DAY TWENTY-THREE: "Amazing, Actually" by Daniel Monaghan
Amazing. A word that we throw around quite casually and carelessly. During the recent Olympics it was used almost incessantly. Michael Phelps! Amazing! Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin! Amazing! Usain Bolt! Amazing! That Opening Ceremony! Amazing! Perhaps that casualness is why I am reluctant to use the word ‘Amazing’ in describing the birth and growth of The Church at Trace Crossing or especially my own involvement in TC2. But I find myself using that word over and over again.
It was two years ago (Wednesday, September 20, 2006 to be exact), that I acted on a decision (a commitment, actually, more to myself than to God) to show up at the furniture market to see if I could find a group of people (of whom I knew a total of one) who, over the past few months I had discovered, were in the process of beginning a new church. Amazing. I had first heard in the early spring that there were a few folks meeting and praying about starting this new church, but what lead me to make this decision?
In early summer I had received a message on CD that someone close to me thought I ought to hear. I listened and was positively impacted. Amazing. (I have heard LOTS of messages on CD) But I took no further action at that time. On August 29, I received an email containing a link to a blog by an unknown (at least to me) blogger – “coincidentally” the same person whose message was on the CD. The sender HIGHLY suggested I read the blog (Ancient Road, Modern World). I did so immediately. Amazing. (If you have not read it, you must!) I was overwhelmed, although my response to the sender was a quite-understated “got it fine…good read…who is this guy?” The sender responded with “This is the pastor the people … have called for their pastor. This is the new church name. The Church at Trace Crossing. He will be here Sept 24th.” Amazing.
This immediately sent me off on a series of ‘Google searches’ over several days, which led me to Brook Hills’s website and to Sophie’s blogspot – BooMama! After reading all that I could and exchanging a coupla emails with Sophie on September 15, I got an email from Kevin Wood and from Brad Mikels. With what I had read and heard I told Sophie and Kevin that I intended to show up the following Wednesday at the furniture market. I did. Amazing.
As I drove around the building a coupla times, just about deciding to leave, I finally saw a few cars. I told the lady that I saw as I pulled into a parking spot that I was looking for some folks starting a new church, to which she said “you’re in the right place”. Amazing. Michelle Taylor could not have spoken more accurately (perhaps even prophetically). The next person I met was a ‘big, burly’ young man, I guessed of about 30 years, who was keeping several young children, outside at that moment. Amazing. (Michael, I don't think I have ever told ya just how much that impressed me, but it really did!)
Going into the room where we were to gather, I met several more folks – with none of whom I had any previous direct connection, strangers you might say, but somehow they really weren’t. The first clue I really had of ‘something happening here’ (any ‘70’s kids out there?) was when a couple of the couples were talking about a single mother that the group had been helping with basic needs – yes, including school supplies! (I seem to recall saying to myself – YES!!) I think there were probably approaching 20 people that night – I didn’t meet everyone.
As I sat there listening, not saying a word, quite naturally, I was totally overwhelmed. I just sat there, and coming as close to actually hearing the Voice of God as I ever have, heard Him say, “I am doing a work here – in, with and thru these people!” Amazing. AND, on the drive home that night, “YOU are to be a part of this!” What? I don't know any of these people – the only one I knew was not there! But He was clear. Me, THE stranger part of this new work? Amazing.
You see, God had been providing me a ‘divine discontent’ for several years. I had told my pastor a coupla years earlier that I was just so tired of “playing church” (a phrase that would resonate much more as time went by) Later I would tell him I just could NOT play church any longer, and had been telling close friends for the same few years that I was feeling that God wanted me in a new work - didn’t have a clue what that meant. That night, I got the Clue! Amazing.
