Which Chair Are You?

Everyone reading this article is on a journey. Where is your journey taking you? As a Christ follower, do you know what road you are on?

Someone invited you to "Come and See" Jesus. You said yes to the invitation and the journey began. As you go, Jesus summoned you to "Follow Me", and on the expedition, through obedience and discovery, you grow to be more and more like Him.

The trip continues and accelerates as Jesus signs you up and equips you to become a worker (as Pastor Mark reminded us on Sunday) to "fish for men". You no longer sit in your Lazy Boy recliner, but you become available to be used, faithful to grow, teachable in action and attitude, responsive to align with God's vision that all should know Him.

Being infused by the Spirit of God, your growth in Christlikeness splashes onto the lives of others and you "bear fruit" - your journey multiplies, and you are transformed. You make a difference.

In a nutshell, these are the Four Chairs we recently learned about in a disciple-making class. Each of us sits in one of these chairs. Each of us is on a journey through life. When asked, "How were you impacted by the Four Chairs training?" two friends answered with the following:

Attendee #1: The story of a life that was changed after numerous years of being in church week after week - a person involved in serving, attending whenever the doors were open, and yet he did not "get it" after 30 years. This struck me in a powerful way and made me sit up and listen more carefully. The impact of the story came when an amazing transformation occurred and that life finally surrendered in childlike faith. I asked myself, "Could that be me? Am I totally surrendered? I know what to do and yet why do I seem to waste time by not doing it?" I want to be more committed to daily seek the Lord through prayer and the Word. I can even see that in a mentoring relationship I have something to offer and something to gain. I now realize that I no longer have to become better, be more informed about the Bible or even know all theological answers. I just have to be willing to be available in my normal life journey. It is God's job to change a life, and He will begin with me. My decision that day was to become a fully surrendered Christ follower, willing to go, to do whatever He asked.

Attendee #2: The most helpful take away for me was that it is not a program, not an event or even special training that will be pivotal in someone else's life to bring change. It is relationship and lifestyle that will bring about transformation. When I do life in the nitty gritty of everyday happenings, natural interactions, someone will observe. It is in the unimportant things that I may be noticed by another, as I pour into them, as I love on them, as I am intentional in looking like Jesus and developing His character in my own life; these are the things that will be "caught" and don't have to be taught for another to meet Jesus. God is constantly at work to advance His kingdom. He uses the lifestyles of His kids, and sometimes even their words,  in up close and very personal relationships to win one. What the Holy Spirit revealed to me was a new way of seeing life and Christ in it. I know in a fresh way that I have something to share and it is God's job to use it to bear fruit.

Those who do not know, those who have not seen, those who do not follow are missing life's greatest journey. What road are you on? Which chair are you in? Are you willing to get out of your Lazy Boy?
--Janice Adams

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-shaped … God’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

ENCOURAGEMENT

In my devotions today I read Psalm 37, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to The Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.  Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him … do not fret.” WOW … these words encourage no matter what is going on in your life … but, especially for the one who is hopeless.  Mel Conrad feels God’s call to share what He is teaching her when life feels hopeless.  She has learned through life experiences, personal growth and educational training that there can be life after loss … death, divorce, career, relationships …whatever it is that has been taken. There are tremendous needs on many levels for those suffering loss … personal needs, healing from brokenness, discovery of unknowns … can God help? Even those who do not yet know God or embrace His Truth can experience moving from mourning to joy after loss.  Yes, God can help and Mel is part of a ministry here at First Baptist that joins with God to do just that.  One does not have to go far to discover families in pain – flawed – with fractured relationships, living in despair.   There are predictable stages that a person goes through during a loss before they arrive on the other side with hope -- hope comes from Jesus.   Grief Share and Divorce Care are ministries of need that touch, heal, restore and bring hope.  No one signs up for loss;  no one wants it to go the way shattered dreams.  Most struggle to persevere and make relationships work, make them last … but, reality is it takes at least three – the couple and Jesus.  Meditation, prayer and counseling can bring clarity but even then it is painful.  God allows loss not to cripple us but as a conduit to carry grace and mercy to one another.  Mel says, “I was called to share hope, understanding and the grief process with any who have experienced loss.”  She continues to show up to facilitate our “help groups” because she knows there is no hope or forward movement when we look back.  Only when we look forward at The WORD can a person discover salvation, hope and a glorious future.  No matter what the loss, Mel says she has learned a key piece to healing is in the opportunity to share with another going through a similar experience.  She has faced … death of a spouse, and loss through divorce…  both have been journeys that have propelled her to share with others.  We all want to belong to someone, to feel we are not alone, especially when experiencing a great loss.  Our “help groups” provide a safe place to process, to feel comfortable sharing, to find your voice, to come to a sense of balance, to explore doubts and fears and to express hope in moving forward. Referencing Isaiah 61:1-3, in the synagogue  Jesus’ interprets His mission but also reveals the ministry He wants His people to perform … I think I can safely say that Mel feels this is her call to serve those grieving a loss.  “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, to and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness … “  In this season of giving, could God be calling you to minister to His children who are hurting? Janice Adams