This week marks the 36th anniversary for East Cooper Baptist Church. To celebrate, the church body gathered tonight for a worship service and fellowship. We spent time giving God praise for His faithfulness since the church's planting and pleading for His guidance for the years to come. A specific petition we brought before the Lord was for ECBC's north campus plant. The campus, which will officially open its doors on September 12, has been named Crosspoint. (reminds me of another wonderful young church :) ) We commissioned the 25 families (still praying for 10 more!) who have committed to transfer their membership to Crosspoint while the new church body grows.
Another uplifting treat for the church family was the reports from the summer mission teams. Each team gave a synopsis of what God did through their trip and showed pictures.
We also had a wonderful time of musical worship which included the choir, contemporary worship band and orchestra!
I really loved a couple of the songs which I've heard before in contemporary worship services.
The Saving One- Starfield
What mercy was revealed
What selflessness and peace
My fate was surely sealed
Until He rescued me
His pardon for my sin
His bounty for my need
From slavery and shame
I am redeemed
And Heaven can't contain
The glory of the Son
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One
His love has made a way
The grave is overcome
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One
No fear can hold me down
Nor darkness steal my joy
For blood has been poured out
The enemy destroyed
Death could not hold Him down
The cross was not enough
To steal away His throne
For He is God
And Heaven can't contain
The glory of the Son
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One
His love has made a way
The grave is overcome
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One
Anyone who calls upon His name
They will be saved
They will be saved
Anyone who calls upon His name
They will be saved
They will be saved
And Heaven can't contain
The glory of the Son
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One
His love has made a way
The grave is overcome
Jesus is the Christ, the saving One (x2)
Anyone who calls upon His name
They will be saved
They will be saved
Anyone who calls upon His name
They will be saved
They will be saved
Our God Saves-Paul Baloche
In the name of the Father
In the name of the Son
In the name of the Spirit
Lord we've come
We're gathered together
To lift up Your name
To call on our savior
To fall on Your grace
In the name of the Father
In the name of the Son
In the name of the Spirit
Lord we've come
We're gathered together
To lift up Your name
To call on our savior
To fall on Your grace
Hear the joyful sound of our offering
As your saints bow down, as your people sing
We will rise with You, lifted on Your wings
And the world will see that
Our God saves, our God saves
There is hope in Your name
In the name of the Father
In the name of the Son
In the name of the Spirit
Lord we've come
We're gathered together
To lift up Your name
To call on our savior
To fall on Your grace
Hear the joyful sound of our offering
As your saints bow down, as your people sing
We will rise with You, lifted on Your wings
And the world will see that
Our God saves, our God saves
There is hope in Your name
Mourning turns to songs of praise
Our God saves, our God saves
Hear the joyful sound of our offering
As your saints bow down, as your people sing
We will rise with You, lifted on Your wings
And the world will see that
And the world will see that
Our God saves, our God saves
There is hope in Your name
Mourning turns to songs of praise
Our God saves, our God saves
Our God saves, our God saves
Our God saves, our God saves
The East Cooper Church family enjoyed quite the celebration of God's goodness. Happy 36th ECBC!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Seeking God's heart, one unsteady step at a time
Last week, the young adult ministry gathered for an evening of fellowship and worship. I've been so blessed with how God is moving in this ministry! Steve, the Young Adult pastor has such a vision for growth and outreach! He has been meeting with the men weekly in a group setting for the last few months. This was very evident as the guys took very active roles in leading the service. Steve started off by giving us the format: our worship leader (ECBC's Contemporary Worship leader, Kelly, is so gracious in serving us with his time and talents as well) and the band led us in worship through music then two of the guys lead in worship through reading and praying through scripture. I was reminded when Steve announced this element that my mindset should continually include scripture and prayer in worship.
We first read through Ps 138 then prayed through Ps 145 (praise, thanksgiving and supplication)
Our time was very encouraging. At one point, I was reminded of FCA worship services under the stars-feeling so close to His heart surrounded by His fingerprints. I realized though, that its so easy to get caught up in the natural emotions of the moment and to describe something like this in very "pretty" wording. It's so easy to feel the emotions of praise really without genuine heart stirring behind it. God is beautiful. Worship and making much of His glory is breathtaking.
I have found myself asking lately what stirs my praise? Am I stirred with the easy emotion of the moment or am I stirred because I truly understand God's love for me and what it cost Him; reminded of the truth of the Gospel and how great a God that gives this gift. It seems being filled with emotion can actually be a very empty form of "praise".