Now, two years later, to see what God continues to do in that new work is, well yeh – Amazing. So many people having been drawn by God to this new work. So many people NOT ‘playing church’. Not even ‘doing church’. But BEING THE CHURCH. Being Jesus to people. So many people with the freedom to worship God so passionately (Loving God). So many people reaching out to those in need – spiritually, emotionally and yes, physically and materially (Loving People). Not with condemnation. But in Grace. In Love. And not just to those who look like them, or dress like them or live by them, but to all. To all. Wherever, Whenever, and yes Whosoever! Loving, Living, Leading…’So many people, One passion’ is not just a slogan, it is fact and mission and well…
Amazing, Actually
My prayer for Trace Crossing:
Gracious Father, Enduring Friend, would you allow us always to be amazed by your Grace and that you would use us as instruments of that Grace to those around us, never condemning but always reaching out. And would you allow us to be continually amazed by your Love. Make us channels of that Love and never allow us to become complacent, apathetic or passive… Continue to help us recognize your Great and Awesome Being, to worship you appropriately and passionately…Continue to make us always sensitive to your voice, and make us bold always to follow your lead up close…wherever, whenever to whomever…
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
DAY 22: "Give Me The Simple Life" by Julie Halbert
DAY TWENTY-TWO: "Give Me The Simple Life" by Julie Halbert
I don’t pay a lot of attention to detail. Once I was standing in front of one of my best friends and I commented to her how good her teeth looked and asked when did she get her braces taken off. She looked at me puzzled and said I got them taken off two years ago.
Perhaps as a result, I try to keep most things in my life simple without much detail. I only wear make-up enough to purchase maybe once a year, I have a coat size closet for my clothes, and best of all I don’t carry a purse. Yes, I said it right, I don’t carry a purse. I have a credit card size wallet for my drivers license, insurance card, and debit card.
Although I try to live a simple life, my spiritual life has not always been so simple. For the first ten years of my Christian life, I spent most of it in constant prayer begging God to forgive me of my sins. I thought if I did not say that prayer at the moment before I died I would be lost. The details of doing the things I needed to do to be saved and the details of how to stay saved seemed unattainable. I had no concept of grace.
It wasn’t until Mark and I started attending Chenal Valley Church in Little Rock that changed my relationship with God from a doomed one to a loving one. From an unattainable relationship with lots of details to an attainable one that was simple.
The decision to move to Tupelo was difficult because it meant leaving a church family who was so responsible for opening our eyes. But we wanted in Tupelo what we had in Little Rock. After years of dwelling on details once again, we discovered simplicity at Trace. A place open to "whosoever" and extending God's grace to all comers. Simple, yet full of depth.
Maybe that is why we have been so attracted to Kevin 's gifted preaching. He challenges and, like last Sunday, goes deep in scripture. Yet he honors simplicity such that my twelve year old son "gets it".
My prayer for Trace is to stay that simple church. Love God - Love People. Don’t get bogged down with details. Especially if that means I don’t have to carry a purse.
My Prayer for Trace Crossing:
Dear Lord and Father, thank you for the church at Trace Crossing. Thank you for the simplicity of your message that takes a child like heart to understand. Your word says unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. I pray we keep things simple. In Jesus name…..Amen.
I don’t pay a lot of attention to detail. Once I was standing in front of one of my best friends and I commented to her how good her teeth looked and asked when did she get her braces taken off. She looked at me puzzled and said I got them taken off two years ago.
Perhaps as a result, I try to keep most things in my life simple without much detail. I only wear make-up enough to purchase maybe once a year, I have a coat size closet for my clothes, and best of all I don’t carry a purse. Yes, I said it right, I don’t carry a purse. I have a credit card size wallet for my drivers license, insurance card, and debit card.
Although I try to live a simple life, my spiritual life has not always been so simple. For the first ten years of my Christian life, I spent most of it in constant prayer begging God to forgive me of my sins. I thought if I did not say that prayer at the moment before I died I would be lost. The details of doing the things I needed to do to be saved and the details of how to stay saved seemed unattainable. I had no concept of grace.
It wasn’t until Mark and I started attending Chenal Valley Church in Little Rock that changed my relationship with God from a doomed one to a loving one. From an unattainable relationship with lots of details to an attainable one that was simple.
