Now is the time!

Now is the time.  It’s the week believers especially remember Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Now is the time to soberly evaluate our lives.  Am I living for eternity? Am I engaged in gratitude for all God has done for me? Am I conscious of the love of God and the purchase price of my redemption? Now is the time.  This week the highest court in the land is considering a decision as huge in magnitude as Roe v Wade in 1973 - some say the biggest political threat to religious freedom in the short history of these United States of America.  Now is the time. I believe with all my heart that God is calling us to pray.  When Jesus saw the masses he felt compassion in the pit of his stomach. Then he healed and taught them. He didn’t place his hope in religious or political leaders but in God. We shouldn’t either! Here is how Matthew records it:

“Jesus was going through all the cities & villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease & every kind of sickness. Seeing the crowds, he felt compassion for them because they were distressed & dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.’” Matt9:35-38

Share Christ’s compassion.  Speak truth and share the hope of the gospel & of God’s kingdom. Plead with God for more kingdom workers. Jesus did not see people through the eyes of politics. He saw them as worn out by the cares of this world needing a Savior! He calls for ambassadors of hope.

Now is the time to pray:

1.         Like the tax collector:  ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ Meditate on John 6
2.      That the Supreme Court will support marriage between 1 man and 1 woman to honor  
       creation’s God and for the good of our country.
3.      That the Lord of the harvest will draw hearts: (a) to turn to Jesus. (b) to be kingdom
      workers praying, watching and sharing the message of grace.

Happy Easter!

A Big Moment

Twenty-five years and six ministries ago I told a young man in my youth group that God had His hand on his life and that I just knew that he was called to ministry. He said, ‘No, he didn’t think so’! But I saw his heart for people and his heart for God shining through his 16 year old personality.  He was always pointing kids to God and he was just plain bold about it. I think God wired his DNA that way. It was a ‘calling’ that was so obvious that even a young inexperienced youth pastor could see it.  This weekend I am participating in his ordination council and giving a charge at his ordination service on Sunday. I only have one thing to say - it’s about time!  Even though he still builds snowmen, Eric isn’t a kid anymore. He has a braided, gray goatee. Really! Eric graduated from Bible College years ago and then served as a youth pastor. A faithful husband and father of two, soon to be grandfather, foster parent and engaged leader in his church - the last 2 and a half decades have repeatedly and clearly shown God’s hand on his life. What a cool thing that his church wants to make it official & I get to participate.

It is a big moment for me and Kris - to bless and be blessed by Eric and Terri. We are looking forward to it. Eric wouldn’t have made it this far without Terri ministering at his side! (I believe we had a part in that too!) It’s also a big moment for the body of Christ. Ozark Mountain Community Church and Aspen Ridge Church have come together across two states to acknowledge how God has connected His body for His work.

It’s also a big moment (that makes a trinity of big moments!) for Ozark Mountain Community Church to recognize God at work in one of her own. God works through His organized church!  He calls us to serve together and recognize his gifting and leadership. Just like a good marriage is publicly recognized & celebrated, so a good church publicly honors her leaders!  What a privilege to be invited to participate in God’s work in the life of a church and the life of an individual God has graced me to touch.