Some of you were there tonight for our mentoring and Lenten worship. It was a rich night of beautiful music (thank you Jessica!), humor, a neat sing-along sermon by Pastor Jim and a huge God surprise. We had discussed at staff this morning about the Mission Jamaica Team leaving Saturday and that we had not done a send off on Sunday. Phyllis suggested we consider doing the send off tonight at our Lenten service. We decided we would see who might be there and pray we would. We were not sure what it would entail until we were sure the team would be available.
When we started checking at supper it was evident that a significant portion of the team would be at worship. As we arrived at the time for the closing prayer I invited the team to come forward and as many folks from the congregation who wanted to lay hands on them as we prayed to come forward too. With the team facing the church family and 20-30 (women, men, youth, children) gathered around to lay hands on the Mission Jamaica team, we prayed. We prayed for the team and for others in our congregation that had asked for prayer too. With hands still laid on the team we joined together and prayed the Lord’s Prayer. It was a powerful moment as God surprised me and a few others I think. There was this undenyable sense of God’s presence. I found it difficult to pray the prayer as my emotions whelmed up inside of me. The mental picture of the whole church family standing and facing the team with so many hands laid on them in prayer was overwhelming. It was a huge God moment in my time here as a part of the Prince of Peace family. When I arrived home later this evening I had an email from one of the team expressing some of the same thoughts…
I want to quote just a bit of the message from Jennifer’s email….
“What power there was, I could really feel the hand of the Lord on me and the MJ team. I was telling Andrew (our oldest) in the car on the way home how cool it was. I was saying that saying the Lord's prayer up there with everyone laying hands on us was so moving, it was like God reaching down and touching us himself.”
This has been one of the most memorable and life-changing Lents that I have observed in my life. Another surprise that only God could engineer.
Pastor T
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
God is at meetings?!
Yesterday I had a meeting with a guy who is our main speaker at the metro-wide 30 hour famine... of which I am a planning team member (you know, in all my free time). I was a little annoyed about the meeting because it wasn't that much stuff to talk about, but it required more than email or a phone call. The guy who is speaking is a friend from a few years ago, and so it was good to see him on one hand, but on the other, it took time out of a busy schedule. SO... needless to say my attitude was not that great to start it off. Here's the surprise: not only was it so so so good to see him again, and our conversation confirmed that he was the right choice for speaker, BUT the heart of this guy changes you... just sitting and talking with him changes my heart. That's how amazing he is. I am giving you all this background because I don't want to take any credit for the things I'm about to write, God used my friend to speak straight into my heart, and that's who gets the credit. GO JESUS.
We were talking about the message of Jesus, and how it would have the same effect today as it did when Jesus walked the earth. Jesus had this tendency of turning the culture upside-down and totally freaking everyone out. My friend said that we live in a time where everything is about what it can do to me, and even the most well intended people, if honest, would say the same is true about church. We think that we go to church to receive something, so that we can go out and give something. This is a great intention, he said, but it's not what Jesus would say or do. Jesus said we give to receive... not the other way around. So instead of coming to church with the intention of receiving something, we should go into church thinking about what we can give by being there. Can you imagine this flip? And it's not that going to church to be filled in order to go out and give is a bad thing, it's just not what Jesus had in mind for the church. It is in giving that we receive. It is in pouring out that we are filled up.
WHOA. I had to take a minute when I got in my car and let this settle because it's a big one. It seems really obvious, but when I thought about it, it's not that simple in practice. How often do I go to church to fill up my emptying heart? How often do I look at the worship and the prayers and the messages as things that give me something? What would it look like for me to really give in church, instead of take? What would it look like in friendships, in community, in my marriage, if I gave first... instead of receive first?
I dont have the answers to any of those questions, but man - this was a HUGE surprise that God threw at me today. I really felt like God was looking in my heart and saying "no no natalia dear, you've got it all wrong!" So thanks God, for speaking right to me through my meeting. What a great surprise.
natalia
We were talking about the message of Jesus, and how it would have the same effect today as it did when Jesus walked the earth. Jesus had this tendency of turning the culture upside-down and totally freaking everyone out. My friend said that we live in a time where everything is about what it can do to me, and even the most well intended people, if honest, would say the same is true about church. We think that we go to church to receive something, so that we can go out and give something. This is a great intention, he said, but it's not what Jesus would say or do. Jesus said we give to receive... not the other way around. So instead of coming to church with the intention of receiving something, we should go into church thinking about what we can give by being there. Can you imagine this flip? And it's not that going to church to be filled in order to go out and give is a bad thing, it's just not what Jesus had in mind for the church. It is in giving that we receive. It is in pouring out that we are filled up.
