Not Charles Dickens, But…

On the way to work this morning, I was listening to the song list for this Sunday’s service. As I listened to the lyrics, I had one of those “chills” moments. You know what I mean? When you know…that you’re supposed to “get something” and “see God’s work”.

Let me step back. Last night, one of the challenges in the Ash Wednesday service was to pray about how you could shine His light more, share His Word more, and spread His love. I was reminded that…I have a blog and a love of words, so…use them. As I drove home, I told myself that I would write AT LEAST one post a week through Lent (and hopefully longer) to share my ponderings.

Side note. In Charles Dickens books, things all seem to connect by the end. So….if you read the entire post, you’ll understand the title I chose. And…let’s just say the Author of my journey is more trustworthy and loving towards me than Charles Dickens ever was. I mean, he just left me books to read.

Well, as the lyrics played and my smile appeared, I knew what this post needed to be. So, I told myself that as soon as my day was prepped, I would begin this week’s post.

To share the message I need to write, I need to go back a couple years. Back at the end of 2022, Jon Gordon shared a post about “picking a word” for the new year. Likewise, I heard the same thought on K-Love. So…I did. My word was going to be JOY. At the time, I was seeing the church family I have grown up in and love dearly continue to decline in membership. My heart hurt, but I was certain that I was to “find the Joy” in the sorrow. Throughout 2023, I looked for JOY in sad moments. When you look, you find it.

At the end of 2023, I pondered my new word for the new year. Our church membership continued to decline, and my heart hurt. As I read Bible passages about hard times, I saw again and again how God’s people trusted Him. So, my word for 2024 was TRUST. I was encouraged to TRUST Him in the midst of the decline. So, I did my best to trust as people I loved exited our church family. I didn’t get it. I was still serving and being challenged. In the midst of my sadness and confusion, I trusted.

In October of 2024, I sat with my pastor and learned that he was going to begin transitioning out of the pastorate of our church. I knew it was coming, but it caused worry. What would happen? I reminded myself that I was supposed to trust. In the midst of this tidal wave of uncertainty. I determined my new word would be HOPE. I trusted Him through some very hard times at my church, and that trust prompted me to hold on to hope this His plan was good and His power would uphold us.

It made sense to me since my hope comes from my faith. My hope is built on the foundation I find at Calvary – not the building, but the cross of Christ. Regardless of how long we would be without a pastor, I had hope. I knew the lives of my church family mattered to the One we worship and serve. That knowledge…that trust…told me to hope. He had a plan and eventually…we would see the good in the midst of the hard times. We would experience the joy that follows the storm. We would again see the mountaintop after walking through the valley so long.

My word for 2025….Hope. It was picked in October. But alas….God knows me. In December, the deacons started having ‘talks’ with a church that had split from its ‘parent church’ a year and a half (I think) prior. It was planned for us to share Christmas Eve service. There were multiple reasons behind that plan. One, we were without a pastor who would normally lead our Christmas Eve service. Two, they had a growing congregation and their previous Christmas Eve service became a “standing room only” due to the limited space they had. Finally, it gave us a chance to see how well our two bodies could combine into one. It went well.

That led to us sharing three services in January/February. Then, both churches voted to continue to worship together and contemplate the possibility of our churches merging into one.

Ah, the hope. There is so much joy on Sundays…and throughout the week as we join together for Bible study and other ministry events. Honestly, I’m ready to vote to merge into one body of believers now. Perhaps others are not, but….I still hope.

Oh, let me tell you the chills moment. The song was “Good, Good Father”. As I listened to the lyrics, these words…these words brought chills to my arms, a smile to my face, and happy tears to my eyes….

Oh, and I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching for answers only You provide
‘Cause You know just what we need before we say a word

Yes! Through my years of JOY and TRUST, I was searching for answers only HE could provide.

He knew what we needed. We needed our hope to be found at Calvary. We needed to trust that He had an answer that only He could provide. No one ever thought of our Southern Baptist Church possibly merging with a nondenominational church. It just….happened. Why? Because…God. God knew. He knew the valley we’d been walking through. He knew we needed our joy restored. He knew our hope was found in His Cross at Calvary, and that through Him…our Hope could be found.

Now…if you know me, you know I love PUNS. Are you ready for the name of the church we’ve been worshiping with. It is Hope Valley. Yep. Our Hope is found at Calvary. We’ve walked through the valley and now….we are reminded of HOPE….through Hope.

I’ll keep you posted on the journey.

But….what do you HOPE in? Where is your hope found?

If it’s not found in Calvary and the cross of Christ….you’re missing true joy, genuine hope, and a peace that surpasses understanding.

Double Great

Go or stay? Out or in? What are we called to do as Christians? What if, we’re called to do both? Can we go out and make disciples while staying and growing believers stronger in their faith? Can we go out and reach the one who is lost and also minister inwardly to our Christian brothers and sisters? From my viewpoint, we shouldn’t do one without the other.

