Pastor’s Meditation May 2020
A happy May to everyone. As I write these words, I’m like all of you, waiting for life, business, work, etc., to start resuming. Continuing to pray for health care workers, families that are dealing with loss, and people that need to get back to work. When I was thinking about what to write for May, I stumbled across an article online that talked about an exhibit at the London Zoo. Back in 2005 the zoo had a temporary, special exhibit called “Humans in Their Natural Environment. There were exhibits of live people doing different things, with signs giving information about diet, habitat, & threats. It was the same information you would read about animals in the zoo, except it dealt with humans. One of the reasons for the exhibit was to downplay the uniqueness of human beings. One of the participants was quoted as saying, “When you see humans as animals, the idea is that we’re not that special.” This mindset stands in stark opposition to what the Bible teaches. God’s word says in Psalm 139 that human beings are fearfully and wonderfully made. Genesis 1:26-27 says that God has made us in his image. I think that teaches pretty clearly that we’re special. David began Psalm 139 by celebrating God’s intimate knowledge of him and the reality of God’s all-encompassing presence in David’s life. God not only formed the intricacies of David’s internal & external features, but God made him a living soul. God gave all of his human creation a spiritual life and the ability to be in intimate relationship with God. When you take the time to think about God’s handiwork, you can’t help but be awed. Human beings are special. God created us with marvelous uniqueness and the awesome ability to have an intimate relationship with Him. Like David did in Psalm 139, we can praise God because we’re the workmanship of His loving hands. Over the past couple weeks, I've had several leaders ask about calling the entire church to a day of prayer and fasting. As a result of this request, I'd like to call all of us and all of our congregations to a day of prayer and fasting.
I'd like to ask everyone to set aside Wednesday, April 22, 2020 as a day of prayer, fasting and seeking the Lord in light of the current COVID-19 crisis. We have much to lift up in prayer:
Let's ask our gracious and loving Father to bring His kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven. Set aside the day of Wednesday, April 22nd to share in this day of prayer, fasting and seeking our Lord. COVID-19 is impacting the whole world. In many of the poorest areas of the world, the shutdown of places to work means day laborers do not have income and many families are facing starvation. The Churches of God, General Conference provides ministry in many areas like this in Haiti, Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Venezuela and other areas. Our Global Reach staff in Findlay is working with ministry leaders in those areas to help people in those countries with food and basic necessities at this time. A special fund has been set up to help. Please consider giving to GR9325 Global Reach COVID 19 Emergency Relief Fund. You can send a check with GR9325 in the memo line directly to Global Reach, Churches of God, General Conference, 700 East Melrose Avenue, Findlay, OH 45840.
Pastor Earl You can give by going directly to the weblink set up for online giving through the Churches of God https://secure.cggc.org/global-reach-covid-19-emergency-relief-gr-9325 Watch the video from the link below from Global Reach Director Ben Tobias explaining the situation. https://vimeo.com/407633674?fbclid=IwAR0cTARCPPq_FHCeqK9T5_Jv9_XZEL0VuZURzNRCQyDH7GbHIkKGaKCasDE From I C N U
This week I was challenged with four simple letters: I C N U. The challenge was this: who in your circle of influence are you taking the time to tell “I C N U” (I see in you) the potential of what God wants to do or accomplish? We each should be intentionally looking at those that God sends into our lives and be willing to tap on their shoulder and say “I see in you” your kingdom potential and want to help you take a step toward that. “I see in you” the gifts that God has blessed you with and want to help you put those gifts into practice. “I see in you” what God has placed in you and want to see you fully exercise your gifts for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom. Four simple letters: I C N U. Who in your life needs to hear this from you today? This concept is actually something I’ve been reflecting upon for the past few weeks. The weekend of February 18th, I had the privilege of preaching at the Fort Scott First Church of God in Fort Scott, KS. I’ve been to the Fort Scott Church before for a Western Region Conference meeting, but I had not had the opportunity to worship with our brothers and sisters there before this last month. One of the discoveries I made during my weekend trip to Fort Scott was the fact that the Fort Scott congregation had produced several sons who had played an important role in my own life and ministry. They have produced three sons who had spoken those important words, I see in you, to me at different times in my own journey. Randy Jenkins, David Beerbower, and Clarence Thornton all are sons of the Fort Scott First Church of God and all three of these dear brothers have spoken into my life over the years. Randy was probably the first pastors to tap me on the shoulder as a teenager and offer the idea that perhaps there was something that God wanted me to do in His kingdom. He gave me opportunities to serve and lead and invested in me. David graciously gave me the opportunity to give my first sermon under his ministry at the Mt. Pleasant Church of God outside of Assumption, IL. David has been a consistent encourager to me over the past twenty-five years and been a tremendous prayer support to me as well. Clarence was the interim pastor at my home congregation, East Harrison Street Church of God in Charleston, IL. During his brief ministry there, he called me into his office and explained that he understood I was headed to seminary and that he wanted to encourage me and my ministry. He took the time to share how he developed his messages and gave me the opportunity to speak at a service soon after that. He invested in me and encouraged me, even when I was young and inexperienced. Each of these dear brothers, in one way or another, said those four letters over my life: I C N U. I see in you. I see what God is doing, the potential that He’s placed upon your life and I want to encourage you and help you respond in obedience. I’m so grateful for these men who took the time to encourage me, challenge me and give me opportunities to serve and develop as a very immature and inexperienced young man. Their willingness to encourage me helped me to respond to what God was stirring in my life. They helped me follow in obedience. I’ve thought a lot about these brothers this week as I was challenged with the letters: I C N U. I’m so grateful for how they served me, encouraged me and spoke into my life. Who will we encourage to today? Who will we give the opportunity to lead or serve even if they’re not fully ready for the challenge? To whom do we need to say “I see the Lord at work in you and I want to affirm and encourage that work?” Are you watching how God is at work in those around you and are you willing to acknowledge and encourage that work by four simple letters: I C N U? Christ’s Peace, Lance |
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