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.   

Starting Over

Starting Over

          Last Sunday I taught children's church and missed the sermon. I went back a few weeks into my sketchbook for this one from Evan Westburg. His theme was about starting over.

          One of his illustrations was a story of Peter. The disciple known for jumping in without thinking. For reacting first and not always getting it right. In other words he had no filter. What came into his mind came out his mouth, or into action. No, "Let's think about this first."

          Jesus foretold that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed. Peter knew he wouldn't. No he couldn't. But he did. After Jesus had been arrested Peter sat by a fire outside the palace of the high priests. Three times someone came to Peter and asked, "Aren't you one of Jesus disciples?" Three times he denied he knew Jesus. As the cock crowed Peter wept bitterly.

          After Jesus rose from the dead He walked along the shore where the disciples were fishing. When Peter realized he saw Jesus he dove into the water and didn't even wait for the boat to get there. This is where, over a blazing fire as their fish cooked, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him.  Peter answered that of course he did. Jesus said "Then feed my sheep." This Jesus repeated three times. Jesus gave Peter the chance to start over. To forget his mistakes, be forgiven, and begin again.

          

Exodus 14

A BUG! PANIC!

I recently spent time with my little friend, Ellia. She is Pastor Evan's  youngest daughter. I was in the hallway at church when she and her mom popped out of Pastor Greg's office in a hurry.

Ellia, known for her quiet, fragile voice was shouting, "A bug!! I see a bug! I don't like bugs. Mommy, I don't like bugs!" 


Crying, she came over to me and in her small, frightened voice she said, "Faye, I'm scared of bugs. We saw a spider. I don't like bugs." 

Using my stand-by distraction method, I said, "I don't either, but I like Lady Bugs. They're okay,  right? They 're cute."

"Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!" Ellia hurried into her daddy's office.

Mommy said, "I'm sorry. Ellia is very afraid of any kind of bugs. Even cute ones."

Daddy calmed her crying. "Don't be afraid," he told  her and  helped her to stand firm. In his hug of assurance he helped her to be still and quieted the panic.

But when it was time for me to leave, and she came out of Daddy's office to hug me good-by she whispered fearful words into my ear. "A bug, Faye, I saw a bug. I'm scared of bugs."

She hadn't moved on and I realized she was still caught up in her fear. I whispered back, "The bugs are all gone now, Ellia."

"The bugs are all gone?"

"Yes"

She smiled and ran back to mom with a happy voice. "The bugs are gone, Mommy. They are all gone!"

Today's pencil preaching is from Greg Ralston's sermon last week. He began by setting the scene of the original Passover event. The part where the blood of the sacrificial lamb is placed on the doorposts. The top part and the two sides of the door. The angel of death then passes over  the homes of these people.  Greg reminded us that if we draw a line from top to bottom and side to side, this forms a cross.

Then, as in Ellia's story, the Israelites went through the same range of emotions as she did.

Panic, as they came to the Red Sea. "Why didn't we just stay in Egypt? It's better than dying in the dessert."

Moses told them, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Moses' words helped, some. It did stop their panic, but they didn't moved on from the fear.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. ¹⁶ Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground." 

When you are faced with a situation of panic listen to the word of God from the many places in the Bible where He says, "Don't be afraid." Then instead of rushing about with frantic urgency, stand firm on God's promises. Be still and listen for what to do next. Then don't get stuck in that fear. Take a step, and then another, and allow yourself to move on.

Cristus Victor

Cristus Victor

Imagine, in a blink everyone gets it. Jesus is Christ. He is the Lord, the Messiah. Those who thought they knew Him, but didn't except Him, will know. Those who hated Him, will know. Even those who never heard of Him will understand. Those that refused to believe He even existed will realize that they missed it. Everything will all make sense.                                                                       

Greg Ralston preached on the verses that spoke about the end times. In Philippians2:9-11 it tells us:

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
   and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

At that future moment everyone will know and understand. But in the here and now we need to work at loving, sharing, and proclaiming the love of God to everyone. How much is literal in our interpretations of what it will look like? I don't know, but to me one thing is clear.  Those of who know Jesus Christ need to be a force of love and witness to everyone we can. Not criticizing or demanding, but getting the message of the Gospel out in way that draws people to Jesus. To send out a scent of love and caring that is so strong and enticingly pleasant that they will want to find out more.                                                                                         

Revelation 7:9: After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

   “Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

These people were martyrs during the great tribulation. Those that gave their life to Christ, literally. They lived for Christ proclaiming God's love and died refusing to  deny their belief and love for Him. Later in that chapter it speaks of God wiping all the tears from their eyes. I wonder if their tears are for the people they could not convince, or could not reach with the message of God's love?