Now, this past Sunday, with a handful of core families and volunteers - many of whom have been working around the clock for months to make this old sanctuary habitable, the mission prompted by God's call began. Over 220 gathered to celebrate, and... it was an amazing day of praise and celebration. So that this week, back in Marshall Texas with my students at ETBU, I couldn't wait to relate the news of what took place, for many of them have been praying with me through this journey. And I reminded them of something they must absolutely know - that God's calling always comes with His enabling. In other words, He never calls us to do something without also enabling us with the all we need to get it done. Even when we think He won't we must remember it is Satan who causes our doubt. Let's see - shall I repeat his tactics with me? Thoughts of, "you're too old, you've not enough money, there is too much resistance, people will be suspicious of your motive's" and, well, shall I go on? :-)
Which bings me to today and why I am writing about what I love about God - that His will for us is filled with adventure. That it is fraught with possibility, tinctured with joy, complete with surprise, and often most manifest in challenge. And finally, this - that it leads and ends in celebration over what He has done. For, when God is in charge, WHEN HE REALLY IS IN CHARGE, the pressure is off and extraordinary is on.
Many of you texted or emailed prior to Sunday, encouraging me in our church launch, and that meant so very much. However, on Saturday night, before making my way home to Plano, and after saying goodnight to sweet Debbie and Tom Irons along with the Gardner's who'd just circled and prayed over me, I was left in this church to think about it all. I thought about my partnership with amazing people like Debbie Irons - and how hard she'd worked supervising construction and dealing with our contractors and volunteers. I sat in silence thinking about the last several months of our journey, then walked about the church, trying, as best I could, to remember the times as a toddler once playing on these church steps. alone, I prayed to God asking His blessing as we moved into the future. Then, stepping into the night, sounds greeted me from the apartment courtyard across the street. It was the sound of children playing and laughing. In that moment God spoke to me to say, I did not bring you here for the building, Sam - nor for sentimentality sake, I brought you here for them. For these children - and many, many more to come. For do you not perceive it?
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (from Isa. 43)
As I pulled away from the parking lot and the glorious sounds of these children and others, my heart flooded with the peace of God. From my rear-view mirror I could see the lights from the sanctuary telling of the broken stain-glass and reminding me of the 'much more' yet to be done, but... my focus no longer was there. It was now across the street with the voices of children and the undertones of parents speaking softly as they watched them play. The persons for whom Christ had come - those for whom He died!
So that now, smiling and at peace, I turned north onto Munger Street filled with excitement and eager to return on the morrow, to...
TheChurch@JuniusHeights, indeed!
Pastor Sam
Ephesians. 3:20-21
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