I believe churches are called to be missional. We should have a ministry focus on reaching those outside the church. Sharing the gospel with them to grow the family of God. Serving them to meet their physical and spiritual needs. Trusting that God will lead us to the one we can connect with to share His truths. That’s essential to church growth, but more importantly it’s vital in reaching hurting souls with the compassion of Christ and His saving grace.

However, if that is our sole focus, then we can lose sight of our upward relationship with the One we follow as well as our inward connection to the family of God. All aspects of church life are always open to those who don’t have a saving relationship with the King of Kings. Yet, I think if a Bible study group is composed of only church members or a small group is focused on praying with and living life with other believers that it is still a beneficial and vital ministry of the church.

As I was praying over and pondering my thoughts on this matter, I tried to find something that could represent my viewpoint. I happened upon gracetruth.blog and found my perspective very well-stated:

Discipleship – learning and growing in following Jesus
Worship – praise and prayer to God, participating in the sacraments
Fellowship – building relationships within the church
Mission – going out to share the gospel in words and actions

Personally, I’d switch the order of Discipleship & worship as I think worshiping God is what we were created to do. However, I also assert that discipleship helps us grow more like Jesus. Fellowship allows us to be His hands & feet to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Then, because of Worship, Discipleship, & Fellowship we will be strengthened, prepared, and encouraged to carryout the Great Commission’s call.

With this mindset, all things that transpire within the church as a family of believers would connect with one of those four prongs. All would focus on building the Kingdom of God whether it’s focused on our personal upward relationship, inward spiritual growth, inner relational connections, or outward service mission.

Well, that’s what I’ve been thinking about and praying through these past few days. One final thought…have a GREAT DAY and do the GREAT things that God has called us towards. Both practicing the GREAT COMMANDMENTS and obeying the GREAT COMMISSION.

New Year, New Word, Same Me

A few years ago, Jon Gordon had written an article about having a “word” for the year. I picked JOY. Last January, Pastor Mike challenged us to pick a word for the year. I chose TRUST. My focal verse (personalized) was to trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct my paths.

Well, around October, I started pondering what my new word would be for 2025. By November, I knew. My word would be….

My 2024 word got me through a lot of times of doubt. When things looked bleak in an area of my journey, I would remind myself to TRUST the One who guides my step. This year’s word takes trust a step farther. It calls on me to Trust Him, and….to hold on to the HOPE that good things are in my future regardless of what hat I’m wearing at the time.

As I take steps into 2025, I will find my HOPE in the one I trust. Afterall, He’s the original Promise Keeper.

In 2024, I ended a dating relationship of almost 2 years. He & I remain friends, but it became clear that our views of a our “relationship” were different. After lots of shed tears, I remain friends with him. I chose to find the lesson in the loss. I know what conversations to have before letting myself fall for someone new. I still cherish the relationships I’ve built with his family, but…I had to let go of the idea of what could be and accept what was. I trusted He would restore my joy, and He did. This new year, I start in HOPE that if a relationship is in my future that it will be God-centered and for my good and His glory. If there’s not, my peace remains.

Over the past few years, I’ve watched the membership of my church decline. This is a church that I’ve called “my family” since I was a 4th grader. It has prompted lots of tears, but I’ve continued to serve and to trust Him. My viewpoint on church membership isn’t like most. I will remain faithful until I find myself in a relationship with someone who goes elsewhere or until the person behind the pulpit fails to preach scripture. I’ve remained constant through good times, bad times, and really bad times. I continue to trust. Now, I will take the trust a step farther, and HOPE. I will hope that the next chapter brings growth in membership and faithfulness for those who gather as a family. Maybe I’m Pollyanna and refuse to see the downside, but I believe that He who began a good work will continue it for His glory. I will serve. I will sing. I will trust. And…I will have HOPE.

So, as 2024 comes to a close, are you ending discouraged? If so, rest on the One who sustains.

We live in a fallen world. A world of disease, divorce, wars, and meanness…those things can play a toll on our hearts and our minds.

This year, I’ve watched a friend’s niece battle cancer. On the day I celebrated my nephew’s 26th birthday, I attended this little girl’s funeral. Cancer…sucks. (If you know me, you know that’s not a word I use…but I don’t know a better word for that sentence.) It makes no sense that thousands of people can pray for a little girl’s healing, and in the end…her family must say good-bye to her. Life’s not fair. Sometimes, we can get overwhelmed by how unfair life can be. Yet, we must cling to HOPE. The hope that one day…a cure will be found to keep other children (& adults) from battling this terrible disease. The hope…that the One who didn’t answer our prayers as we wanted knows things that we do not. As this family said good-bye to her, I envisioned Jesus hugging her in a grand welcome and telling her that her battle has ended and she can rest. Hope that my friend and her family will reunite with this little angel one day…on the other side of the journey.

So, tomorrow….is a new day. In fact, it’s the beginning of a new year. May we each cling to the HOPE we can find in Jesus. If you don’t know Him, you can. Call on His name and follow the One who is Peace in the midst of chaos, Love in the midst of hate, Joy in the midst of heartache. Let Him be your Hope.

So, what’s your word for 2025?