I fail miserably at this. I have a wandering mind and a selfish heart. I could never give God the praise He truly deserves but sometimes I can't even manage to turn my thoughts to Him long enough to refer to it as anything more than singing....
Kelly mentioned that the recurring concept of the musical worship was God's ultimate gift...I saw it as the continuation of what has been repeated for me lately: His love. I too often miss how personal God is. I see how He's God over all but I miss how gentle, close and loving He is. My personality is very much a "rule follower" and rather black and white in my logic.
I have been blessed to have been exposed to some great theological teaching. I most definitely cherish this as I have learned so much about my faith and my God. However, I think I have also succumb to burying myself in all that is black and white and grasped with enough study. I gloss over the reality of His love.
We first read through Ps 138 then prayed through Ps 145 (praise, thanksgiving and supplication)
Our time was very encouraging. At one point, I was reminded of FCA worship services under the stars-feeling so close to His heart surrounded by His fingerprints. I realized though, that its so easy to get caught up in the natural emotions of the moment and to describe something like this in very "pretty" wording. It's so easy to feel the emotions of praise really without genuine heart stirring behind it. God is beautiful. Worship and making much of His glory is breathtaking.
I have found myself asking lately what stirs my praise? Am I stirred with the easy emotion of the moment or am I stirred because I truly understand God's love for me and what it cost Him; reminded of the truth of the Gospel and how great a God that gives this gift. It seems being filled with emotion can actually be a very empty form of "praise".
I fail miserably at this. I have a wandering mind and a selfish heart. I could never give God the praise He truly deserves but sometimes I can't even manage to turn my thoughts to Him long enough to refer to it as anything more than singing....
Kelly mentioned that the recurring concept of the musical worship was God's ultimate gift...I saw it as the continuation of what has been repeated for me lately: His love. I too often miss how personal God is. I see how He's God over all but I miss how gentle, close and loving He is. My personality is very much a "rule follower" and rather black and white in my logic.
I have been blessed to have been exposed to some great theological teaching. I most definitely cherish this as I have learned so much about my faith and my God. However, I think I have also succumb to burying myself in all that is black and white and grasped with enough study. I gloss over the reality of His love.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Beginnings
God is good! He's provided a wonderful new job! Although I'm grateful for the opportunities that have led me to this point (and for the people God used to give them to me!), I'm very much looking forward to the growth and further open doors that this opportunity provides. This week has started slowly but it has given me a great blessing in downtime to get to know my coworkers. Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful as myself and other recent new hires navigate all that's required in starting our positions. It's also been a very welcome experience as I'm currently working with the HQ team but I will be moving to an off-site location in the next couple of weeks. I'll be working closely and sharing a workspace with another girl who's a little ahead of me in the entrance process. She and I have had some time to get to know each other while she's been at the main office in the afternoons. I feel a bit like I'm getting to know a new college roommate. We've been joking about making our space cozy and inviting with pictures and such. Katie is such a sweetheart. I'm looking forward to spending the workday with her.
Can't wait to see what God does from here!
Can't wait to see what God does from here!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
More to Come
It seems I've spent the last few weeks either lacking anything worthwhile to write about or lacking the energy, time or and/or sermon notes (I really dislike mutilating what could otherwise be very useful information with a poor memory!) when I have had something of note to relay. I do have wonderful bits of wisdom from Crusade the last few weeks that I am looking forward to sharing. However,as my pillow is currently beckoning for some quality time before that pesky sun rises again beginning a new set of tasks and busyness, here's my best shot at a very brief update:
God's been working on my heart a good bit lately. His method of choice once again being the complete destruction of "my plans". I seem to remember something about those no longer belonging to me...perhaps I should inform my planner brain....(again!) I have recently transitioned out of my position as Marketing Director (though remaining with the company for now). Through various instances, God revealed His hand in my stepping down. I believe this to be an act of obedience to be able to accept and act upon coming direction from the Lord. Of course, recognizing this to be God's will doesn't make this entirely "easy". I do feel at peace....just not sure why something so crazy is so peace-inducing. I am also planning to move across town in October.
Despite a period of relatively high levels of bitterness and confusion on my part, I am starting to once again see the son through the clouds. This summer has proved to be a hard season of testing. God's been showing me sins and generally areas of my life that are most in need of His correction. Most notably, certain "personality traits" and deeply ingrained sin struggles which, in essence, present themselves as high walls guarding against growing intimacy in my walk with the Lord. As I so easily overlook however, the areas most in need of correction are also most in need of a humbled cry for grace.
As the Young Adults discussed in Sunday School a couple of weeks ago, this walk of faith is made of peaks and valleys.
