Person County United Methodist Parishes 1/3/17 Devotion

Picture by Elizabeth Reiter 12/29/16

My Wife and I spent last week in Disney world, and I am always struck by the fact that people told Walt his dreams were impossible. His father thought being an animation artist was a waste of time, His brother thought they would run out of money before Snow White was finished, people around him thought it was crazy to build an amusement park and though it would never take off.  But he never lost sight of the dream he had when he drew that first picture of a little Mouse he called Mickey and is quoted saying “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

I have done my share of impossible things in my time as a church worker, student, child and sibling. I have held on to and let go of my share of dreams. And it strikes me today that as we enter this new year together that many of our churches and congregation members have done the impossible and dreamed big dreams or perhaps had to let go of some dreams we once had. But in the back of my mind I hear Walt echoing the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians, where he is giving them a word of encouragement and before my pixie dust turns to glitter on the shelf I feel the need to share a word of encouragement here this evening.

Paul says in Chapter 4 verses 11-13, "Not that I am referring to being in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." 

I can, We can, do all things through Christ who gives us strength. The Psalmist says to God "Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." —Psalm 25:5 As long as we place our hope in the one who gives hope and grave, love joy and peace as freely offered gifts we are indeed able to do all things. So maybe it is time for us as pastors and parishioners to shack off those dreams deferred and put them back on our radar. God has big plans for the church today, just as God did when letters were being passed around and shared among the new disciples of Christ.  Each church represented here has gifts and ministries unique to that body and God uses those to build up the Kingdom of God. No it’s not a Magic Kingdom that all started with a Mouse, but it is a Kingdom started and founded on the Love of God that is manifest in each of us and intended to be shared with the world around us. 

So friends, shake off the ideas that our dreams our out of reach, because Nothing is impossible with Christ on our side and as Walt says It’s kind of Fun to do what the Worlds deems impossible, and when we do, when we achieve our dreams and goals, May God receive all the honor and Glory. 

"I am God your Savior. I guide you and teach you, so put your hope in Me all day long. I guide you according to My truth, and I teach you important lessons as you follow the path I’ve prepared for you. Because I am both your Savior and your God, I’m able to help you with the obstacles you will encounter. Your difficulties can even be blessings when they draw you into deeper dependence on Me." —Jesus Today by Sarah Young

Jesus I know you can...

Sitting here in my new office, at a new church, in a brand new position created for me in a way and I am completely beside myself with the reality that following Jesus has led me here right where I have wanted to be for so long. At First UMC, Asheboro I am the Community Life Minister, basically an Assistant Pastor, and will be the Worship Leader for our new Contemporary Worship service we will call "First".
 I can't help but think about the first time I asked God to help me grow into the minister God wanted me to be and feel a tug in my heart towards becoming a worship leader. WUMC made it possible for me to follow that dream by allowing us to begin "The Well" and for 2 years I struggled to be THIS and THAT and to devote time to my PASSION and my JOB and in the end I feel like I did an okay job. However, here I get to simply be what God has called me to be...to do what God has called me to do. It is amazing and, I must confess, completely overwhelming to realize that people saw my gifts and decided to trust God enough to allow me to use them to further the work of the Kingdom.

While we were packing up the house in Wvl, I was overcome by a serious moment of sadness, that was followed by complete disbelief that any of it was happening. As the tears began to roll down my cheeks and this grown man was reduced to a blubbering mess, in the background I heard the lyrics to my new favorite Third Day song, "I Know You Can". I listened to it repeatedly until I could sing the words without crying and then my heart started believing them. "If I'm to follow you it's only by your hand. Help me to make it through, Jesus I know you can..."
  The craziest thing about this life we have chosen to live is that God's timing is not always convenient, it's not always how we want it to look, but when we allow God to move everything will be okay.

"I Know You Can"

Give me the words to say
Bring me the strength to stand
Take all the doubt away
Jesus, I know You can
For if I’m to follow You
It’s only by Your hand
Help me to make it through
Jesus, I know You can

So close that I can taste it
I stand at the great unknown
Second chance and I don’t want to waste it
I gotta know, I gotta know
You speak and I will listen
You ask and I will go
Lord, will You be there with me
I gotta know, I gotta know

So the lesson we take from all this is that Jesus has us in the palm of his hand and will never leave or forsake us...and even in the great times of our lives, it is okay to grieve the loss of something great as you move to the next great thing. Lastly, it is right and good and joyful to make lifelong and lasting friends whom you share the pains and beauty of life with and for your heart to break as you move away and then spend days really missing them, because it means that God will cross your paths again and quite often. It means that a phone call or text message from them will mean even more, and the memories you make during the times you get to share will be stronger and truer because there is love wrapped in each moment with them. 