The decision to move to Tupelo was difficult because it meant leaving a church family who was so responsible for opening our eyes. But we wanted in Tupelo what we had in Little Rock. After years of dwelling on details once again, we discovered simplicity at Trace. A place open to "whosoever" and extending God's grace to all comers. Simple, yet full of depth.
Maybe that is why we have been so attracted to Kevin 's gifted preaching. He challenges and, like last Sunday, goes deep in scripture. Yet he honors simplicity such that my twelve year old son "gets it".
My prayer for Trace is to stay that simple church. Love God - Love People. Don’t get bogged down with details. Especially if that means I don’t have to carry a purse.
My Prayer for Trace Crossing:
Dear Lord and Father, thank you for the church at Trace Crossing. Thank you for the simplicity of your message that takes a child like heart to understand. Your word says unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. I pray we keep things simple. In Jesus name…..Amen.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
DAY 21: "50" by Wayne Foreman
DAY TWENTY-ONE: “50” by Wayne Foreman
About 4 weeks ago Stephanie and I were in Louisville visiting her parents. We had planned this weekend because Beth Moore was speaking at their church. Stephanie’s parents purchased 4 tickets about a year ago for us to go with them. I’ll have to say I was a little skeptical about it because these events are for women, but they insisted more and more men were coming to listen to her. I knew I needed to here a word of some sort after the issues I had been dealing with at my work so I was on my way. Once we got there I began looking for all the men they were talking about. I couldn’t count John, Stephanie’s dad, because he was working as an usher. After I discounted all the men ushers and Beth Moore’s bodyguard I realized that instead of 50 there were only 3 and one of them was her brother.
I did however know the other man besides myself, his name is Roy. Roy is a good friend of John and Jan’s and I was very glad to see him there. The church that Beth was speaking at holds about 9,000 and the fellowship hall area holds another 1,000 and it was 100% sold-out. If you are counting, like I was, you will notice there were about 9,950 WOMEN and about 50 men and 47 of them were working. Roy had already been to one of her conferences so he was over the low testosterone levels and worshipping away. After the first night Stephanie and I got back to our room and began talking about the material we had covered. We both enjoyed the music and she had some good scripture but I still wasn’t getting it like Stephanie was. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed that night but I was ready for something life changing and I left that night still feeling a little empty.
When we got up the next morning Stephanie and I reviewed our notes again and prayed that God would give us a word about my job. Once we got back to the church we started listening to the praise band and worshipping God in such an awesome way. You could feel God’s presence in the room. After the music Beth got up and began teaching again and pulling the points from the night before and tying them in with new points. After a little while I realized why all of our wives have been so excited to listen to her for all these years. God anointed Beth that morning and she gave us a word that hit us directly between the eyes. Her message was in Luke chapter 8 about the parable of the sower. The points she gave us that day are as follows with some scripture:
1. Treasure the Wonder
2 Tim 3:16-17
Hosea 10:12
She talked about being “Thoroughly Equipped” and “Competently Competent”
2. Protect your Heart
John 10:10
Psalm 119:10-11
3. Expect the Test
Psalms 126:5-6
1 Cor 10:13
God will take you through trails to make you stand.
Satan will send temptations to make you fall.
4. Dig the roots
2 Kings 19:29-31
Eph 3:17
We need to take root below and bear fruit above
5. Stop the Choke
Phil 4:6-7
Speak scripture, pray scripture, and ask for release from anxiety
Ecclesiastes 11:6
6. Retain the word
Luke 8:14
7. Press forth to your 100-Fold
Finish what you started
Harvest will come with perseverance
Gal 6:9 - do not quit before the harvest comes.
When we left that day we felt God telling us to stand firm, don’t give up. No matter how bad it was at work I needed to finish what I started and not give up before the harvest time. Four days later I was released from work, but can I tell you we never doubted God. We never thought this would be the outcome but we knew God was going to do something big and something special.