WHOA. I had to take a minute when I got in my car and let this settle because it's a big one. It seems really obvious, but when I thought about it, it's not that simple in practice. How often do I go to church to fill up my emptying heart? How often do I look at the worship and the prayers and the messages as things that give me something? What would it look like for me to really give in church, instead of take? What would it look like in friendships, in community, in my marriage, if I gave first... instead of receive first?
I dont have the answers to any of those questions, but man - this was a HUGE surprise that God threw at me today. I really felt like God was looking in my heart and saying "no no natalia dear, you've got it all wrong!" So thanks God, for speaking right to me through my meeting. What a great surprise.
natalia
Tuesday March 4th
We all continue to struggle with what is a God Surprise. I had a full day with prep time for upcoming messages, special lunch meeting with Terry Esau (he IS the “real deal”…cool!), coordinating ministry one-on-one with staff (I am always amazed by their vision and passion for our church family), meeting with a new family who is having a baby baptized (a rich time to experience God’s drawing us together through the promises of Baptism and I get the privilege of meeting these new “babies” of our church family…and do we have “babies”…Wow!!) and then regular on-going leadership meetings (what a “heart” the leadership teams have for God and our church family!!).
In and through the day, God was there…oh there were times I wondered what or where or why…but God was there. God was holding, lifting, pulling, stretching, healing, clarifying, challenging, encouraging, forgiving, renewing…(just to name a few instances that I was aware of but there surely was more)
Now I must admit I am a bit of a “mystic” so if this seems a bit to much I ask you to understand that I tend to see or be looking for God in everything...the good, the bad and the “ugly”. One of the comments Terry made a lunch that resonated with me about praying the prayer “Surprise Me, God” is the increased appetite created for being aware of God’s presence in all things. If I could just rest in that truth…not try to manage that truth. God is the actor who is making it all possible as life continues to be so daily. God will work in spite of what the outward circumstances appear to be or what we seem to see. God’s message of mercy, love, grace and transformation in the person of Jesus is still as powerful today as it was 2000+ years ago and that message is what changes individuals, families, churches, governments, nations and worlds. God surprises are there for the seeing if we ask for eyes to see and ears to hear. Surprise me, God…Surprise us, God”.
Pastor T
In and through the day, God was there…oh there were times I wondered what or where or why…but God was there. God was holding, lifting, pulling, stretching, healing, clarifying, challenging, encouraging, forgiving, renewing…(just to name a few instances that I was aware of but there surely was more)
Now I must admit I am a bit of a “mystic” so if this seems a bit to much I ask you to understand that I tend to see or be looking for God in everything...the good, the bad and the “ugly”. One of the comments Terry made a lunch that resonated with me about praying the prayer “Surprise Me, God” is the increased appetite created for being aware of God’s presence in all things. If I could just rest in that truth…not try to manage that truth. God is the actor who is making it all possible as life continues to be so daily. God will work in spite of what the outward circumstances appear to be or what we seem to see. God’s message of mercy, love, grace and transformation in the person of Jesus is still as powerful today as it was 2000+ years ago and that message is what changes individuals, families, churches, governments, nations and worlds. God surprises are there for the seeing if we ask for eyes to see and ears to hear. Surprise me, God…Surprise us, God”.
Pastor T
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
A Blessing In Diguise.
I suppose this proves that I need to just go all in with God.
Don't question; just roll with the punches.
I'm starting to see the blessings that became of my little mishap. I think in the end it was for the better.
Ah. Relationships. People. Ugh. Complicated.
All I can do is assume there is a greater plan its all playing into.
God, I am your disciple. Use me as you wish.
Jackie Winters
Don't question; just roll with the punches.
I'm starting to see the blessings that became of my little mishap. I think in the end it was for the better.
Ah. Relationships. People. Ugh. Complicated.
All I can do is assume there is a greater plan its all playing into.
God, I am your disciple. Use me as you wish.
Jackie Winters
Little Surprises are the way God works
It's interesting to read all these posts and notice how often people expect or hope for big things, and often God surprises them with little things... I love that this is how God works. We want the lightening bolt, and God gives us a light bulb. :)
Yesterday I was pretty crabby. I shouldn't have been, I had a great weekend with my husband and spent part of Sunday with two of our best friends, but somehow I woke up and put on my good ol cranky pants. On Monday nights I have yoga, and I usually go with one of my best friends - Amy (same one I ate brunch with on Sunday) but she told me Sunday that she couldn't come along this week. Grrrr... not only was I crabby but I was going to have to get my OWN butt in gear enough to go by myself! I got in to work, and there was a lovely little email from Aim saying her meeting changed and she was going to come after all!! YEY! Yet still, I kept my crabby pants on for most of the day. ... Until yoga. There is something about taking time for yourself, breathing deeply, and getting an amazing workout that is so calming, and dare I say it - crabby pants removing. I know it's not a big thing, but it was a really great little thing that made my night and honestly, made my day too.
