all the time God is good!
Our church is building a new ministry center. Well, actually we have built one and this week we are all moving in. I need to buy a locking storage cabinet for Women's Ministries and after looking at Staples and Office Max and other places like that, I discovered it was going to cost us a small fortune. So I decided to look for a used one on Craigslist. I didn't find one but I did find something else.
I was just talking with Ronda, our office manager the other day about office furniture and because of the cost of our new building, office furniture was put on hold. Everyone was just going to use what they currently had, which is pretty bad but it would work until it broke down completely. While on Craigslist, I saw an ad for a company moving sale. They had cherry office furniture that had to be out by Aug. 27. Well, yesterday was the 27th, but I figured it doesn't hurt to ask if they still had anything.
This morning I received an email from their owner saying that they still had 6 office sets left and to call if we were interested. So I did. I spoke with the wife about everything, told her who I was and why I was looking for the furniture and explained that we have no budget but wondered what their bottom line was. She started explaining to me that the other sets they sold went for $600 each. Well, that was definitely out of the question. She told me that they work with Christian Ministries and they can probably make us a sweet deal if we could take it all. I told her still that was alot but I could pass the info on and see what happens.
She told me to hold on and talk to her husband. I, again, explained who I am and what I was looking for and also why. And wondered how low he would go because we could really use all 6 sets but could in no way afford but maybe one at a lower price for our office manager.
Are you ready for this? This is God's part of the story! He said "In no way would I ever accept money from a non-profit. What ever you need is yours. You come and see and take whatever you need. It's all yours if you need it." My jaw dropped! As I about peed my pants. How exciting!!!
The storys not over. I started making arrangements for meeting him and looking at it. I asked where it was and it was at 5650 _______. Another God thing. I think it was God's icing on the cake....our new church address is 5650 Starr Ave. How cool is that?
So today I spent the day with Pastor Thom, Bo, Kyle, Bill T., Ronda, Brenda and Pat picking up furniture and moving it to our new building. This furniture has some scratches and discoloration but it is solid cherry wood. All matching... made by lazy-boy. We figure that if we were to have purchased this all new it would have cost us about $10-15000. PRAISE GOD!!! He is so good!!! He was at work in the whole thing.
It's funny because when the reality set it that new office furniture wasn't a part of the plan. Brenda said she wasn't counting God out yet. She was right!!! He had a plan and he provided!!! His hand was in the whole thing because had I not looked for that cabinet for WM than I would have never found this!!! And by the way, we will be able to use some of the storage pieces that we got today for WM so we won't have to spend the money either!!!
Here are some pics of some of the furniture but there's even more than this. Plus we were given some chairs and some cafe tables. God just really came through!!! Thank you!!! And thank you to this awesome company who was willing to love Hope Community Church and bless us for years to come!!!
Ladies, there is no way that we could ever repay this commerical company. We can't patronize their business or anything like that. But I do feel that we need to show them our appreciation and love by sending thank you cards. I will be circulating one this Sunday at church, see me to sign it. But also I think that if several of us showered them with cards they would know just how much of a blessing they have been to our church! Please email me if you would like their address!!!
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend a benefit concert for Rusty's House, a local ministry thats mission is to educate and assist young people with their recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Seventh Day Slumber was the headliner. Joseph Rojas is the lead singer of SDS. He told a story that I believe touches home with so many hurting people out in our world.
" We were playing a show in California, and in the middle of the show and I heard this women scream 'Joseph, I need to talk to you'. In this crowd of 10,000 people, I heard her. She looked like a soccer mom. I told security to let her through. I began talking to her and she said 'Your song Caroline really touched me'. She said 'The last two years have been the hardest years of my life. I've felt like I'm starting to drift away from God and wonder if there even is a God.' She said 'I was at work on a Saturday, when my 18 year old son called me. He said he didn't want to live anymore. He said his life felt pointless and he didn't want to continue. He told her it wasn't her fault and that he loved her and he was sorry. He hung up the phone in the middle of her pleading. She left work as quickly as possible and got home in 15 minutes. She walked in and found that her son had commited suicide after he hung up the phone. She said that she was questioning God's existence. How could God let this happen. One day she was driving on the express way and our song Caroline came on and she felt like God was talking directly to her. She pulled over and just sat and listened. I felt that a women that had been through so much deserved a song."
Though this story is filled with tragedy, it is so crucial that we don't miss the HOPE that is weaved through out it and the GRACE that it rests upon and the LOVE that projects from it. God is here with us. He used this band to touch the life of someone who was hurting and He is turn used her story to touch the world through Seventh Day Slumber. Because of this tragedy, He gave Jospeh Rojas the words and music for a song that is touching the lives of so many in our hurting world.
Ladies, there is HOPE, no matter the circumstances. If you've made mistakes, there is forgiveness. If your marriage is hurting because of bad choices, because of pornography, because of an addiction, there is HOPE. If you're not being all that you know you should be, there is someone who will stand beside you and even carry you when you can't go any further. There is someone who will pick you up, just as you are and will shoulder your burden and get you through. Don't give up! Don't look for answers where you aren't going to find them. Look to Jesus. It will be the hardest thing you do in your life! It's not easy to trust, to let go...but you have to look to Him. He is our HOPE!!!! And by His GRACE AND LOVE He will bring you through!!!! He will heal your life, your marriage, your children...
Throughout the New Testament, a Christians walk of faith is equated to running a race. With the Olympics here, I couldn't help but think about what it means to run a race. I don't know about you but running is a word that in normal definition doesn't fit too well into my vocabulary. Running is not my thing. I can handle aerobics or weight training and even some fast-paced mall walking. But running has always been a struggle. I don't even like to watch people run.
Despite all of that, I'm left asking myself, how would our lives be changed if instead of walking in our faith, we were running in it? If we actually pressed forward with all eyes on the prize, running, holding our baton (the Word of God) out for the next sprinter to grab hold of and run; advancing the Kingdom one runner at a time. Could we take home the Gold?
Paul said, "I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (I Corinthians 9:23-25)
Ladies, if we are running for a crown that will last forever shouldn't we be running with all our strength? Shouldn't we be so set on this crown that we run like we have never ran before? That we push forward not looking back, taking our faith with such a seriousness that our spirit and energy becomes so contagious, people can't help but see Christ in us?
We should want with all our heart, mind, body and soul to be like Paul, to run our race, not just walk it. So that like Paul we can say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
I was recently emailed the testimony that follows so that I could put it in our newsletter. However, I believe it is a perfect example of running the race to which we have been called. The author is unknown, but is believed to be a young pastor in Zimbabwe who was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ. It was found in his study:
I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me. My banner will be clear!
Here are some pictures from Women of Faith - July 18-19th in Cleveland Ohio. If you attended and have pictures, please email them to Sharon.
Two Sundays ago, Pastor Thom planned an excellent evening out on the Bay. The weather was perfect for a movie under the stars! Several attended and watched "Everyone's Hero." The kids had a blast and the adults enjoyed watching them. Many Maumee Bay visitors stopped by to watch and inquire! It was definitely a great evening! When we do it again, make sure you make plans to attend!!!
