. The pastors and congregation gathered around Paul and laid their hands on him. Fervent prayer went up for Paul.
What a glorious transformation in countenance the congregation saw when Paul raised himself up from that altar with the help of people near him. His face was literally shining with freedom from sin and guilt, release from fear of dying, and his sorrow turned into joy. Paul was changed from the inside out. Transforming Hearts…Transforming Lives! He was still ninety years old, but now he was ready to meet the Lord whenever his name was called.
As pastors, sometimes we assume everybody coming to church is okay—everyone is saved. Sometimes we miss the expressions, the meanings behind the words spoken, and the body language that would give us a clue that all is not well. Of course we ask and the person usually says “I’m fine”. Many people in the church are not fine. Sometimes people have a mask in place and we truly believe they are fine. The Holy Spirit speaks to hearts even on Sunday night when one might assume only the faithful are present. Every time the Word of God is proclaimed in a service, in a book, on the radio or television, the opportunity for someone to get saved exists.
Lord, help me to really see people, really comprehend when they are in pain or are afraid. Make me willing to stop doing what I think is most important and just listen, just be there for them. Amen.
Mary Bruce Fuller, Minister and Attorney, Florence, Mississippi
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