GOD, I WANNA SING YOUR PRAISES!!! You are amazing, incredible, indescribable! You are beyond my understanding, my
comprehension, my ability to fathom! You
are faithful, generous, and full of surprises … even though I have already
asked! Your ways are SO much higher than
my ways – I can barely peek at the ground level stack of gifts … much less the towering
stack of presents and plans that You have balanced perfectly. Your ways could be likened to a solid, sturdy
stack of wooden Jenga blocks - before turn by turn the players carefully pull
out a small narrow wooden game piece, trying with all their might to be steady
and sure so as not to cause the wooden tower to teeter and fall. Father God, You have the tower of plans and
purposes in place. Our choices often
begin to pull away at that tower, leaving see-through gaps here and there. Still You keep it steady, in spite of
us. When we begin to teeter with doubt
and worry, you come alongside and straighten us up with the strength of Your
word and the touch of Your hands. We
seem in-line again, stronger than before.
But still we wonder if we can hold it all together, right? Then, God asks us to do something out of the
ordinary. He asks us to raise our level
of trust in Him. He asks us to activate
our faith by stepping out of the comfortable places – and into the unordinary
and uncomfortable places in our lives.
Can we do it? Will we do it? Will our obedience outweigh our childish,
impulsive wishes to pull out one more block and see if the tower will remain
standing? Will we follow in childlike
faith and do what He asks – and then watch God’s unfailing steady hand put the
pieces back together again? Sometimes I
think God waits to see how we are going to play the game (though He already
knows!) before He reveals just how many presents and plans He has in the works
for us. Oh sure, He could just toss them
all our way and spoil us – but if we never had to participate in the process,
the end results would not be near as precious and powerful, would they? We would not have learned the godly
life-lessons He wants to teach us. When
we start and then continue to pursue His teaching with all that is within us,
we begin to see things take place that nearly take our breath away! Learning some lessons of my own this week as
God has taught and tutored me, He has showered down a breathtaking tower of
presents and plans – not for me, but for the things and people He has led me to
pray for. Remember, though … when He
calls us to do something out of the ordinary, it is never about us – but
always and only about HIM, that He might be lifted up and
glorified! The first day in my
uncomfortable place, I listened to a voice message on my cell phone after
leaving work and discovered that had God miraculously unleashed new support for
the church – from out of state! The second
day was a less uncomfortable place for me, and with my faith-level rising, I
again arrived home, to hear my husband excitedly share with me that someone
from out of town, but in-state, had called and shared that they would be supporting
the church. With day three dawning, I
almost could not wait to see what God had in store, and my uncomfortable place
was not uncomfortable in the least. This
day, I didn’t even have to wait until I got home … I got a phone call mid-morning
informing me that one of our church people who had been out of work for seven
months had gone to her first interview and was hired on the spot! Day four, I leaped into my place of joy and
privilege, and first thing in the morning God led me to pray for a precious
teacher and a difficult little student.
I didn’t hear anything all day until later this evening, but a text just
now came to let me know that God worked phenomenally and the little boy was on
his best behavior … a miracle, indeed!
And the sweet, young teacher even had moments throughout the day to
breathe prayers and praises to our God!
Do I even want to go back to being “comfortable”? No, Lord, I want to follow hard after You,
like the scripture says, even when it isn’t easy … because there is no place as
wonderful as being right in the middle of what You are up to! I sing Your praises!!!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
A SPECIAL WELCOME to Brittany who has worshipped with us
recently; may you be blessed by God above as you seek Him!
LOVING BIRTHDAY WISHES to our 21 year old granddaughter,
Whitney! May God ever & always be
your joy! We love you!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WISHES to James & Tina; we pray for God’s
abundant blessings and favor upon your marriage!
SUN, SEP 16: 10:00 A.M. –
PRAISE & WORSHIP w/Part 2 of “Addressing the Heart of the Church” message!
SUN, SEP 16: 11:15 A.M. –
KINGDOM CONNECTION CLASSES for all ages – let’s learn more about our Lord!
WED, SEP 19: 7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY at 905 El Dorado Street
SE in Owatonna; bring your Bible!
SUN, SEP 23: 10:00 A.M. -
PRAISE & WORSHIP / 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION CLASSES for all!
PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . . Several unspoken needs for healing
and financial provision, the need for a vehicle, a job, strength for
care-giving, provision of people to serve in various ministries, for
Lundstroms, Seykoras, reaching the lost,
& for our nation!
REMEMBER . . . “Where are you?
Start there. Openly and freely
declare your need to the One who cares deeply.” ~ Charles R. Swindoll
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