Everyday since the Beth Moore conference Stephanie and I have been soaking in God’s word. We have had the best quiet times and prayer times together since then. When she has been down, I have been there to lift her up and when I have been down she has been there for me. We have been memorizing one scripture verse after another. God has brought us so close together these past weeks I get excited thinking about it. We never doubted that God would take care of us. In the past 4 weeks I went only 1 week without work and I had a dear brother who let me come to work with him a couple of days of that week. We have been able to see our children come and join us in our quiet times as well as pray with us and for us. Thank you God!
Today I was thinking about what to write and where to start, if any of you know me you know that I don’t read much and I never write but God told me to start from the beginning and He would finish the story. After my quiet time this morning in a hotel room I called Stephanie and God gave her some scripture that she shared with me and I want to share with you. It brings our journey that we have been on to full light now. Mark 10:29-30 says that God will bless us 100 times for our persecutions and leaving our family for His sake.
Today, Stephanie and Katherine, my oldest daughter, leave to the Ukraine for 10 days on a mission trip. Thank you God for the past 4 weeks and their faithfulness to stay focused on going instead of our circumstances. The harvest was never about my job but about God’s kingdom. What some may have looked as being bad, God made it good. My prayer is that we would continue to keep our eyes on God even when things get better. I would love to tell you about the great friends we have that came beside us when things were down and how my brother Roy called me to lift me up when he is fighting as well. God you are so good and so faithful. Thank you. To the other 49 men there that day my prayer is that God will bless you 100 fold as well.
My Prayer for Trace Crossing:
God I pray that you would bless our faith family 100 fold times 100, that we would reach out and bless 100 and they 100 and so on. I pray that we would plant in the good soil and dig roots with scripture and bear fruit serving and ministering others around our city and reaching our world.
About 4 weeks ago Stephanie and I were in Louisville visiting her parents. We had planned this weekend because Beth Moore was speaking at their church. Stephanie’s parents purchased 4 tickets about a year ago for us to go with them. I’ll have to say I was a little skeptical about it because these events are for women, but they insisted more and more men were coming to listen to her. I knew I needed to here a word of some sort after the issues I had been dealing with at my work so I was on my way. Once we got there I began looking for all the men they were talking about. I couldn’t count John, Stephanie’s dad, because he was working as an usher. After I discounted all the men ushers and Beth Moore’s bodyguard I realized that instead of 50 there were only 3 and one of them was her brother.
I did however know the other man besides myself, his name is Roy. Roy is a good friend of John and Jan’s and I was very glad to see him there. The church that Beth was speaking at holds about 9,000 and the fellowship hall area holds another 1,000 and it was 100% sold-out. If you are counting, like I was, you will notice there were about 9,950 WOMEN and about 50 men and 47 of them were working. Roy had already been to one of her conferences so he was over the low testosterone levels and worshipping away. After the first night Stephanie and I got back to our room and began talking about the material we had covered. We both enjoyed the music and she had some good scripture but I still wasn’t getting it like Stephanie was. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed that night but I was ready for something life changing and I left that night still feeling a little empty.
When we got up the next morning Stephanie and I reviewed our notes again and prayed that God would give us a word about my job. Once we got back to the church we started listening to the praise band and worshipping God in such an awesome way. You could feel God’s presence in the room. After the music Beth got up and began teaching again and pulling the points from the night before and tying them in with new points. After a little while I realized why all of our wives have been so excited to listen to her for all these years. God anointed Beth that morning and she gave us a word that hit us directly between the eyes. Her message was in Luke chapter 8 about the parable of the sower. The points she gave us that day are as follows with some scripture:
1. Treasure the Wonder
2 Tim 3:16-17
Hosea 10:12
She talked about being “Thoroughly Equipped” and “Competently Competent”
2. Protect your Heart
John 10:10
Psalm 119:10-11
3. Expect the Test
Psalms 126:5-6
1 Cor 10:13
God will take you through trails to make you stand.
Satan will send temptations to make you fall.
