Thank you for the Prayers!

THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS!

This drawing was inspired by the Sunday service held right after the wild fires had rolled along the foothills of Pikes Peak. Our church spent time in that morning service praying for those who had lost homes and for the evacuees. This service made me think about all those around the country that were praying for Colorado Springs as the flames raced down the mountainsides.

Along with the extreme heat from the weather, the burning eyes from the smoke, and the fear of evacuation we experienced hope through your prayers. I know that people from all across the country prayed. From those of us that witnessed the blaze, and those that experienced loss, we thank you for the covering of your prayers. God sent cooler weather, brave firefighters, less wind and a new appreciation for what is really important.

The One Thing

The One Thing

     Do you have one thing? I mean the one thing, the spark that keeps you going in life?

Last Sunday Dan Danielson, former Covenant Army Chaplain, spoke at Living Hope Covenant Church. His message was titled The One Thing. What is the one passionate, love of our life, that one thing that makes life worth living?

     Dan brought in the story of King David. David loved God and being in His presence. It was his most loved thing. He’d rather spend one day in God’s courts than a thousand elsewhere. When repenting of sin he cried to God in Psalm 51:11(NIV)”Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”

     This brought to my mind a song from contemporary singers Shane and Shane. Their song is called Without You:

I can walk through the storm

I can walk by faith when my sight is gone

Just as long as you are there with me

And I can gain everything

But what do I have if I don’t have the King?

Oh, I need to know you are here with me

If your presence goes, I don’t wanna stay.

If your presence stays, I don’t wanna go.

I need you.

God’s is always there. But when you decide to stop and concentrate on Him you can experience being near to God, aware of Him. It’s not about the place it’s the presence of God that matters. You could be somewhere still enough to listen to His words, or loud enough to send Him shouts of praise. This is where we connect with the heart, mind, and spirit to a passionate God.

The church building isn’t a magical spot where God is kept. Don’t leave Him there after Sunday service. Spend quality time worshiping Him throughout your day, and be used by Him in mercy, justice, and love. Be in His presence.

Wait! Stop! Don’t use this as an excuse for not going to church. God’s word is very specific about wanting us to meet together. We NEED each other. Church is a place for encouragement, inspiration, learning, and accountability. If you want to grow stronger in faith, closer to God, and wiser in your decisions then fellowshiping with others is where you need to be.

Picture of Prayer

Picture of Prayer

     Living Hope Covenant Church is doing a program called 40 Days of Prayer. Pastor Greg Ralston preached on the subject.

     Have you ever tried to draw prayer? That’s what this week’s picture is. My picture is of what praying looks like to me. Notice the exact place where the prayer is taking place isn’t made known. I am often unaware of my surroundings when I am in deep prayer. Not a good time to be driving when doing this kind of God communication. Although, I’ve found that the most beautiful places, that would seem to give the most inspiration, can be a distraction when it’s time to get down to business.

When I pray thoughts, feelings, and requests can float in and out, back and forth. I’m not a linier thinker, and my prayers often reflect that. There can be a total wash of God’s presence, or no feeling at all. The times with no emotional response often turns out to be the most productive. Later in the day or week is when I notice the change in me that I needed, or the prayer answered. I think that is God showing me it’s not about my emotions. It’s about a real God, getting things done.

     Anyway, here is the website for the 40 days of Prayer, if you are interested in strengthening your prayer life.

www.40-days.org 

Remember

REMEMBER

          Memorial Day Sunday, Greg Ralston, reminded us what Pastor Nass told us last week. That the word remembering literally means to reassemble. To put  back together, as if putting the pieces of a puzzle in place. I LOVE that image!

          We celebrate Memorial Day to remember those who have died in battle for us. They deserve this honor for their sacrifice. At this time of remembering, Greg, pointed out another purpose for building monuments.

          Greg spoke on two passages. The first one was 1 Samuel 7:1-12. 

            Here are verses 10-12 : ¹⁰ While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered^(U) with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic^(V) that they were routed before the Israelites. ¹¹ The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.

