1. This past week has been a real challenge to me personally. As Mark and I would talk about each day's events, he would challenge me to become more of a pastor and to depend on God's daily guidance. He would remind me to do the things God's shows me and focus on those things only. The question we have to answer is "What is God showing us?" I was also encouraged to emphasize the positive and ignore the negative. It is not always easy to ignore negative when it is so loud but that is the challenge.
2. The revival! I have not experienced a revival like this past week in a long long time. God's word of correction was spoken. We learned that we are not to COME - SIT - EXPECT. For so long that is exactly what we have been doing. We come to the church building, sit in our pew, and expect God to do something great in our life and the life of the church. What does that do for us? Nothing except leave us empty and still expecting. Instead we are to PREPARE - GO - POSSESS. We are to do everything we can to prepare ourselves to DO God's work. Then we are to go out into our community and do what we have prepared to do. Then and only then will we possess the promise of God's reward. Tuesday evening was a great break through for us. God moved upon the whole church. People were at the alter, lives were restored, and commitments were made. It was not the number attending, but how the spirit was free to stir hearts into action.
3. Westchester Manor Mission Project: The mission team did a fabulous job leading the children in God's Big Back Yard. Again it was not the number of children attending, but the training that was accomplished. Out of the 10 workers only 2 of us had ever been on a mission trip. Some had never been involved in anything remotely close to this mission experience. We fell in love with children and they fell in love with us. On the last day one girl commented "Will we ever see you again?" We met and connected with parents and grandparents and found others had the same heart for children as we did. It was so exciting to see lives change right in front of your eyes. They got it! What ministry is all about. Taking Jesus to our community.
4. Then God placed a great opportunity in our laps. We, Northgate Baptist Church, have an opportunity to take on a mission church in the same complex we held the back yard club. The pastor of Lifegate Baptist Mission had to step down due to his health. This mission has been in existence for about a year and now it needs someone else to lead. We have to decide whether or not to obey and continue what has been started. We had started talking about beginning a 2nd worship service, now God has given it to us. Just not in the way we expected.
There is so much more on my heart but you will have to come to Northgate to experience it for yourself as God unfolds His plan and direction in the days to come.