4. Dig the roots
2 Kings 19:29-31
Eph 3:17
We need to take root below and bear fruit above
5. Stop the Choke
Phil 4:6-7
Speak scripture, pray scripture, and ask for release from anxiety
Ecclesiastes 11:6
6. Retain the word
Luke 8:14
7. Press forth to your 100-Fold
Finish what you started
Harvest will come with perseverance
Gal 6:9 - do not quit before the harvest comes.
When we left that day we felt God telling us to stand firm, don’t give up. No matter how bad it was at work I needed to finish what I started and not give up before the harvest time. Four days later I was released from work, but can I tell you we never doubted God. We never thought this would be the outcome but we knew God was going to do something big and something special.
Everyday since the Beth Moore conference Stephanie and I have been soaking in God’s word. We have had the best quiet times and prayer times together since then. When she has been down, I have been there to lift her up and when I have been down she has been there for me. We have been memorizing one scripture verse after another. God has brought us so close together these past weeks I get excited thinking about it. We never doubted that God would take care of us. In the past 4 weeks I went only 1 week without work and I had a dear brother who let me come to work with him a couple of days of that week. We have been able to see our children come and join us in our quiet times as well as pray with us and for us. Thank you God!
Today I was thinking about what to write and where to start, if any of you know me you know that I don’t read much and I never write but God told me to start from the beginning and He would finish the story. After my quiet time this morning in a hotel room I called Stephanie and God gave her some scripture that she shared with me and I want to share with you. It brings our journey that we have been on to full light now. Mark 10:29-30 says that God will bless us 100 times for our persecutions and leaving our family for His sake.
Today, Stephanie and Katherine, my oldest daughter, leave to the Ukraine for 10 days on a mission trip. Thank you God for the past 4 weeks and their faithfulness to stay focused on going instead of our circumstances. The harvest was never about my job but about God’s kingdom. What some may have looked as being bad, God made it good. My prayer is that we would continue to keep our eyes on God even when things get better. I would love to tell you about the great friends we have that came beside us when things were down and how my brother Roy called me to lift me up when he is fighting as well. God you are so good and so faithful. Thank you. To the other 49 men there that day my prayer is that God will bless you 100 fold as well.
My Prayer for Trace Crossing:
God I pray that you would bless our faith family 100 fold times 100, that we would reach out and bless 100 and they 100 and so on. I pray that we would plant in the good soil and dig roots with scripture and bear fruit serving and ministering others around our city and reaching our world.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
DAY 20: "Jehovah Jireh" by Stephanie Foreman
DAY TWENTY: "JEHOVAH-JIREH: The Lord Will Provide" by Stephanie Foreman
I really can’t begin to tell you the infinite ways God has provided for me and my family. He has abundantly provided for our faith family as well. He blows my mind with His faithfulness to us even when we are not always so faithful to Him!
Katherine and I leave tomorrow to go to
He has blessed our church with a Godly, Holy-Spirit inspired Pastor; with a dynamic, faith-filled worship leader, and family after family of God- gifted people ready and willing to reach out to a lost and dying people. GOD’S PROVISION - What a glorious gift! There are no limits to what He can do! We see story after story in the Bible of how God provided for His children. He does the very same for us today!
Let’s not be so preoccupied today with what IS so that we lose sight of what CAN BE! Let’s step back and see the bigger picture. Greater things are yet to come! Let’s praise Him for His provision and believe Him for the BEST! He is so able!
My prayer for our faith family:
Gracious Lord, You are truly amazing! I stand in awe of You! Please help us to never lose sight of Your Greatness. Help us to be ever aware of Your daily provision in our personal lives as well as in our church. Thank You that You know what we need before we even know we need it! Thank You that You care about every detail of our lives! Help us to be faithful to You, Lord as You are so faithful to us! In Jesus Name I Pray… Amen
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
DAY 19: "Mustard Seed Faith" by Cindi Thornton
DAY NINETEEN: “Mustard Seed Faith” by Cindi Thornton
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out [a demon]?"