That said, this is something that came to mind a few days ago. I wrote it down and am posting it in the event that someone may be blessed in knowing that they're not alone.
I find myself feeling like a lost hiker. Worn, wandering in the darkness, often grumbling; striving for some semblance of rest, some plateau in the seemingly ever-inclining journey, wanting nothing more than to collapse and end the stumbling. A far cry from the apparently dormant desire to run hard for the tape- to finish the race. Yet, I notice, however small the steps, however minuscule the progress, I AM still moving! The only certainty being that I do so with a strength not my own.
God's been working on my heart a good bit lately. His method of choice once again being the complete destruction of "my plans". I seem to remember something about those no longer belonging to me...perhaps I should inform my planner brain....(again!) I have recently transitioned out of my position as Marketing Director (though remaining with the company for now). Through various instances, God revealed His hand in my stepping down. I believe this to be an act of obedience to be able to accept and act upon coming direction from the Lord. Of course, recognizing this to be God's will doesn't make this entirely "easy". I do feel at peace....just not sure why something so crazy is so peace-inducing. I am also planning to move across town in October.
Despite a period of relatively high levels of bitterness and confusion on my part, I am starting to once again see the son through the clouds. This summer has proved to be a hard season of testing. God's been showing me sins and generally areas of my life that are most in need of His correction. Most notably, certain "personality traits" and deeply ingrained sin struggles which, in essence, present themselves as high walls guarding against growing intimacy in my walk with the Lord. As I so easily overlook however, the areas most in need of correction are also most in need of a humbled cry for grace.
As the Young Adults discussed in Sunday School a couple of weeks ago, this walk of faith is made of peaks and valleys.
That said, this is something that came to mind a few days ago. I wrote it down and am posting it in the event that someone may be blessed in knowing that they're not alone.
I find myself feeling like a lost hiker. Worn, wandering in the darkness, often grumbling; striving for some semblance of rest, some plateau in the seemingly ever-inclining journey, wanting nothing more than to collapse and end the stumbling. A far cry from the apparently dormant desire to run hard for the tape- to finish the race. Yet, I notice, however small the steps, however minuscule the progress, I AM still moving! The only certainty being that I do so with a strength not my own.
Monday, July 5, 2010
The TaTa Magic
For those who do not know, the SummerLINK team in India is keeping a blog! (SummerLINKIndia.blogspot.com) The team members are taking turns posting so it is even more fun to read the posts and see whose perspective it is. The most recent post contains a fun video of the team in a taxi called the "Tata Magic". The video definitely made my day so be sure to check it out!
http://summerlinkindia.blogspot.com/2010/07/party-mat.html
http://summerlinkindia.blogspot.com/2010/07/party-mat.html
Friday, June 25, 2010
"This Little Light of Mine"
For the visual aspects of Crusade worship last night, the team drew in the theme of flame or light. Backgrounds for the lyrics screen contained images of candles or flames. As the group considered the opposing fruits of broken and unbroken lives from the message, the team presented a creative visual depiction of such a hard-fought truth. All lights in the room were turned off to signal the entrance of five of the students carrying lighted candles. They entered from the back through a center aisle singing: "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, this little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine" continually. They arrived at the front of the room to stand in a row before the group. Five voices strong. Another student dressed in all black entered and approached the first student. He stood close behind her and spoke ..... "You're such a hypocrite, slanderer, no one likes you, you should be ashamed....." He continued this barrage while she sang ...growing more quiet with each stinging statement.....until he delivered the final blow: "not even God wants you, give up"! She blew out the candle and stood in silence.
He moved on to the next student: "No one likes you, you're alone in this world!" Another continued attack until she too blew out her candle upon hearing the oppressive demand to "give up". Next was a male student: "you're disgusting, you hide in the shadows with your pornography God cant use you. Give up!" More attacks, another light extinguish, voice silenced. Two girls remain now. He continues. "Slut, whore, trash. You're worthless" With each individual, the cutting blow is delivered: "not even God wants you, give up". One voice, one light remain. She raises her voice in preparation for the attack: "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine....." He descends: "why are you even trying, why don't you give up"? She persists. He increases his intensity: "No one wants to be friends with you, they wont even talk to you"! She holds steady, still singing, still holding her flame. The darkness makes his final attempt and retreats. She passes her flame to the girl next to her who continues it down the line, lighting the chain and once again filling the room with five voices. Light and praise return, no sign of the darkness. The group exits and another girl from the group approaches the mic to read to us from Rom 8. There is "now no condemnation for those who are in Christ". Praise God! She concluded with, "I hope you feel that freedom tonight" ....
