Spring Thoughts

Rumor has it that Spring is coming. The melt-off one day will be complete, the resulting lake in my backyard will soak in, the furnace will run less, and I will be able to walk around the block again without cleats.

For this Spring I’m thinking of a few things I’d like to do. There’s the standard stuff like, get the yard fixed up, a new roof, new windows, paint the house, replace some carpet, organize the garage, and start a lama farm. But, most of that probably won’t happen. So what will the Spring hold?

1. I’m reading more this year. This Spring I’ve got a few books I’d like to learn from.

2. My neurologist tells me I need to evaluate my schedule and involvement's.

3. I’d like to take a few prayer and planning days in a quiet place.

4. Some ministry gaps need to be filled in.

5. There will be more pieces to the puzzle of our call to grow people put in place.

6. More teaching and equipping tools will be available to people.

7. I’ll say “yes” to God quicker.

I guess the last one is really what a new season is about isn’t it? We have goals and objectives, but the issue really comes down to our response to God’s call on our lives. The “yes” may come from inside turmoil. The “yes” may come through clinched teeth. The “yes” may catapult me into the unknowns that I have tried avoid. But, there will be a “yes.”
This Spring I will eagerly listen for what God is doing, I will push aside my baggage and excuses, and I will let my spirit respond to the Lord with a resounding “yes.”

So, I’m looking forward to Spring - but I’m not waiting till then.

Starting Now,

Pastor Dave

Today's Moment

Locked somewhere within the unknown moments of this day is an opportunity that has unique fingerprints on it.  It has not been placed there just to make my life better or to make me smile.  That moment, that I can't see yet, is not about comfort or healing.  That moment is not placed there so that I could feel good about me or have insight to the rest of the moments.

 

Somewhere in this day God has placed a moment of miraculous communion.  It's a moment where I know He has intersected my world - the mundane infused with the supernatural.  It's a moment of obedience.  It's a moment when I will be faced with a choice.  It may be obvious, or it may be more subtle.  But, it will be a moment when I will point my will to God and take a step of obedience with no motive other than to be obedient.

 

Locked somewhere in this day is a moment with God's fingerprints on it... in fact it's filled with them.  I will take them one at a time and be faithful with that one.  Then I will set it down and pick up the next one.

 

The expected cost - everything.  The expected challenge - huge.  The expected result - intimacy.

 

"Lord, forgive us for missing them yesterday.  May today be filled with my awareness of Your fingerprint covered moments."

 

Looking,

Pastor Dave

 

My Valentine

 

To My Other Valentine,

Thank you for being the person I didn't know how to imagine you would be when we fell in love.

Thank you for believing in me.

Thank you for letting God make you into who you are.

Thank you for your commitment to us.

Thank you for the joy of dreaming about tomorrow with you.

 

To My Valentine,

Thank You for being the Savior I didn't know how to imagine You would be when I fell in love.  You have shown me more and more of who You are and it makes me a better person the more I know You.

 

Thank You for believing in me.  You know me better than anyone in the world and You still love me and have faith in what I was created to be.  You know what Your grace and power could fully do and You don't give up on me when I miss that.

 

Thank You for letting God make You into who You are.  You are the Savior that took on my sins so that I could know the Father.  You paid the highest price because of Your love for the Father and Your love for me.  I'm glad You were the willing Sacrifice, and now the reigning King.

 

Thank You for your commitment to us.  You have shown me what it looks like to be committed.  You are much better at it than I am, but You never judge me for that.  You keep loving when I am weak.  You keep teaching when I am slow.  You keep reaching when I fall down.

 

Thank You for the joy of dreaming about tomorrow with You.  I can't fully picture what it will be like, but I know that we will spend eternity together.   I can only imagine a world free of pain, loss, doubts, and limits.  But, You've built one for me.   Someday we'll be together without any barriers.

 

By the way, thank You for my other valentine too.

 

Dave

Last Night

Last evening I spent most the night in quiet.  I wasn't feeling super, but a headache wasn't the main reason I wanted to be in solitude.  I needed to talk with God.  No TV.  No conversations. No games. No work. No facebook. Just time with God.

 

Last night I talked to God about you.  You who are hurting.  You who are ignoring.  You who are stuck.  You who are growing.  You who are saying, "yes." You who are aimless.  You who are fruitless.  You who are touching new levels intimacy with God.  Last night I talked to God about you.

 

Last night I talked to God about our world.  There is tension building.  The battle that has been for pundits and academics is becoming a battle for soccer moms and office parties.  We may not be aware of how many Biblical events are on the radar of life.  The reason we are not aware is that we are largely busy buying groceries and driving from activity to activity.  The Kingdom of God is still God's.  Our role is to be ready.

 

Last night I talked to God about our church.  He reminded me that we are still His.  The gathering of people that make up our faith family are placed in this community for a reason.  That reason has little to do with ourselves.  Growing people reach people to help them find Christ so that they can be growing people too.

 

Last night I talked to God about me.  It was the most painful part of the dialog.  Giving yourself to God again and again and again.... is not easy.  I had to place questions at His feet and hear the silence of no answer.  I had to make commitments that were embarrassing (because they have been made before).  I had to find the place of passion again.  I had to find the place where I remind myself that I love God with all that I am and will follow Him no matter what.

 

Last night God and I talked.  No big agenda, just time with my God.

 

Today is busy.  This morning He told me it was good to spend time together.  I asked Him to come to the office with me.  He did.

 

Tonight I'm going to...

 

Dave