To God be all the glory! After three years of praying, seeking wise counsel, planning, studying, meeting and voting the relocation of Calvary Church is finally underway. The Groundbreaking Service we had on Sunday evening, May 22, 2011 was the official launch of attempting, as far as man is concerned, the impossible. But God is the God of the impossible.
I am both excited and scared about the future. I am excited about God continuing to do the impossible as the new building on Parris Bridge Road get built. I am scared because I know that we are facing a spiritual battle against the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). We are not waging war against an enemy that can be seen; he is not flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). If we could see the enemy, if we could touch him, if we could hear him coming, if we could sense his presence in some physical way it would make the fight so much easier. But just because he can't be seen, heard or felt doesn't make him any less real. Be assured of this one thing: Satan is fighting a turf war for the souls of lost people and the hearts of disillusioned, disenfranchised disciples in our area, and he is not going to go away quietly just because we are bringing in the large and loud earth movers on Parris Bridge Road. No, because we showed up he will too!
Be confident of this one thing: the devil will only be defeated as we move forward on our knees in faith. Our utter dependence on God is absolutely necessary at a time like this. I believe God will build His Church; I just want us to be a part of what He is doing. May we valiantly fight the spiritual battle. It will cost, but the rewards will be worth the price.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
The trees are down...at least the pine ones are! This is progress and progress is exciting. Removing the trees was the next step in the many that we will take in the months ahead. Did you realize that we are a short six months away from moving? I usually like to take a look ahead which is good, but sometimes it can be depressing. It is good because we are taking each step into the future by faith. the future is only something that God knows and if we remember that then we will not be anxious about the future. It can also be depressing because of all the work that needs to be done before we move. Here is what yet needs to be done:
First, we need to decide how much money God would allow us to borrow. This will be the main item of discussion of Sunday night (5-15-11). Please come as we discuss the recommendation of the deacons and myself. As one deacon said, "This is not a problem for God...He has no problems."
Second, we need to finish cleaning and inventorying the approximately 48,000 sq. ft. we presently occupy. This project has been going "swimmingly." Each month we set aside one Saturday to attack an area of the building. I would guess that we are about 38.6492% done.
Third, we need to raise money for certain items we will need in the new building. What things? We will need a stage, phone system, and chairs for the auditorium. Those are immediate needs, but others will need our attention in the near future (security system, replacing tables, replacing the sound system, a sign, and landscaping).
I am confident in the Lord as I look to the future of Calvary Church. The reason I feel this way is because it isn't up to us, it is up to Almighty God and nothing is impossible for His to accomplish. the one activity that has been on my mind more than usual for us is prayer. This is not a time to fret; it is a time to pray. I would also encourage you to be fasting-praying if the Lord leads you to do so.
I believe that if we attempt this without God's help and leadership we will not have tapped into His inexhaustible resources. God is a God who does the impossible. We must be a praying and working church. We will only see fruit as we do this work God's way!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
I think you moms need more than one day set aside to celebrate all you do. I know as a little boy I put so much stress on my mom that she deserved a "Mother's Day" once a week. I think I know why some moms color their hair - to hide the gray hairs brought on my little boys. But I digress...
Moms, I want to encourage you to take on Mary's characteristic of hanging on every word of Jesus. The sisters, Martha and Mary, are a study in contrasts. Martha was a woman who took care of things, probably necessary things, and not just one thing, but many things. She got stuff done, but she probably took on too much because Jesus said to her,
Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things (Luke 10:42a).
No doubt some of the things she was obsessed over were things for other people to take care of. But I think it was in Martha's nature to make sure everything got done, and if something was left undone then she felt it her mission to get that done as well. The problem with this is that it robbed her of the time she could have been spending doing something better - something her sister, Mary, was doing. Jesus said of Mary,
Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42b).
And just what was the "good portion" that Mary had chosen? She had chosen to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His teaching (cf. v. 39). It seems that we usually find Mary at Jesus' feet handing on His every word!
Now let's not be too hard on Martha. At times all of us find ourselves doing so many "good" things that we neglect the "best" thing! I just want to encourage you moms to make good choices. Spending time at Jesus' feet soaking in His teaching is a higher priority than making sure the hamper is empty and the ironing basket is kept to a minimum. It is better to take time everyday to be with jesus than Betty Crocker. When you spend time with Jesus then you are better equipped to mold the lives of children.
Happy Mother's Day!
Scott
