Friday, February 26, 2016

New Things





My sister is new to the northwest and it has been so fun listening to her “discover” all the new things God has for her family here.  She gets excited about the buds on the trees, changing seasons, the birds coming to her backyard, the bulbs she is planting, the neighbors down the street, the restaurants she’s never been to.  It is all so new – she see’s them as God’s gifts and revelations.  He’s a good, good Father.

Have you noticed the digging on the north property? Something new is going on! Have you noticed the daffodils and new growth popping up on Liberty?  Something new is going on!  Have you noticed a number of new faces passing you on Sunday morning?  Something new is going on!  Have you noticed a friend praying for another in the Commons?  Something new is going on!  Have you noticed your heart yearning for more of Jesus?  Something new is going on!

Life is happening at Salem First … transformation is occurring … bodies are being re-shapedGod’s heart is seen and felt.  It is an exciting time to be in the family of God.  In our church we have seen growth in new members’ classes, increased number of baptisms (young and old), more and more names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life – all represent new life.  Men and women continue to join Bible study, community life groups and individual discipling relationships -- we are seeing the Word change a life – that’s transformation

Faith and trust demonstrated by commitment and follow-through are the hallmark of expanding our influence in the community. The Rest Stop, the North Property, Upward, Sports Camp, Angel Tree are just a few ministries that go across the street and beyond our doors to impact our city.  As a church we have believed God for these things and have followed through supporting them financially, prayerfully and with our time and energy.  God has honored that faith and commitment.  Our community is being reshaped.

And, while that is happening, life within is also being relived as ministry to one another is shared … powerful prayer and praise for healing, comforting fellowship and hospitality, care for practical needs, accountability, coming alongside the broken and hurting, and dynamic worship to His glory.  We are experiencing and sharing the heart of God.  His purposes are being fulfilled.

In very similar ways I believe God is transforming me.  Spending time focusing on Isaiah 43:19 I believed God wanted to do something new in me. I asked questions, I prayed, I searched scripture and dialoged with His people.  God is doing that new thing:  fulfilling His dreams for me, accomplishing His purposes and changing my heart.

Has He cracked the door open to give you a peek?  Has He popped a head up ready to burst forth? Has He allowed you to discover an idea you did not know?  Has HE made a way where there was no way?  Isaiah 43:19 says, “Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” 

When the caterpillar crawls into his cocoon, it must seem to his caterpillar friends that he is gone.  But, to us of larger vision, in due time, we see the beautiful butterfly emerge from a seemingly lifeless enclosure.  Now he no longer crawls upon the ground, but flies freely above it, making his home in God’s creation.  If this is God’s plan for such a small creature, how much greater it must be for Salem First!

What is God up to in YOU?  Will you stand on tiptoe with me to see what “new thing” God wants to do? I hope so, for we have a good, good Father. 
--Janice Adams

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Meeting Perseverance




 

Gaining perseverance can be brutal. Having to keep going despite difficulty and delay is not something we are eager to experience. You can only have perseverance after you have gone through the refining fires of disappointment and discouragement. Waiting, praying, working, hoping, and crying brought my wife and I to the moment in Ethiopia when we first laid eyes on him and he first laid his head on our shoulders.

I think I must picture things in slow motion, at least the big moments of life, because they always happen so much faster than I imagine they will. When we arrived at his orphanage after about 30 hours of traveling, they brought us to the orphanage office. I didn't know what the plan was, how long we would wait, or who would play the victorious music as he and I ran toward each other. It was all very confusing. But then, before I could even ask what was going on, he was there! In the doorway, being held by his favorite nanny, was the answer to my prayers. When I saw him, I felt almost star struck. I had talked about him for so long and looked at his pictures so many times that he almost took on this bigger than life place in my mind. But he wasn’t bigger than life. He was little, beautiful ruggedly handsome, and tired. Sear held him, and I went full dad mode shooting videos. If it had been the 80s, I would have had a big VHS recorder on my shoulder, giving full commentary and telling everyone to wave to the camera. Instead, I took pictures and video with the GoPro and gave full commentary and told everyone to wave to the camera.

As he sat in his mom’s lap, one big tear formed in his left eye and rolled down his cheek. It wasn't just a signal of natural fear; it was a symbol of natural courage. He had every right to bawl and wail. New people, new room he’d never been in, and the largest person he’d ever seen pointing a camera in his face shouting at him in a language he didn’t speak. You could sense the fear was there but it didn't own him. He was calm, looked around the room, and leaned into his new mom for cuddles. I knew right there that he was brave, strong and courageous, and I was in love.

When Sear looked up at me and asked if I wanted to hold him, I was nervous. I thought being handed over to the big, white bear of a man would finally make him break. I grabbed him, his bottom lip quivered, but no tear came. Instead, we just looked at each other and I could see my reflection in his big brown eyes. I could tell he was analyzing me because he looked me right in the eye and furrowed his brow. In that moment, every insecurity I have rushed to the forefront of my mind. I thought surely he would push me away, reach for someone else, reject me until he was a little older. In those three long seconds, I never wanted someone to love me so much, but felt so sure that he wouldn't. And then, he put his head on my chest and nuzzled me just a little... almost as if to comfort my fears; to give me just a little bit of the courage he had in such abundance. I will be telling people about that moment in Heaven, long into eternity. It's not just engraved in my mind, it's embossed in my heart.

Gaining perseverance is really hard. To even have the chance to persevere it means you aren’t getting what you want for long periods of time and that’s not fun. It’s worth it though. When you stick it out and keep praying despite your doubts and fears you not only see God’s answer, you also see God more clearly. Don’t give up on God too early and miss what He has for you because the only thing harder than waiting on God, is wishing you had.

--Patrick Frost
Middle School Youth Pastor