Waiting is difficult. Patience is something with which we all struggle. Its tough wanting something to happen, knowing it is going to happen any day, but not seeing it happen when we expect it. This has been our experience at Calvary this week. We thought for sure the grading on the new property would begin. We even thought we saw evidence of it early in the week when two pieces of machinery showed up on the property. However, that equipment belonged to the Depart of Transportation; I have no idea why its there. I guess I have a new appreciation for the old saying, "A watched pot never boils." How true! No matter how many times I drive by, the dirt is still not getting moved.
At this point we cannot allow a lack of patience to overwhelm us and plunge us into frustration. This is not what God wants for His church. He is never early and certainly never late; His timing is perfect. Part of what we must do at this point is surrender ownership. Keep in mind that this is God's project...we are simply the stewards, managers, overseers He has entrusted.
A verse of Scripture I have parked on this week to find help is found in Proverbs 13:12, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
We must guard our expectations. If we think something is going to take place and we schedule our life around that event but it is not God's timing then we will be greatly disappointed (i.e., our heart will be sick). I think it boils down to trust. Are we going to trust God to run the show and work things out in His way? In this situation we have to choice but to wait patiently. What other option is there? Its not like we can run out there with shovels and get the job done.
Our hearts will be filled with joy when the grading begins. This will be the "tree of life" Solomon wrote about. I am anticipating the day we will all meet in the parking lot of the Fast Stop and rejoice together that once again God is doing something great for us!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
If you will permit me a little personal reflection this week I would greatly appreciate it. Graduation reminds me of endings and beginnings. For Barb and me it is the end of a long trip...the last chapter in but one book we will write. All of our children have now graduated from high school. I have come to call each of these graduations "sitting on the edge of disaster." Why? Because I feel the wrenching in my entire being as our children step away from us and plunge themselves into a great adventure!
They are not on the edge of disaster, but
we are. Our emotions run wild as we hear their names called and they walk across that stage. I hope you understand our feelings.
I feel the same way about Calvary Church. We are beginning to write the last chapter of just one of the books on our shelf. I spend time at night contemplating how we are going to write these final words. Sometimes it is troubling and sometimes exhilarating! I tend toward the melancholy at times like these. I don't want us to falter; I don't want us to stumble; I don't want us to fail. And maybe I play too much emphasis on us and not enough on an almighty Creator who made us in His image. But I honestly fear that it will end in a mess and the result will be a poorly written chapter that is very disappointing.
All of this reflection brings me to the point of what I am attempting to write this week and I think Paul said it best,
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)
I want to encourage all of us that what we are doing is primarily for the Lord. If we truly build this building for the glory of the Lord and the good of His people, then we will write this last chapter beautifully. It will be a chapter that we will want to return to and read many times over. It will be a credit to God's majestic glory and a benefit to His children.
What I am trying to say is: let's do something that will be remembered for the right reasons! Let's move away from the spotlight and point others to the wonderful work that God has done and will continue to do. I believe that if we do this then the book we finish this year will be worth the time to read and we will begin to write a new one that everyone will anticipate reading once it is finished...chapter-by-chapter!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
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
