Circle Talk

Presentation to Circle on 9-19-09

Acts 1: 7-8 And He said to them, it is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive the power, and when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be a witness to Me in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the world.

Acts begins in the Upper Room immediately before Jesus ascended into heaven. The disciples had experienced Jesus’ life from a front row seat. They had heard him tell what was going to happen to him, they had seen Jesus go into the desert for 40 days. They saw him mocked and scourged. They had seen him crucified and buried. Now they are seeing him with them now after he arose from the dead, just as he said it would happen. Even knowing it was suppose to all happen I can imagine the adrenaline in the room. I can almost hear them circling Jesus saying, “What’s next? What’s next?” If Jesus is anything like I imagine, “ I could almost see him saying, “Simmer down boys. Simmer down. Now quit jumping ahead. I know you are all very excited. I know you are both very excited to move forward to what we have in store and are a little scared too. Yes, the Father has a plan and when the Holy Spirit comes He is going to not only tell you how to carry out the plan, but will give you the power to complete the task successfully. The mission guys is this: Go be a witness not only in nearby towns, but far away cities, and to everyone everywhere. For me, go spread the GOOD NEWS to the ends of the earth.

Here at Trinity on the Hill UMC, do you ever feel as though we get so excited for Jesus that we are like some of those disciples. We hear the message that we are to go to the ends of the earth. We are more than willing, but sometimes run ahead before we stop and listen to how to carry out the plan. We run ahead before we wait for the Holy Spirit to come and give us the power in the plan that assures success. Or perhaps you are like another kind of disciple that knows the plan is wonderful but you just think it is too much for you. Perhaps you don’t get the “power of the Holy Spirit” like they are talking about in these verses. You realize that the mission just won’t be successful if everyone is relying on just you. So you shy away because you lack the confidence to do pull it off. Or maybe you are unsure because you don’t really “get” the big picture or the long term benefit. So you just wait until it feels right. If you see yourself you are no different than me and no different that the disciples that day. Please pray with me.

Prayer: Lord we recognize that you have planned a spectacular scene of events for us. These events involve the heavens and the earth. WOW! All of these events are orchestrated for good and for your glory. You have identified a very specific job for each one of us to that success will be assured. The plan will bring us joy and abundance. Forgive us for leaning on our own understanding and not relying on you. We have lacked faith and have not trusted the power of the Holy Spirit will come upon us if we follow your guidance. Bring us the peace that surpasses all understanding and peace to understand that it is OK not to know the big picture at this particular time. Bring us clarity in our role in this mission. Bring us the power of the Holy Spirit to carry out our assignment that brings you glory. Fight off Satan’s influence over us that makes us lazy, apathetic, overwhelmed that at times causes us to get caught up in the business, then we find ourselves bewildered when he uses all of these emotions all at the same time. Thank you Lord for giving us the opportunity to serve you and glorify you. Help us to use these opportunities not only as a group here today, but in every minute of the day as we leave this place. In the name of your precious Son we pray today. AMEN!

My friend Kris, visited her son’s church a few weeks ago. During the service they asked each person to give one dollar to a special mission project. The donation was to be above and beyond their tithe and above and beyond their regular mission donations. “Just give up the cost of a cup of coffee this week.” They asked. I guess those that go for the more high-end gourmet coffees could give more. They explained that the recipient of the special offering had not even been identified. Please trust that their part would be used for good and to glorify God. The congregation would learn the following week where the money collected went. Kris called her son a week later and learned where her contribution went. An unchurched mother of three received the donation. Her husband had run all of their credit cards to their limits without her knowing it. Then to cover their cost, he embezzled from his job. When his employer found out, her husband was fired. In his desperation, he killed himself. The mother paid back all of her husbands debts and the amount embezzled. Shortly thereafter she found that she had a tumor on her heart. This mother of 3 children had no money to pay the co pay and deductibles of the insurance for the procedure. The special offering of the church paid the hospital the deductibles, co pays and the physician’s fees. She received a letter from the church telling her about the fees paid and also included check for expenses while she was out of work recuperating from surgery. Kris looked at me and said, “I was a part of this.” Wow! Don’t you love it when God lets you experience something so powerful. Don’t you love it when God gives you a piece of the power to do such a great mission. Don’t you love it when he doesn’t reveal the end sometimes until all of the pieces come together and you can jump with joy and say, “I was a part of this!” We all want to be a part of joy like this. We all want just this type of delight. Women that organize missions for our church see these opportunities all the time.