He moved on to the next student: "No one likes you, you're alone in this world!" Another continued attack until she too blew out her candle upon hearing the oppressive demand to "give up". Next was a male student: "you're disgusting, you hide in the shadows with your pornography God cant use you. Give up!" More attacks, another light extinguish, voice silenced. Two girls remain now. He continues. "Slut, whore, trash. You're worthless" With each individual, the cutting blow is delivered: "not even God wants you, give up". One voice, one light remain. She raises her voice in preparation for the attack: "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine....." He descends: "why are you even trying, why don't you give up"? She persists. He increases his intensity: "No one wants to be friends with you, they wont even talk to you"! She holds steady, still singing, still holding her flame. The darkness makes his final attempt and retreats. She passes her flame to the girl next to her who continues it down the line, lighting the chain and once again filling the room with five voices. Light and praise return, no sign of the darkness. The group exits and another girl from the group approaches the mic to read to us from Rom 8. There is "now no condemnation for those who are in Christ". Praise God! She concluded with, "I hope you feel that freedom tonight" ....
Brokenness
Very much like SummerLINK, the Charleston Crusade project group takes part in corporate worship and hearing from the word as well as fellowship during their weekly meeting (Cru). Also like SummerLINK, they are encouraged to invite guests! I'm so thankful to have been extended an invitation to the last two Crusade meetings.
God's use of timing in ministering to my heart is not only in giving me a group of believers to worship and fellowship with especially in the absence of my small group (in recess for the summer) but also in the timing of my day to prepare my heart for what He wanted me to hear tonight.
During my quiet time today, I felt the need to spend a little more time journaling as God was dealing with my heart on some things. I didn't think much of it until the very same message the Lord was personally preaching to my heart was given again in the meeting! The message was a "special delivery" of grace as it was both very convicting and incredibly freeing!
The evening started out with the testimony of one of the project members, Kim. She began by stating that she wanted to tell us a story about how she fell in love with Jesus. The way she presented herself was so free of any trace of self-centeredness....She's very clearly full of wisdom gained through valleys and trails. I related to her background: Christian home, Christian school, decision at a young age and yet no consistency walking in the faith until college particularly after the breakup of a long-term relationship. A couple of Kim's statements particularly stuck out to me: After realizing that she had not fully submitted her relationship to the Lord, she told Him she didn't have the strength to walk away so she asked God to "either work through the relationship or end it". Such wisdom and beauty in surrender. And such truth. A relationship that is not fulfilling God's purposes is not worth fighting (against God) for. Kim's walk has been getting stronger by the day as she falls "more in love with Him daily". She continues to pray for "a love and passion for Christ that is consistent through ups and downs rather than being dependent on them". This reminded me of a conversation I had with a sweet friend just a few days ago: a needed reminder to seek God to know His character and His heart for His world, His people and His glory not solely for the answer to or delivery from circumstances.
The staff director, Chad, gave the message from the Word continuing the group's study of Romans. Tonight's lesson focused on brokenness from Romans 6 but referencing Romans 5-8.
Chad asked two questions:
1) Does the message of salvation-by-grace-alone lead you to stay unchanged morally?
2) Does the gospel (the message you are no longer "under the law") leave you free to live in any way you choose?
The answer to both is "no"
1) Rom 6:2-14 2) Rom 6:16-23, 7:1-6
and gave "the Faith Formula"
Intimacy w God= (Prayer + God's Word) + Brokenness + (Obedience +Evangelism)
(Faith+Benefits) = (Knowledge of Faith) + Receptiveness + (Acts or Steps of Faith)
Benefits of faith are defined as Fruits of the Spirit
The portion that brought about the most reflection though was the very specific contrasting of Unbroken and Broken People
Unbroken People vs Broken People
unbroken: Focus on the failures of others
broken: Overwhelmed with sense of own spiritual need
unbroken: Self-righteous; have a critical, fault-finding spirit
broken:Compassionate; forgiving; look for best in others
unbroken: Look down on others
broken:Esteem others better than self
unbroken: Independent/self-sufficient spirit
broken:Dependent spirit/recognize need for others
unbroken: Maintain control; must be their way broken:Surrender Control
unbroken: Have to prove that they are right; Claim rights
broken:Willing to yield the right to be right; Yield rights
unbroken: Demanding spirit broken: Giving spirit
unbroken: Self-protective of time, rights, reputation broken: Self-denying
unbroken: Work to maintain image/protect reputation broken: Die to own reputation
unbroken: Desire: to be served, be a success, self-advancement
broken: Motivated to serve others, desire to make others a success and promote them
unbroken: Driven to be recognized/appreciated "The ministry is privileged to have me"
broken:Sense of unworthiness; thrilled to be used at all
"I dont deserve to serve in this ministry"
unbroken: Think of what they can do for God broken: Know they have nothing to offer God
unbroken: Feel confident in how much they know
broken: Humbled by how much they have to learn
unbroken: Defensive when criticized broken: Receive criticism with a humble, open heart
unbroken: Don't think that they have anything to repent of
broken:Continual heart attitude of repentance
Bits of wisdom:
The more I can be broken before God each day, the more I can fall in love with Him
Faith doesn't accumulate, it must be renewed each day.