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:19-20
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. Luke 17:5-6
Have you ever seen a mustard seed? If you haven’t it is a teeny, tiny, wrinkled brown ball. But, when that seed is planted it grows into a huge tree. Jesus told his disciples that if they had faith the size of a mustard seed they could look at a mountain and tell it to move. He also stated in the book of Luke that if they had that little amount of faith they could say to a mulberry bush to uproot and plant itself in the sea. Imagine if we had faith the size of a pumpkin seed or even a watermelon seed! Even though those are small they are still larger than the mustard seed. Think of the spiritual power and strength that we could have if we just increased our faith a tiny bit.
I am amazed at how satisfied I am with my little bitsy faith. How I can be satisfied with so little when I know how much more my life could be enriched with more faith? Satan really is doing a number on Christians by lying to us and convincing us not to believe how powerful our Father is. I wonder if we are afraid of what we will have to give up or how much we will have to put in to be more faithful. Why am I satisfied with mustard seed faith? What am I afraid of? Is it confessing a sin in my life I don’t want to give up? Or maybe having to come to church when I’m supposed to? Why can’t I just trust in Him and not worry about what I can or can’t do? It would be so much easier to put my setbacks in his hands and trust that he will fix it - to trust, with absolute faith and total belief - that He is able.
Is there a reason your faith is lacking? Is there something keeping you content with your small faith? I know that I definitely have some huge areas in my life I need to change. God is all powerful and I am robbing myself of so much more for not having faith. God is all powerful. Let us all plant that little seed and see what huge rewards we will reap!
My Prayer for Trace Crossing:
I pray that the members of Trace Crossing can grow in their faith. Think of what our church could accomplish with greater faith in our Father! Holy Spirit, pray for me and what I am struggling with that limits me as I learn to be dissatisfied with “little bitsy faith”.
*I would like to ask that you pray for me and what I am struggling with that limits me in my faith – Thank you!
Monday, September 8, 2008
DAY 18: "The Waiting" by Shane Robbins
DAY EIGHTEEN: "The Waiting" by Shane Robbins
I love to read the story of David. Boy, did he have some ups and downs! But one aspect of the story that has always intrigued me is his anointing by Samuel. David was the youngest of his brothers, just like me. When Samuel invited the family out to share in a sacrifice, David was left back tending the sheep. Maybe a modern day equivalent would be waiting to put the wet clothes in the dryer, I don’t know. But he seemed to be an afterthought. After the Lord had passed over all his siblings and he was brought from the field, I can almost imagine the looks from his brothers and the rolling eyes as Samuel began to pour the oil over his head. David? A king? Please.
Then, as far as we can tell, nothing changed. David went back to the field with the other hired help and watched the sheep. I can’t really get my thoughts around that. The nation's best known prophet from the nation's best known city comes to your relatively unknown house and proclaims you the next King of the nation, and then you go back out to the mundane world? He didn’t go to king training school to learn how to sword fight or any of that other kingly stuff. It was back to the sheep. Sure, he got to play the harp for King Saul every now and then but it was hardly an apprenticeship. No, he just waited – out there in the field serving his family in a thankless task.
A few weekends ago, I took my family tent camping at Trace State Park for one night. Driving down the road after leaving the next day, Tricia and I talked in the front seat about what we would do next time to make it better: an air mattress for the tent, breakfast foods to cook the next morning, an extra night to have more time, did I mention the air mattress? Morgan was in the back seat listening with her little ears when she suddenly exclaimed, “Why are y’all talking like that?! It was so good just like it was!”
In my own life I get really impatient at times. I wonder if I miss savoring the sweetness of mundane moments in everyday life. I wonder if I get so wrapped up in each hectic day that I miss my time for the quietness, intimacy, and worship with my Lord. If God has me on the potter’s wheel of “the waiting”, am I allowing myself to be molded and prepared into a vessel He can use? Or am I always just impatient and miss out on seeing the moments God has created and so desperately wants me to seize each and every day?
