In Awe

Last night I went to the hospital and held a newborn.

 

Beauty finds new meaning when it is wrapped tightly in a warm blanket.  Innocence is more obvious when life hasn't hardened a soul.  Dependance seems more healthy when an infant sleeps in your arms.

 

I found myself looking again to the eyes of a proud (albeit exhausted) mom and dad.  They had waited for this moment.  Holding their newborn daughter and standing next to my not-newborn daughter made me think of all the "moments" that are in front of them.

 

Perhaps it's not theological enough, maybe I'm not in the mood for depth right now, it's possible I'm more sentimental than I am dignified - but have a picture in my mind that won't go away.  My Father God finds beauty in his creation.  He looks close as the Creator - "they have my soul in them.  Sometimes it hard to see, but I can see Myself in them.  Man, I'm proud!"

 

If your view of God doesn't include a God that loves you enough to wrap you in a blanket of grace and dote on you, you don't know God's heart.  My heavenly Father provides innocence.  Through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus,  God is able to look at me and hold me tightly enough so that I can't mistake His affection.  He is able focus on the innocence his grace provides, while I demand to look at what He has had to forgive.  He sees me as He made me, too often I see me as what I made me.

 

My provider God knows how dependent I am on Him even when I don't.  He knows when it's time for solid food or the milk of His Spirit to grow me to solid food.  He knows when I can walk and when I need to be carried.  He knows how to teach me to talk and how I will fall short if others fill the role of my provider.

 

He's my Father God.

 

The scene in heaven may have played out like this -

God: "Hey, look at that!  See that baby in David's arms.  I created them both, they are my creations and I can see myself in them.  Look closer.  Do you see the innocence of the souls?  Look at what grace does!  Can you smell the fragrance of dependance from that room - both of them are completely helpless without a provider.  That's me!  I'm their provider.  Quick!  Take a picture!  Two of mine.  I made them both.  I did a great job."

 

Angel: "Wow."

 

Last night I held God's creation in my arms.  God held two.

 

In Awe,
Pastor Dave

 

Summer Reflections

I suppose summer's over, it's time to start "thinking" again.  As I start this day I have some things on my mind that I've learned this summer.  What have you learned?

 

1. Some stuff is out of my control.
It's much easier and safer to not "beat your head" with a bat over things you can't control.  The Lord helped me to set aside my agenda and be ok with the fact that not everything runs the way I would like it to.

 

Too often life doesn't run in the grooves I've made for it.

 

2. Birthdays happen.
I'm not fond of getting a greater distance from thirty, yet the distance keeps growing.  The hair on my head is thinner and the hair on my chin is grayer.  While the world struggles to add years that have little meaning I'm learning to be sure that each one I have matters.

 

Too often I don't live on purpose.

 

3. The soul matters more.
My relationship with God is more important than my relationship with my doctor.  The end of the summer season included physical challenges that I would rather have skipped.  But I know what matters most.

 

Too often I care most about what isn't the most important.

 

4. I love my church.
I just like being here.  I like seeing people grow.  I like meeting new people.  I like hearing people sing.  I like hearing the pages turn when I say, "turn with me in your Bibles to...." I like being a MFMCer.

 

Too often I forget to thank God for the church I attend.

 

5. The call is crucial.
I heard from the Lord this summer about my call - what it is and what it isn't.  The Leadership Team and the Pastoral Staff are making adjustments so that we spend most of our time swimming in the ocean of God's call for us.

 

Too often I wade streams of business.

 

6. Relationships happen on purpose.
I've had some of the greatest times having dinner, playing games, drinking coffee - being with people.  It's our error when we are too busy to be with people and risk building relationships.

 

Too often I don't make time for fun.

 

7. God's good at making new starting lines.
Hint - Sunday we're looking at starting lines for individuals and our church.  Come ready to be blessed by God's grace.  Bring a friend who needs to start over.

I'm getting in position for a new season of the soul and a new season for our church.  I'm listening for the starting pistol to fire.  I'm ready to run the race.  It's been a good summer.  It's time to move on!

 

Pastor Dave