 Here we are standing at the "great unknown" with new and old friends and our family surrounding us and a God that will not let go of us...so I pray for strength, for wisdom, for your guidance, and your love. I ask you to be with my friends, love them in my absence and help me to feel their love with me. Give me your words, forgive me when I doubt, speak and I will listen, lead and I will follow...help me to make it through, Jesus I Know You Can.

Air1 - Crowder "I Am" LIVE

[Verse 1:]

There’s no space that His love can’t reach

There’s no place that we can’t find peace
There’s no end to Amazing Grace
Take me in with your arms spread wide
Take me in like an orphan child
Never let go, never leave my side.
[Chorus]
I am,
Holding on to You.
I am,
Holding on to You.
In the middle of the storm,
I am Holding on,
I am!
[Verse 2:]
Love like this, Oh my God to find!
I am overwhelmed what a joy divine!
Love like this sets our hearts on fire!
[Verse 3:]
This is my Resurrection Song
This is my Hallelujah Come
This is why to You I run
This is my Resurrection Song
This is my Hallelujah Come
This is why to You I run
There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place that we can’t find peace
There’s no end to Amazing Grace

Overwhelmed with possibility...

   Over the past three weeks, my life has been overwhelmed with good and bad ...stuff.  Trying to take stuff off of my plate by adding more "duties" to keep me organized has helped some but sometimes it just feels like busy work...Waiting for construction to happen in our house while it remains upside down is cray cray and at some points, I get so frustrated and then realize it is all for the purpose of getting my babies, which makes me agitated again knowing they are waiting while I wait too...However, in the midst of frustration and mundane tasks that give me a headache, I see God working in beautiful ways.
   Right now on my Jimmy Needham ("you know what he needs? He's like I need some ham" #funnyjokeswithmyinterns) Pandora radio station Gungor is singing Beautiful Things to me. One of my favorite songs, and a truth I embrace wholeheartedly. "You make Beautiful Things out of dust"...yes my house is a wreck and the Christmas decorations are still up in the sunroom because of all the dust in the attic, but that space is going to be beautiful when it is all done! "You make me new, you are making me new"...yes I have a killer headache from spending so much time looking at this computer screen, but I'm being shaped and molded into the leader and minister God wants me to be. Yes, it means I have to shut my door and not be the social butterfly my teachers all through grade school kept giving "N"'s to, but in this time alone in my office, I have the opportunity to grow closer to God. As the Holy Spirit continues to guide me on this journey towards becoming a candidate, going to seminary, and, eventually, ordination, I think God for putting people in my way, the good, the bad, and the ugly, as each person helps mold me into what I am supposed to be. I'm grateful for my supporters and I am learning to be grateful for the naysayers too.
   More beauty in my life is that my bride had an amazing experience at Emmaus last weekend, and though I missed her a ton, she let go of some deep hurt and embraced a love she has never truly known. Even more beautiful was being with a group of ministry colleagues who have become true friends and companions on my journey this year. Something I was longing for that God gave me...thanks, papa! Even in the midst of people who pull me down, there are those very close by who have been constant voices of affirmation and friendship, another beautiful thing made from the dust. Yesterday held one of my favorite moments of this month seeing two of my college kids at a baseball game, catching up with them, and hanging out with my youth at the same time...a relational ministry win! God knows what I need to be filled and fed, and God provides while teaching me to do things I don't like but need to get better at.
  I love my life, I love my job, and I love ministry. I am blessed beyond measure to know that God doesn't need me but wants me to partner with God's divine purposes. thanks, papa! The possibilities are endless and we are promised NOTHING is impossible with God!
  One last thought. As I was venting to my bride this nugget of scripture popped up as my background and she provoked me to think on it and adjust my attitude to gratitude...

On that note, I'll end with a prayer,

  God, thank you for the obstacles, for the hiccups in schedules, and for working it all out for my good. You have always been faithful to me even when (especially when) I doubt your goodness and your love for me. i love you, God, i bless Your holy name and sing praises for the abundant life You have blessed me with. Continue to strengthen me, shape me, and mold me, even when it hurts, into the vessel you need me to be. i pray for my heart to be softened by your spirit so that i will be quick to listen, slow to speak, or anger, and that the light you have put in me will shine as a beacon that points toward Your Son. Let your fire be alive in me, let my spirit be your spirit, let my heart look like yours, let my mouth speak your truths, and continue God to make me all You want me to be. 

all my love,

-j