Still, it can be pretty hard to be patient during the waiting. Sometimes things can become routine, mundane even. I realize I am far from alone in these aspects. My mind goes back to David, sitting in the field, playing his harp and singing songs to the Lord. Looking out at his sheep on a nice, peaceful night, full of contentment he thinks to himself, “The Lord is MY shepherd. I shall not want… Hey, that’s pretty good. I need to write that down.” But seriously, I think it was in those early times of quietness, intimacy, and worship with God that he prepared David to be the King He wanted him to be – a man after His own heart.
I am so thankful to be a part of the individuals and families that make up The Church at Trace Crossing. I see talented people with a servant’s heart that God has anointed to do some really great things. Just in the year and a half that I have been a part, I have seen some amazing happenings: people giving out organs; a small group of church families collecting enough money to buy transportation, nice transportation, for someone in need; virtually everyone coming together to serve a forgotten section of our community.
I can’t imagine David foresaw the giant he would defeat, the armies he would conquer, the success he would experience. But the Bible says that from the first moment the oil was poured down his head, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Him in power. I think about the dream only a few years ago that God put in the hearts of a small group of individuals dissatisfied with “church as usual”. We have seen some amazing things and we are all thankful, but I still find it in my heart that the best is yet to come. In this time of waiting and “gathering”, as Kevin shared over the summer, I think God is making the preparation needed within those longing to see this community totally transformed for Christ. We have seen God move, but He is steadily creating a hunger longing to see Him really show out! As Kevin wrote just a few days ago, “Greater things are still to be done in this city”!
My Prayer for Trace Crossing:
Lord, help us to realize the excitement and choice contained in each and every moment of our lives. Help our church, in its toddler years, to become who You would want us to be. Let us see the opportunities in everyday life to grow, become alive in You, and to reach this community in a Spirit that is alive and full of truth. And help us Lord to realize what You have blessed us with, to never take for granted the church family You have created. Help us realize that if we allow you to continue to shape us as individuals, then, as part of this awesome church family, our minds cannot conceive Your future plans!
I love to read the story of David. Boy, did he have some ups and downs! But one aspect of the story that has always intrigued me is his anointing by Samuel. David was the youngest of his brothers, just like me. When Samuel invited the family out to share in a sacrifice, David was left back tending the sheep. Maybe a modern day equivalent would be waiting to put the wet clothes in the dryer, I don’t know. But he seemed to be an afterthought. After the Lord had passed over all his siblings and he was brought from the field, I can almost imagine the looks from his brothers and the rolling eyes as Samuel began to pour the oil over his head. David? A king? Please.
Then, as far as we can tell, nothing changed. David went back to the field with the other hired help and watched the sheep. I can’t really get my thoughts around that. The nation's best known prophet from the nation's best known city comes to your relatively unknown house and proclaims you the next King of the nation, and then you go back out to the mundane world? He didn’t go to king training school to learn how to sword fight or any of that other kingly stuff. It was back to the sheep. Sure, he got to play the harp for King Saul every now and then but it was hardly an apprenticeship. No, he just waited – out there in the field serving his family in a thankless task.
A few weekends ago, I took my family tent camping at Trace State Park for one night. Driving down the road after leaving the next day, Tricia and I talked in the front seat about what we would do next time to make it better: an air mattress for the tent, breakfast foods to cook the next morning, an extra night to have more time, did I mention the air mattress? Morgan was in the back seat listening with her little ears when she suddenly exclaimed, “Why are y’all talking like that?! It was so good just like it was!”
In my own life I get really impatient at times. I wonder if I miss savoring the sweetness of mundane moments in everyday life. I wonder if I get so wrapped up in each hectic day that I miss my time for the quietness, intimacy, and worship with my Lord. If God has me on the potter’s wheel of “the waiting”, am I allowing myself to be molded and prepared into a vessel He can use? Or am I always just impatient and miss out on seeing the moments God has created and so desperately wants me to seize each and every day?
Still, it can be pretty hard to be patient during the waiting. Sometimes things can become routine, mundane even. I realize I am far from alone in these aspects. My mind goes back to David, sitting in the field, playing his harp and singing songs to the Lord. Looking out at his sheep on a nice, peaceful night, full of contentment he thinks to himself, “The Lord is MY shepherd. I shall not want… Hey, that’s pretty good. I need to write that down.” But seriously, I think it was in those early times of quietness, intimacy, and worship with God that he prepared David to be the King He wanted him to be – a man after His own heart.
