I just love it when the weather changes everything! It goes to show who is married to their schedules and who goes with the flow.
We had over an inch of sleet/ice yesterday that started about 10 am, just in time for our Bible study. Instead of 13 we had 8 and God rocked the house, or at least the room we were meeting in. I didn't make it to weight in at weight watchers, nor did I make it to the Master Gardeners meeting over in LR. However, I did get to help Preacher man in the office and Lord knows he needs it!
One of the things that was brought up yesterday in class was how busy people are and there just isn't time to come together for prayer meetings and such. Now, this was said as we were watch hundreds assemble at 5:00 to a church that didn't even start the prayer meeting until 7:00. So I don't think those people, who live in Brooklyn, and I'm sure are just as busy as people living in NLR, weren't busy. What I think is they made time for whats important in their lives.
Preacher man said the whole busy excuses is a ruse, something that people hide behind. So I got to thinking about it and I'd like to add something to it. Not only do we blame busy for keeping people out of our churches and prayer meetings, we also blame young people. What I find interesting is it's the older folks that are doing this blaming. So, this ruse, which means a trick, stratagem or artifice, is being used by people who don't want anyone to look at them.
Here's the deal: Stop worrying about everybody else being too busy, and start looking at your schedule . When was the last time you showed up for something that you were too busy to go to? Or something that someone thought you would either enjoy or might stretch you spiritually? Here's a good question: When was the last time you went to more than just church?
If you want to invest in soccer, football, yoga, and book of the month club, that's all well and good, but don't be telling me that every bodies too busy for more Jesus, cuz I'm going to look at you and wonder why your trying to ruse me.
Epiphany Sunday! The end of the 12 day's of Christmas, as today is day 13 and the day the Gentiles got it! I like to think of it like the day a big light came on! It is also the day that we celebrate the Three Wise Men showing up at Jesus' place and bringing him gifts. The period from January 7 to Ash Wednesday has no central theme and is one of two seasons of Ordinary Time. I mean, we have the Baptism of the Lord on the 13th and Transfiguration Sunday is February 10th, but Preacher man is starting a series on prayer so we won't be "celebrating" those Sunday's, so to speak.
This week we also start our new Bible study on prayer and I'm pretty excited about that. We will have 2 meeting times on Tuesday's so we can hopefully give everyone the opportunity to come. It's just a thrilling time for me right now, because it's time to get down to business. The church is starting to trust us, the prayer team is growing and is understanding how important prayer is, new people are on committees and it's just a new year with new things in store.
I'm also at the half way spot for my Practicum I class, which is good and strange all at the same time. I'm working on my strengths and limitations as a director, which has been an enlightening experience, to say the least. It's been good to gain self knowledge and to be ok with how God has put me together. There always needs to be growth, as I'm fond of saying, God takes us as we are, but He doesn't leave us that way!
I hope to start walking tomorrow and to do some Sherd, we'll see. One of the crazy women in the church, that's a retired nurse, came in today and gave Preacher man and I a flu shot. We have been baulking the whole flu shot thing for years! Two things she said changed our minds this year: Flu shots are like seat belts, they're there, but you don't have to use them, and The church is one of the best places to spread germs, you know, we love on each other and stuff. Fine Audrey! I took your dang flu shot! Dang nurses anyway!
We started our Advent Bible Study last night, and if my counting is correct, there were 19 of us there. I was happy to see more than 12, but with a Sunday attendance number of 140, you would think a few more would have showed up. The real bummer is this is Advent! Let's look forward to the coming of the King together!!
This got me to thinking about the purse party I had on Monday. I know it sounds strange, but stick with me and see where I'm going before you call me crazy and click onto something else. I sent out an email to 30 people, had the event posted on Facebook, made phone calls, and sent out 25 postcard reminders. Had about 35 people coming until the day of the party got here. Slowly, through out the day, the calls started coming in. I ended up with 7 people that night. We had a nice time and I was tickled that they showed up, but my point goes a little deeper than that.
As a church, we expect the Pastor to feed us. This is Biblical (John 21) and it's their job. It's also their job to make disciples of Jesus Christ! Tell me how that can be done if you are showing up once a week and expecting your tank to get filled, and last you for the week, on I might add, a 15 minute feeding? We are setting ourselves up to die from malnutrition!
The problem is not what we are getting fed on Sunday, it's what we are feeding ourselves Monday through Saturday! The sheep have their job to do too you know! It's our responsibility to eat! Anyone who lives on milk, still being an infant, is not acquainted with the teachings about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish between good and evil. Heb. 5:13-14
Here's the deal: It's the Pastor's job to serve up Word, hot and fresh every Sunday! It's also their job to ensure that there are other feedings going on during the week to feed us hungry sheep!
Sheep of the church, it's our job, right, and responsibility to eat. If we refuse to study, apply it, pray some during the week, join a small group and dig deeper with others, theres not much the Pastor can do for us!
So when we talk to your fellow sheep, and hear things like I'm not getting fed, and we know there are feedings going on during the week, cuz we're at them, and don't see them. We might want to remind them that drinking milk is fine while your an infant, but if you want to mature in your faith, you have to train yourself and start eating the meat that's being offered.
Just my thoughts from this side of the street!
Preacher man and I set up for our Bible study last night around 5, came home, got it together and went back to church about 6:15. The women had been in the sanctuary last week and the men had taken the fellowship hall. We had around 20 women and 11 guys, so we thought we'd get a little closer and put the gal's in the hall and the guys in the conference room. Mind you, I set up for 24 women, cuz a few had told me they couldn't be at the first one, but would make it to the rest. We began at 6:30, after adding 2 more tables and a total of 30 chairs, which were all full! I have never in my life had 30 women show up for a Bible study, ever! There's a part of me that wants to break them down into smaller groups so we can have sharing going on, and there's a part of me that say's keep it one group.
It blew my mind! I told them so too! I did most of the talking and I felt like that's what they wanted and needed right now. I was talking about how precious they were and that they were worthy to have God's Holy Presence live in them and it was like God smacked me up side the head. I sensed Him saying; Look at them, I love them so much and I think it surprises them. They are my sweet girls. Just look at them. Who wouldn't love them? That's when it hit me... no one has told them that before.
My heart was breaking and I really couldn't talk fast enough to get the words out. I told them again of their worth and that God had a plan for each of them. A few had expressions that showed shock, but I had to confess, I knew how hard it was to believe. How could God love me, for me? The answer is, I don't know, but I do know he does.
See, I think we as women have been tying for so long to be just as good as men that we have forgotten how to be women. We want the power and the prestige, to climb that corporate ladder and be all that we can be. But then we see that the ladder we've been climbing is leaned against the wrong wall, our power and prestige has gotten us heart attacks at 50, and we are flat out miserable!
That my friends, is when we can be molded and formed by the master. When we come to the end of ourselves and all we can do is look up, that's when God say's My Turn!!!
So we have started on this journey of seeing our spiritual life as a cup, ready to be filled with the Divine! I am beside myself with excitement and can't wait to share with each one of these lovely ladies, just how much God loves them and to see what He has planned for each of them!
Yeah God!!! Get em!!