God's use of timing in ministering to my heart is not only in giving me a group of believers to worship and fellowship with especially in the absence of my small group (in recess for the summer) but also in the timing of my day to prepare my heart for what He wanted me to hear tonight.
During my quiet time today, I felt the need to spend a little more time journaling as God was dealing with my heart on some things. I didn't think much of it until the very same message the Lord was personally preaching to my heart was given again in the meeting! The message was a "special delivery" of grace as it was both very convicting and incredibly freeing!
The evening started out with the testimony of one of the project members, Kim. She began by stating that she wanted to tell us a story about how she fell in love with Jesus. The way she presented herself was so free of any trace of self-centeredness....She's very clearly full of wisdom gained through valleys and trails. I related to her background: Christian home, Christian school, decision at a young age and yet no consistency walking in the faith until college particularly after the breakup of a long-term relationship. A couple of Kim's statements particularly stuck out to me: After realizing that she had not fully submitted her relationship to the Lord, she told Him she didn't have the strength to walk away so she asked God to "either work through the relationship or end it". Such wisdom and beauty in surrender. And such truth. A relationship that is not fulfilling God's purposes is not worth fighting (against God) for. Kim's walk has been getting stronger by the day as she falls "more in love with Him daily". She continues to pray for "a love and passion for Christ that is consistent through ups and downs rather than being dependent on them". This reminded me of a conversation I had with a sweet friend just a few days ago: a needed reminder to seek God to know His character and His heart for His world, His people and His glory not solely for the answer to or delivery from circumstances.
The staff director, Chad, gave the message from the Word continuing the group's study of Romans. Tonight's lesson focused on brokenness from Romans 6 but referencing Romans 5-8.
Chad asked two questions:
1) Does the message of salvation-by-grace-alone lead you to stay unchanged morally?
2) Does the gospel (the message you are no longer "under the law") leave you free to live in any way you choose?
The answer to both is "no"
1) Rom 6:2-14 2) Rom 6:16-23, 7:1-6
and gave "the Faith Formula"
Intimacy w God= (Prayer + God's Word) + Brokenness + (Obedience +Evangelism)
(Faith+Benefits) = (Knowledge of Faith) + Receptiveness + (Acts or Steps of Faith)
Benefits of faith are defined as Fruits of the Spirit
The portion that brought about the most reflection though was the very specific contrasting of Unbroken and Broken People
Unbroken People vs Broken People
unbroken: Focus on the failures of others
broken: Overwhelmed with sense of own spiritual need
unbroken: Self-righteous; have a critical, fault-finding spirit
broken:Compassionate; forgiving; look for best in others
unbroken: Look down on others
broken:Esteem others better than self
unbroken: Independent/self-sufficient spirit
broken:Dependent spirit/recognize need for others
unbroken: Maintain control; must be their way broken:Surrender Control
unbroken: Have to prove that they are right; Claim rights
broken:Willing to yield the right to be right; Yield rights
unbroken: Demanding spirit broken: Giving spirit
unbroken: Self-protective of time, rights, reputation broken: Self-denying
unbroken: Work to maintain image/protect reputation broken: Die to own reputation
unbroken: Desire: to be served, be a success, self-advancement
broken: Motivated to serve others, desire to make others a success and promote them
unbroken: Driven to be recognized/appreciated "The ministry is privileged to have me"
broken:Sense of unworthiness; thrilled to be used at all
"I dont deserve to serve in this ministry"
unbroken: Think of what they can do for God broken: Know they have nothing to offer God
unbroken: Feel confident in how much they know
broken: Humbled by how much they have to learn
unbroken: Defensive when criticized broken: Receive criticism with a humble, open heart
unbroken: Don't think that they have anything to repent of
broken:Continual heart attitude of repentance
Bits of wisdom:
The more I can be broken before God each day, the more I can fall in love with Him
Faith doesn't accumulate, it must be renewed each day.
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