I am so thankful to be a part of the individuals and families that make up The Church at Trace Crossing. I see talented people with a servant’s heart that God has anointed to do some really great things. Just in the year and a half that I have been a part, I have seen some amazing happenings: people giving out organs; a small group of church families collecting enough money to buy transportation, nice transportation, for someone in need; virtually everyone coming together to serve a forgotten section of our community.
I can’t imagine David foresaw the giant he would defeat, the armies he would conquer, the success he would experience. But the Bible says that from the first moment the oil was poured down his head, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Him in power. I think about the dream only a few years ago that God put in the hearts of a small group of individuals dissatisfied with “church as usual”. We have seen some amazing things and we are all thankful, but I still find it in my heart that the best is yet to come. In this time of waiting and “gathering”, as Kevin shared over the summer, I think God is making the preparation needed within those longing to see this community totally transformed for Christ. We have seen God move, but He is steadily creating a hunger longing to see Him really show out! As Kevin wrote just a few days ago, “Greater things are still to be done in this city”!
My Prayer for Trace Crossing:
Lord, help us to realize the excitement and choice contained in each and every moment of our lives. Help our church, in its toddler years, to become who You would want us to be. Let us see the opportunities in everyday life to grow, become alive in You, and to reach this community in a Spirit that is alive and full of truth. And help us Lord to realize what You have blessed us with, to never take for granted the church family You have created. Help us realize that if we allow you to continue to shape us as individuals, then, as part of this awesome church family, our minds cannot conceive Your future plans!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
DAY 17: "No Regrets" by Linda Simmons
DAY SEVENTEEN: “No Regrets” by Linda Simmons
In reading the stories on this blog, it seems we all have much in common. It also seems we all have one common goal – to serve God with all our hearts and to make a difference in the world around us. I grew up in a denomination very big on that list of what you CAN NOT do as a Christian, so much so it took all the joy out of “being” a Christian.
I had heard people say how they had been hurt by a church, which was beyond my imagination. I would think to myself, this was someone just looking for any excuse not to participate in the church. But when it happens to you, it is as if your whole Christian experience has tumbled in on top of you. You question if anything you knew was right or if have you been out in left field all the time.
When we (Sammy and I) experienced this kind of hurt we knew we should not quit going to church. But where were we supposed to go? For several weeks we visited some of the places we knew. Within minutes of entering some of the churches, we knew “this was not the place”. Other churches went on that “maybe” list. Then one Saturday we pulled up in the West Main Shopping Center parking lot to buy some outdoor flower pots for our deck and we were directly facing The Church at Trace Crossing. We had seen the small signs for this church occasionally and had commented on them. We originally had no intentions of looking for the church that belonged to those signs.
That Saturday evening, as had become our weekly ritual, we had to decide where to attend church on Sunday. I told Sammy, “Let’s try that Trace Crossing church we saw today.” Truthfully, I came that first Sunday - Father’s Day 2007 - with no expectations of this being our home church. I will always remember that day. Kevin Wood came to the front to give his sermon and announced he had a message planned, but felt moved to change what he was to preach. Sammy and I looked at each other. One of the things we were searching for was someone who would not only be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, but able to put his thoughts aside to deliver what he felt was the message for that service and that group of people. What a breath of fresh air. You could feel and see his enthusiasm for this church group. It did not take us long to decide this is where we felt God had lead us to be and serve.
Since that first Sunday, we have met people we feel honored to be able to call friends. There are "no regrets" having made this decision.
My Prayer for Trace Crossing:
Heavenly Father, help all of us at this church to keep our focus on You. Without your Spirit drawing, no one can come to the Father. Keep us humble and willing to do whatever your Spirit leads us to do. Help us to be where the hurting can come and be made whole again, through your Spirit.
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