Recently, you may have heard about the need for a water pump in Africa where it hasn’t rained in 5 years. The zebra and elephants are dying. Children are dying of thirst. They need $12K in the next few days. When hearing of this problem, Kris prayed for these people and heard the Lord call to her to – JUST ASK. So for the past week she has “just asked”. Someone that she “just asked” went to the private schools to ask to be the benefactor of one of the schools dress down days. In these schools certain days are designated for raising money by allowing students to dress down, out of uniform, for $1. I asked Kris how it was going. She said that it was hard not to get caught up in organizing groups, making flyers, and other busy work. She had to keep reminding herself that her appointed calling was to “JUST ASK”. How often we feel it is best if we take the whole mission upon ourselves. That is far more than God intended. He wants us to do our part, not all the parts. When we take on more than he asks we take the joy and abundance from someone else. We have to step back so that all parties can delight in the Lord, see the power of the Holy Spirit, and feel the joy that glorifies Him.

In Nehemiah 1: 3-4 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down and its gates are burned with fire. So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days. I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

I love the way these verses just spell it out for us. Nehemiah models for us how we should react as we hear about the plight , problems and disasters of those around us. First – I sat. Then – I wept and mourned for many days. So often we want to jump up and start fixing the situation. Nehemiah tells us to sit, weep, mourn, and PRAY. Notice that he did this for days before he acted. As we hear the opportunities in mission work, we should follow Nehemiah and pray for days so that we hear His direction and receive the power of the Holy Spirit as we take on the mission.

Nehemiah was cup bearer to the King. The cup bearer was very close to the King and had great influence with the king. The king was a person who could make things run very smoothly for him. At TOTH we have regular and not so regular attendees in our midst that are hungry for someone to walk up beside them and say, come on and join me! At TOTH we are cupbearers that come along beside people who have great influence. How many times have we heard about a need and know just the person who could supply the perfect solution to the need. Why do you think God put you right in the middle there? AT TOTH people are hungry for opportunities to make a difference in a single mother’s life, to bring a well to the thirsty, or to provide supplies to those devastated by disaster. You may be thinking, I’m not so sure, they don’t act hungry to me. God knows just the right people to put together to make the event happen, your job is to uncover the opportunity. He will nudge the person to step forward. Don’t make the sad mistake of taking their opportunity before they have a chance to sit, weep, mourn, and pray. Our women’s circles are in the position where the church funnels the needs presented. The circle then prays and discerns over them and with the that discernment and the power of the Holy Spirit, follows as the Lord directs and leads our church where a mighty work can happen.

Women at TOTH are hungry for the Lord, desire the joy of serving the Lord, but are eaten up with the business and fear of committing to another activity in their schedule. We need to think about entry points and opportunities to participate where they can get a taste, a one time taste, a first time taste, that leads to hunger for more. Our Circles have a great curriculum for the year. Perhaps we can breatk the concept of “Join a circle and come” to “Come to a one time event” and when they come, invite them to come again and possibly join a circle. You have a fabulous program in November where the artist are presenting. The administrative staff of the church can promote this and with very little effort, repackage the presentation so that your circle “sponsors” the event and all women are invited to attend this one time event. Another circle is having a night time event where they are working on items for the Lydia Project. Possibly they could repackage to sponsor a “Night where women are invited to be introduced to a hands on night with the Lydia Project”. With more attending, more volunteers may be secured for the Lydia project or more members of your circle.

The symbol of our women’s ministry is the vine. The Lord is the vine and we are the branches. With Him, we grow and bear fruit. I see the circles as those curly runners on a vine. They run ahead and go where the vine has not grown. When the branch and the runners go together the runners and the branches are supported and, if they are like the vines in my backyard, go to places that weren’t attainable in another way. As the vine expands and grows more the fruit is more widespread. As we go over the activities of each of the branches of the women’s ministry, consider how the circles could combine and expand effort to enhance the circle of influence and provide opportunity that would allow more to serve.

To give you an example of what I am talking about, you may remember the women’s night out event on July 30^th. We had over 220 women attend. If your circle had identified Golden Harvest Food Bank as a charity to support during this special event, we could have asked each woman to bring 2 can goods with the cost of admission. We would have filled one corner of the room with the can goods collected and raised awareness of the charity. Little work on any individual, bu results that would have been fabulous.

Ideas collected as Women of the Vine update given:

· MOPS – Assist redbird missions by collecting box tops. After being introduced to the mission, one volunteer could be responsible for collecting the box tops at each meeting and giving them to the Circle representative.

· Community Event – really too late and already WAFJ. Coordinate next year for added impact of mission area identified.