            ¹² Then Samuel took a stone^(W) and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,^[b](X) saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

          So far, so good. Yes, God has helped us up to this point. To me this says, "And why wouldn't He continue to help?" If you have experienced God's power, peace, or forgiveness before why not believe Him now? Don't lose faith at this point when you've seen him do so much for you. Building a monument in some form, writing, art, or a stone on the desk can be a way of reminding yourself of what God has already done in your life.

          The second passage was when God told Joshua to take stones from the middle of the Jordan river to build an altar.

            Joshua 4:4-9 ⁴ So Joshua called together the twelve men^(A) he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, ⁵ and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan.^(B) Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites,⁶ to serve as a sign^(C) among you. In the future, when your children^(D) ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’^(E) 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off^(F) before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial^(G) to the people of Israel forever.”

           

            We can also make a memorial as a way to pass on our own experiences to the next generation. How smart God was to have them build these stones to keep the message alive.                               Greg suggested we do this. This drawing is my memorial. On each stone I have written a note to myself to remind me of a time when God kept me safe, answered a desperate prayer,  or revealed His presence to me in a profound way.

Connected Through Christ

Connected Through Christ

          When I attended the Racial Righteousness Conference held at the Relevant Word Church a few months ago I drew this flower. This event brought together people from all four of the Covenant Churches here in Colorado Springs. We had Relevant Word,  Iglesia Cristiana Getsemani, Faith Covenant, and Living Hope Covenant. We were people of different races, ages, and cultures. But we were all connected by Christ.

          Months later, last Sunday, we reunited again. This time at my church, Living Hope Covenant. Pastor Naas, from Faith Covenant preached. Low and behold he spoke about being connected. His take was that all of us have many different interests and activities in our lives, but Christ needs to be at the center of them all.

          I think this flower tells both stories. One is that we are united as a people through the love of Jesus. We are one in Christ. What a beautiful bouquet of flowers we were!

          Second is that in each area of our lives, school, jobs, sports, hobbies, God is there. He should be the constant connection. Don't categorize your life and leave God out of a portion of your time. He should be your center, connecting each piece together like the petals of a flower. 

God Gifts

God Gifts

          Pastor Greg Ralston spoke on God gifts. No, not on all those wonderful things God gives us.  All those blessings we keep counting, and then lose track of. That is a whole other sermon of its own.

          This is what we NEED to give God. Hurts that are sometimes hidden deep in out spirit. Other gifts burst out in uncontrolled joy. Or there are things we've forgotten we've already given Him and take back, like our fears.  The list goes on.

          So, that is what I did. I made a list with my drawing. I made a picture of my gift and then drew on the wrapping every piece of my life I knew I needed to give to God.  For Him to use, throw out,  take joy in, or put under His control. As I drew and wrote down these gifts I received peace, inspiration, and strength. You may not even be able to read all the things I put down, but that's okay. The gift isn't for you.

          Make a list for yourself. You don't have to draw it, but you can if you want. Remember God is always ready to give, and receive. 

Receive Mercy and Give it Away

Receive Mercy and Give it Away

1 Peter 2:9, 10 NIV

 " . . . that you may declare the praises of him who called you

                              out of darkness

                                                into his wonderful light. 

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;

             once you had not received mercy,

                   but now

                              you have received

                                                mercy."

          This verse says exactly what the sermon that Evan Westburg preached on, in his three part sermon on mercy. We have come from the darkness into light and have received mercy. Now go back and give the mercy away. We need to find tangible ways to give mercy to the ones right beside us, and the ones far across the world.

          Evan took us back in church history to see ways the church has shown mercy. Even times when the majority failed, there were those that cared. We learned about the Jesuits, Phillip Spener, John Wycliffe, John Huss, and Martin Luther.

          We've plenty of opportunities to show mercy in our day and age, too. Neighbors, friends, and families can be among those that we extend mercy. On a more broader scale organizations such as Compassion that supports children in third world countries, using Fair Trade products, and reaching out to the homeless are tangible ways to be Christians of mercy.

          As Evan said, "The church needs to be the place of mercy. The source for people to draw mercy from and extend out to the world."

          In a book that I am working on called "Walled Mercy" that is the very theme. Sometimes we Christians fight with the world and are so desperate to be right, when we need to be desperate to love.