Following in the footsteps of my daughter!

This is Gwen and her friend Angel in 4th Grade.  Angel invited Gwen to CYC (a midweek children's program at her church).  Gwen really wanted to attend, so we added this evening event in to our already packed schedule.  The good news was that sometimes I drove Gwen to CYC and Angel's parent would bring her home.  I had no idea how important CYC would be to Gwen and to me.  I'm not exactly sure when it was, but at some point, the wonderful women who taught Gwen's group, encouraged her to "pray and ask Jesus into her heart".  Now (remember my blog from yesterday) this church did not believe in infant baptism and practiced "believer baptism".  I really didn't care at this point.  Gwen was very clear that something important had happened and she felt changed.  I know that Gwen began to pray for our family.  I started to help her do Bible memorization, learning passages along with her.  And shortly after this, I experienced a very real change in my own spirit and truly began to know and understand the real presence of Jesus in my life.  I know that my own spiritual walk really started as I walked in Gwen's footprints.  That may seem like an unusual thing...for a mother to follow her daughter.  It's interesting because this was just the path that Jesus planned for my life.  I had a strong church background, so many seeds sown in my generations, always knew Jesus was real.....but I had not really been living fully for Jesus.  Yes, this was a real banner year for both Gwen and I.  And for our family.  Sometimes it IS a child that leads!

That church that hosted this CYC program... well, it is not a church that exactly matches my beliefs.  But the core, the center of it all, was Jesus.  And that was enough.  I am so thankful for that little girl who would not stop asking her friend to come.  And I am so grateful that Gwen pressed us to let her attend.  If I stop and consider what might have been had I dug in my heels and refused to let her go to a different church, I get very sad.  I know that there are some people and churches that would discourage letting a child attend a different denomination for this kind of program.  In fact, our pastor at the time, told Gwen that nothing had happened when she prayed that prayer, since she already had Jesus in her heart at her baptism.  Unfortunately, he missed the point that something very real HAD happened!  Again, I think this is an encouragement for all of us to really consider the body of Christ as our sisters and brothers. We need to stand together in unity, and BE the body of Jesus, working together.  Not fighting among ourselves.  When we succeed in that, we will have the power and the authority to stand against any enemy that might attack us.  And let's face it, we need that power and authority today more than ever before.

So these first footprints had the solid foundation of Jesus as the central, core imprint.  And these footprints were those of a child.  But Jesus did an amazing work in these steps.  He not only changed Gwen, but he also changed me.  Really quite an amazing thing.  I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit drawing Gwen and I to come into a deeper place with Jesus.

Jesus, thank you for your great love for us and your plans and destiny for each person.  Thank you for children's programs and the amazing volunteers that change peoples lives every day through your Word.  Holy Spirit, thank you for speaking to children.  Keep us all mindful of the ways that we treat our brothers and sisters in Jesus.  Help us all to tear down walls that divide us and be open to standing on the unity we have in Jesus.  Amen

The Church is the People!

So here is the church I mentioned a couple of days ago in my blog.  Zion Lutheran Church, St. Paul, Minnesota.  The top picture was taken in 2005.  My sister Karen, brother-in-law Roy and my mom visited this church.  It was one of the highlights of my mom's later years.  She had always wanted to get back to this church.  I think she felt a connection to all of her family there.  The picture on the bottom is the exact same church at pretty much the same angle, taken in 1880.  Amazing isn't it?  It looks very much the same.  Isn't that a great comfort to know that some things DON'T change? However, this church is no more.  It has closed and I can't find out any other information about it.  So while the building might be there, it is no longer the church that these pictures represent.  I am thankful that my mom got to visit when it was still Zion Lutheran Church.  I am so glad that I have pictures from my mom's visit.

 

This picture is my sister Karen and my mom inside of that church.  You can't see very much in this picture, but it is amazing.  I love that the ceiling looks like the sky and clouds.  I remember my mom saying (when she was showing me these very pictures) that it was if you could see right up to heaven.  I just love thinking about both Karen and mom celebrating right now in heaven with Jesus. I know that my mom sat in the pew of that church and envisioned her dad there as a young boy.  He was actually baptized and confirmed at that altar.  And she was also thinking about her mother, who sat in those pews when she was ill and near the end of her life. My mom said that she remembered her sister Bea talking about going to that church during that time.  And she was also thinking about the many funerals that she had attended there over the years.  As we looked at these pictures I remember asking my mom if she wanted to be buried in that "family" cemetery.  She was so practical that she said it simply did not make sense to her.  My dad had been buried at a small cemetery in the suburbs of Minneapolis and that was fine with her.  

As I was writing this blog, I found I was humming a song.  It suddenly dawned on me exactly what I was humming!  Here it is......

I am the Church, you are the Church, we are the Church together.

All who follow Jesus all around the world, yes, we’re the Church together.

 

The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple,

 the church is not a resting place, the church is the people.

 

I am the Church, you are the Church, we are the Church together.