· Retreat: Use the cross taken to string spools of thread brought by attendees. When returning home continue effort in gathering area to display and collect more. Result would be a huge cross covered with spools of colorful thread. Easily disassembled for taking to TOGO. We could also “needle folks for needles”

· Prime time is doing a fashion show, could each one bring a coat for the coat mission?

· MOTTS: They currently write to and pray for TOTH teens and college students, could we get a list of names and addresses for the Harrisburg girls to include?

· Spring Women’s event or next summer event: Determine the one single school supply wanted by ____school. Let’s say it was paper. Ask each woman to bring the money for a ream of paper or bring the ream of paper. We should also look at our circle of influence for paper suppliers in our church and Sunday Schools to donate cases of paper at start of school year. Circles could identify what is needed, collection date, and collection stations, then make the delivery.

· Prayer Shawl Ministry – Collect sewing supplies.

All of these were great brainstorming ideas and it was felt that these could greatly expand the opportunities to serve the Lord, glorify Him, and bring good. The circles will continue by sitting, listening to the lord for discernment and how to deploy these ideas as he directs.

As I watched a bucket of water on my patio the other day during a rainstorm. I had left it there to gather water to water the plants. As each drop of water went into the bucket, I was glad it was gathered because rainwater, from the heavens, is better than any water from the hose. That big old bucket just sat their collecting the drops of water. Each drop of water joined in to fill the bucked until it overflowed. You know if I had gone out there and tried to gather up all of the drops that fell down, I would not have been successful – some would have even spilled out – never being used. I would be exhausted and the mission would have failed. Each drop had a mission and so did the bucket. I had a job just to pick it up and water it. All so simple.

How is God calling this circle to support missions? As you pray over your mission projects, ask the Lord for clear direction. Individually you may be called to be one of the drops that fills the bucket, or collectively your circle could provide your drops to provide to the missions, or maybe you circle will be the bucket to collect drops from a large body of people. You may be called to carry the bucket to each spring shower, to each gully washer, to each thunderstorm to gather more and more until the plant gets strong enough to survive very well on its own. The Lord will be clear to you on your role if you ask. The Holy Spirit will come upon and bring you the power to be successful. Successful in pouring Jesus out into all the world.

What Kind of Coach is God?

There was a high school football team that was playing in the final play-offs for the state championship. The starting quarterback was injured early in the game, the 2nd string quarterback was recovering from the flu that had been going around and even though he was on the bench, he had not even dressed out. All the coach had left was the 3rd sting freshman who had played as a quarterback in middle school but was actually the varsity punter. To make matters worse, they were backed up on their own 3 yard line. In desperation, the coach’s only thought was to somehow get a little farther from the opponents goal to give them room to punt out of danger. As he sent the 3rd sting quarter back in he told him, “ Son, just hand it off to the big fullback Kowaski for the next two plays, let him run up the middle to give us some breathing room, then on the 3rd play, I want you to punt. The young quarterback did has he was instructed. On the first play he handed it off to Kowoski and he found a hole and ran 50 yards. The quarterback called the second play and miracles of miracles he found another hole and gained 45 yards. They were on the opponent’s 2-yardline. It was first down and goal to go! The crowd was going wild! Confidently the team lined up once again. The young quarterback received the snap, stepped back and to everyone’s amazement punted the ball into the end zone. As the stunned team mates left the field, the coach angrily grabbed the young quarterback and demanded, “What in the world were you thinking about when you called that last play? The quarterback answered, “I was thinking what a dumb coach we have.”

Doesn’t that sound ridiculous? But some high school and college coaches don’t expect their quarterbacks to think. They call all of the plays in from the bench.
As I compare the relation ship of a football team and their coach, to Christians and God, I am so thankful that God has paid us the ultimate compliment. He allows us to make our own decisions. He allows us to call our own plays each and every day.

He knows when you're riding higher!

Have you ever noticed that of any morning in the week, getting your family ready to go to church on Sunday morning is harder than any other day? In a normal week day, we all roll out of bed, follow a usual routine of showering, dressing, eating breakfast and climbing in the car off to work and school. Most of the time, it is routine and pleasant. Sunday mornings it is usually an entirely different. How many Sunday mornings have resulted in heated arguments in the family and a ride to the church with tears and gritted teeth. Many have come to realize that the evil one doesn’t fight nearly as hard to keep you from a normal week day routine as he does when you are going to worship the Lord.

Over the years I have worked on planning various church activities and have found the same phenomena. When a particularly successful program or activity is being planned, as the event approaches evidence of the evil one begins to stand out. Programs are delayed from the printer. The speaker gets sick. Key committee persons have a family crisis. There is infighting among the ranks. Important registration information is “lost” in the computer. The list goes on and on. With a little experience, I have now figured out that these are tail tale signs that a mighty work is immanent.