Thanks God - for reminding me to breathe and to take time to appreciate the life you have given me.
Natalia
Yesterday I was pretty crabby. I shouldn't have been, I had a great weekend with my husband and spent part of Sunday with two of our best friends, but somehow I woke up and put on my good ol cranky pants. On Monday nights I have yoga, and I usually go with one of my best friends - Amy (same one I ate brunch with on Sunday) but she told me Sunday that she couldn't come along this week. Grrrr... not only was I crabby but I was going to have to get my OWN butt in gear enough to go by myself! I got in to work, and there was a lovely little email from Aim saying her meeting changed and she was going to come after all!! YEY! Yet still, I kept my crabby pants on for most of the day. ... Until yoga. There is something about taking time for yourself, breathing deeply, and getting an amazing workout that is so calming, and dare I say it - crabby pants removing. I know it's not a big thing, but it was a really great little thing that made my night and honestly, made my day too.
Thanks God - for reminding me to breathe and to take time to appreciate the life you have given me.
Natalia
Monday, March 3, 2008
Day 25 Sunday and Sunny
My Sundays start real early…it was 4 am and focusing on the morning message as I click on Surprise Me Blog to see if any entries were made. Well Surprise…there was the prefect illustration for the morning message from Ms Cheree. It grabbed my heart and I knew it had to be a God thing at that time in the morning…so I used it in the message and I believe it was as much of a God Surprise for others as it was for me. Thank God…and Dad (Bruce), Sue (Mom) and Ms Cheree.
As I pulled up to church at 6:20 am the worship center lights were on…Surprise…Kirk was busy getting things ready for morning media. I had a couple video clips to show and Kirk was again faithfully setting it up for others to enjoy. God is working over time in a bunch of our young women and men like Cheree and Kirk. What gifts!
I opened my office to find some mail on my desk that included a slip of paper that was from last Wednesday’s Staff meeting devotions. Katie had devotions and had asked if we each would write one affirmation for each of the other staff members. She would collect and then put on individual sheets for each staff to enjoy. (I am embarrassed to admit that I didn’t get it done before I left for a few days…and now I regret it. Sorry faithful co-workers in the Kingdom…I am in debt to each of you for your faithful and enduring ministry to our church family!) My sheet was on my desk. I think that each one who made an affirmation were more than generous in their affirmation. But I felt cared for and encouraged. Thanks to each and Katie for taking us there with her devotion.)
I made it through the morning without coughing on to many folks. I hope I didn’t pass on this “bug”. When I made it home I hit the bed and slept for 2 hours. The phone ran and it was some friends wanting to know if we would do “coffee” tonight. Surprise…I love coffee…I love to go out with friends and share our lives together. It was the end of another good day. I was still tired so off to bed…thanking God for all the God activity in my day and my church family.
Pastor T
As I pulled up to church at 6:20 am the worship center lights were on…Surprise…Kirk was busy getting things ready for morning media. I had a couple video clips to show and Kirk was again faithfully setting it up for others to enjoy. God is working over time in a bunch of our young women and men like Cheree and Kirk. What gifts!
I opened my office to find some mail on my desk that included a slip of paper that was from last Wednesday’s Staff meeting devotions. Katie had devotions and had asked if we each would write one affirmation for each of the other staff members. She would collect and then put on individual sheets for each staff to enjoy. (I am embarrassed to admit that I didn’t get it done before I left for a few days…and now I regret it. Sorry faithful co-workers in the Kingdom…I am in debt to each of you for your faithful and enduring ministry to our church family!) My sheet was on my desk. I think that each one who made an affirmation were more than generous in their affirmation. But I felt cared for and encouraged. Thanks to each and Katie for taking us there with her devotion.)
I made it through the morning without coughing on to many folks. I hope I didn’t pass on this “bug”. When I made it home I hit the bed and slept for 2 hours. The phone ran and it was some friends wanting to know if we would do “coffee” tonight. Surprise…I love coffee…I love to go out with friends and share our lives together. It was the end of another good day. I was still tired so off to bed…thanking God for all the God activity in my day and my church family.
Pastor T
God, You Made My Day
On Saturday, March 2nd I took the third part of my certification test to be a QuickBooks Pro Advisor. When I was done and clicked all done I could not believe my eyes at the score I received. It said Congratulations, your score is 97%. And I just said Praise The Lord! I had spent many hours studying for this Certification and then to get a 97% on the last part was unbievable.
Doug Lindberg
Doug Lindberg
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