All who follow Jesus all around the world, yes, we’re the Church together.

 

We're many kinds of people, with many kinds of faces,

all colors and all ages, too, from all times and places.

 

I am the Church, you are the Church, we are the Church together.

All who follow Jesus all around the world, yes, we’re the Church together

 

Okay, Jesus, I get your point!  Even as I am writing about this BUILDING, I am reminded that the building is not the important part.  I remember very clearly when Gwen learned this song in Sunday School when she was in first grade.  She sang this song over and over.  Yes, the point is that the building is not the church.  So, in spite of buildings closing and being torn down, the church is not destroyed.  I certainly experienced this first hand, on my trip to Africa.  I met many, many, wonderful people.  They were filled with the Holy Spirit, loved Jesus, they were committed to sharing the Gospel message, many times without any real building to speak of.  It was a powerful picture of the body of Christ, being the church.  Unfortunately, in the United States, it is often not like this.  The buildings become the most important thing!  Sometimes ministries are judged by how big and wonderful their actual buildings are.  Perhaps its time for us to step back and reevaluate what it means to "be the Church!"  Jesus never had a building.  He focused his attention on the people.   Seems like it would be wise for us to remember this song, and turn our attention to those around us.  And to let go of our buildings. 

 

Jesus, thank you for changing the direction of this post to remind me of what is really important.  Holy Spirit, help me to focus on the people that surround me and to know how to reach out to them with your love.  Jesus, thank you for providing these trigger photo's to help me hear more clearly what you are speaking to me.  Holy Spirit, would you remind me to see with the eyes of Jesus as I look around me.  Thank you for knowing exactly what we need each day.  Amen

The Bone in the Stone and the hands on the rope!

If you have been reading my blog, you will know that sometimes it is the weirdest things that Jesus uses to get a point across.  Well, today was not an exception!  I was watching the half hour television program (he is only allowed one program a day) with my little 20 month old buddy.  During the middle of the program there is a "short" of a different little program.  It was called "Furry Friends".  It is an interesting program that uses real animals (dogs, kittens, rabbits, Guinea pigs, mice, hamsters) against computer generated backgrounds.  Today's episode was called "The Bone in the Stone"!  Okay, bear with me here, there is really a point to this! 

In this cute little program there was a dog who wanted to be the leader of his friends.  But in order to be the leader he needed to remove the bone that was stuck in a stone.  Of course, he could not get that bone to move.  All of his friends (think all of those other real animals) wanted to help him get that bone out.  The dog refused their help because he would not be the "real" leader if anyone else helped him.  A wise owl came to him and told him that all good leaders accept help from their friends.  Getting help does not mean you are not the leader.  So all of the animals helped him, and together they pulled the bone out of the stone.  In the end, the dog became the leader (the king) of all of his friends. 

I couldn't get this little program out of my mind.  In the short 30 minutes that my fussy, crabby little one napped,  I was thinking about this.  Suddenly I had a vision of the 5 fold ministries.  I was seeing a hand and on each finger was written one of these anointings -  Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Apostle, Teacher.  The interesting thing was I was also seeing the other hand!  And then the message was much more clear.  Yes, those that are operating in those positions of the 5 fold ministries in the body of Christ, all need the support of the others. They each need the input and accountability of those in the other offices of the 5 fold.  Just as the fingers on a hand must stay together, so should those called into these important positions.  There is really nothing new in that revelation.  But then I saw and understood the other hand in my vision!  It is all of us that are a part of the body of Christ.  If we are sitting back and expecting the Pastor or the Prophet to "get the bone out of the stone" on their own, it simply isn't going to happen!  They all need us to stand with them and help them accomplish the tasks that they are called to do.  It takes two hands to hold on to that rope and pull on that bone! 

So, I encourage you to look around, and find those in authority over you, that need your help.  Is there someone who just needs a word of praise or a pat on the back?  Or someone who needs to know that you are praying for them?  Possibly there is a ministry that you have been following, but never really supported (in attendance, by prayer or through finances) - even someone on the TV or the radio.  Is there some concrete way that you can serve? Is there someone who led a Bible Study that changed your life? They might need to hear your testimony today.  I know that I have a few things to take care of right now!  And, more importantly, I have a very different perspective on my own roll in ministry.  I know that I will be seeing those two hands, joining together to accomplish great things for Jesus!

Jesus, thank you - THANK YOU - THANK YOU!   I just love how you take the silly little things and show me something so important.  Please help me to remember this lesson and to follow through with my part in the tasks that you set before me.  Holy Spirit, please remind and encourage those Pastors, Prophets, Evangelists, Apostles, and Teachers that they NEED EACH OTHER!  Bring them together with a renewed commitment to be accountable and supportive of each other.  And Jesus, would you please make those connections to those who are operating "out of hand".  Holy Spirit, thank you for showing me so clearly, of how much you need all of us in the body to do our part.  Give us courage and boldness to fulfill our destiny for your glory.    Amen