This pattern is also evident on a personal level too. I have seen many Christians with prayer and hope for so many dreams: hope that a child will turn around, hope that a loved one will leave alcohol or drugs, hope that a child will conquer dyslexia, hyperactivity, or other learning disability, hope that a husband overcome being consumed with work, or hope that the family will rediscover unity and peaceful co-existence. In many of these instances, I have witnessed that the darkest hours happen right before the dawn. Some have compared these hopes to giving birth. In the beginning stage of pregnancy, not much has changed. The mother looks the same and feels the same, but in only a few months, morning sickness presents. Over the months the body becomes more and more uncomfortable but as the stress begins to take a toll on her back and legs, the hope and excitement of the victory increases. As the anticipated date draws near, just existing becomes unbearable. Sleeping, walking, and even getting out of a chair becomes nearly impossible. On the day of delivery, pain is excruciating. That mother has one thing on her mind, “Get that baby out of there and stop this pain.”
Once the child is born, joy and love prevail and all of the pain is forgotten.

Breakthroughs and answered prayers are a lot like that. Many times it becomes very dark before the dawn. Zechariah 9:12 says, “ Come back to a place of safety, all you prisoners of hope. I promise that this very day that I will repay double blessings to you.” The Lord knows the pain we are enduring as we hold our faith of the promised joy. He promises to give us double blessings for our steadfastness. When adversity begins to set in, are you a prisoner of hope in your journey or do you become a prisoner of worry, negativity, self-pity, or business? During these times of attach, we can take up the sword of the scripture and proclaim, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” Joshua 24:15. Let the wind of His Spirit breathe new life into your dreams. Let the Creator of the Universe direct your steps. Let the difficulty bring new energy into journey. Recognize that Satan acknowledges a mighty work about to be born and he doesn’t like it. The reality of your dreams must be closer than ever before!

The Spy Who Loved Me: Rahab Part 1

Our names become our labels. When we were picking names for our children it was really a big deal because we knew of the stereotypes that went with each name. When we picked Peggy – I knew that people would call her “Piggy”, Peg-leg, and of course Peggy Sue. Would that bother her? I am happy to say she embraced those nick names - had Peg leg in glitter on her softball helment, never winces at Piggy or Miss Piggy – she is fortunate to be skinny as a rail. And when we hear the Buddy Hall we know she is breaking in to a dance around the room because they are playing her song.

An incident can also bring about your label. Rahab was the type of woman that was talked about but not talked to. Some labels come from an incident that isn’t forgotten. Some names that we will always remember for their actions are those like Monica Lewinski, Lorena Bobbitt, and OJ Simpson. Poor Rahab – no matter what happened – she will forever be remembered as Rahab the prostitute.

The Israel was looking for the land of milk and honey. They were God believing, God directed, and God following people. They have been with the power of the Lord conquering cities of idol worshiping people. The stories about their victories – parting of the Red Sea – were well known. Jericho was going to be a benchmark. They had already destroyed two kings of the Amorites. Sihon and Og were also destroyed.

The city was built above one of the largest springs in Palestine and stood as one of the major cities in the Jordan Valley. It was the key to the defense of all the western plain of Palestine. The city was surrounded by two walls. The outer was 6 feet thick and 20 feet high. The inner wall was about 12 feet thick and was 30 feet high. Between the walls was about 15 feet. One wall was the old wall and one was a newer wall. Many of the homes were built between these walls with the front of the house being the inner wall and the back of the house the outer wall. Rahab’s Inn was built like this. Imagine how an Israelite felt seeing this city. It must have looked impossible. They knew of victories but would they win again.We are living in days of battle and spiritual struggles too. There are walls in our lives: lost love one that we’d like to see the Lord touch and save, a ministry we feel inadequate about, family trouble that tears our hearts and leaves us wondering what to do, financial trouble, a besetting sin that constantly crops up in our lives, or any of a million things. We must learn not to look upon our obstacles as dead-ends but as opportunities for the lord to work in our lives. We need to know how to fight. We need to know how to follow HIM to that victory.

Joshua sent to spies to Jericho to case the place out. The King knew that they were more than likely coming. He sent men to try to find them. To me this whole story is beginning to sound like one of those James Bond movies – perhaps – The Spy who Loved Me. Bad Girl- meets the spies – helps them and they rescue her and her family in the end. Later she marries one of the spies. The Lord divinely led these men to Rahab specifically. It was not by chance. Rahab was the Devine Star of this spy story. Think of why God’s plan worked so well. Rahab knew men. She knew how to talk to them, she knew how to quickly size them up to determine if they were OK or not.. she knew how to quickly discern what they wanted. Her Inn was the perfect place to hide. Strangers were coming and going at all times. Lots of traffic in the area. People there weren’t the type to ask each other a lot of questions. The high roof offered a vantage point for a spy.

Can’t you just picture this scene. The spies arrive and Rahab answers the door. They come in probably still wet from crossing the Jordan river that was a few miles before. They had a different accent and looked different than the locals. Spies always have a different look and a different accent.

She probably saw them at arrival as a divinely ordained duo saving her from death. Not her physical death but her spiritual death. She had been a prisoner of these walls – the reputation walls – the label walls – the stereotype walls – for so long. Have you ever felt these type of walls keeping you from freedom? Keeping you from your dreams? The soldiers are seen coming and she motions for them to come on in the Inn. Quickly she tells them to hid on the roof. (Don’t you know she has had to hide many a man there before.) The soldiers knock. Joshua 2:3 Bring out the men who come to you and entered your house because they have come to spy out the whole land. To me they implied that she may loose her life if she did not cooperate. She tells them that yes – they had been here but they are gone. I can just see her “I dunno” blank look and then giving them the “they went that away” . I can just see her closing that door and then turning around and leaning on it taking that deep breath and saying “Whew that was a close one!” Part two coming soon!

Happy New Year!

It is a New Year and a year where good and great things will be happening in our family. Pictured here are my husband Joe, the most important person in my life, and the two kids - Joseph (17) and Peggy (15). We also have a crazy dog named Duce. I hope you all will be enjoying the blog entries I add this year but writing is really not my thing. Joe would love to be my editor but correcting the past entries is really a bore. So please put up with the typos and and the spelling errors. My first love is sharing with groups about living and being led by the the Lord. That is why my blog has it's title. I love the serene conversations and guidance that comes from taking a long but still time with my Lord. It seems each time someone asks me to come give a little lesson....I just have an amazing experience with the Lord and he guides me in the Lesson that is to be shared. It is hard to discribe the closeness that is experienced in researching for those lessons and I am so filled by the experience. I have also added my theme verse for this year. I think the Lord had actually breathed this verse to express that he would provide food and nourishment for His people every day. For me, it had an additional meaning. If I rely on Him - he will give me the words to speak and share with others. I added speaking dates to the blog because people ask for them. I hope you enjoy my blog.

Thankful for Trials and Storms in Life

As we think about what we are thankful for during this Thanksgiving, my minister, Dan Brown, brought to the congregation’s attention that the first Thanksgiving was the celebration of coming through a season where they were tested and withstood the storm.
I realized that I usually say thanks for family, shelter, friends, and the bounty of food passed around the table. This year, for a change, I challenge you to look back over the past year. What were some of the storms that you went through? Maybe you are still going through a storm. But remember that when you go through something, you will come out the other side. It is our choice how we fair on the other side of the storm. That is why we often hear the term "Trials and Tribulations". There is rejoicing after the trial. First comes the trial, then the testing of our faith, third the perseverance, and last the evidence of character.

Genesis 13:14-17 GOD said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I'll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I'm giving it all to you."

Sometimes we are so caught up in looking at our own problems, our own storm, that we don’t even see the world around us. God wants to bless us this Thanksgiving and every day. After the big meal, take a walk in area where you seldom (if ever) have gone before. Take a deep breath of the clear air and give thanks to our Lord from whom all blessings flow.

What is peace?

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

It seems everyone wants it but no one has a real clear answer of what it is or how you can get it or keep it.
Webster’s definition: freedom from or stopping of war; freedom from public disturbance or disorder; freedom from disagreement or quarrels, harmony; an undisturbed state of mind, absence of mental conflict; calm, quiet, tranquility. Basically, is peace what happens when conflict and problems are not present? If so do I have to get rid of all those things that create anxiety in my life in order for me to have peace?
Do I have to get rid of my husband or my kids, or my neighbors, or my bills? Is that what some of our homeless have pursued? If this is what we need to do, Ii don’t think we will every have peace because as long as you are alive, you will always have conflict, and will always have problems.

Paul is teaches us in his letter to the people of Philippi that “Peace is that calm of mind that is not ruffled by adversity, overclouded by remorseful conscience, or disturbed by fear." Peace doesn’t come with the absence of the storm, it comes in the presence of the storm because Jesus is walking there beside us and we’ve got our eyes on Him.