![That small country church]()
by Stacey | Sep 3, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
It was our first full-time ministry experience. The majority of the village population lived in a cluster of homes surrounding a four-way stop, and worshiped another five minutes down the highway in this tiny country church.
Voices raised in worship seeped through the paper-thin walls as we poured out ourselves for the gospel. Now, over a decade later, the church no longer stands. Part of me wishes I could see those familiar walls again. However, the church, the real church, is not made of walls.
The church is not an institution, but instead is a spiritual entity made up of those who have by grace through faith been brought into a close, intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). Those people, no matter which building, denomination, or country they happen to be in, constitute the true church.
The church is made of people living for Christ, people working to tear down the walls standing between an unbelieving world and God. It’s where everyone matters, but numbers don’t because it doesn’t matter how many bodies fill the pews, what matters is how Jesus changes lives— how people put themselves down and pick Jesus up.
Inside those thin walls, in that place of growth, place of wonder, place of challenges, and place of miracles, God saved souls and moved people from darkness to light. He changed me. He sanded my rough edges and sifted my heart, leaving me with nothing but Him. And because of that, I will always be thankful for those ministry years that spurred growth, maturity, and a total dependence on God.
All for His glory.
by Stacey | Aug 27, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
The invitation was simple. Come.
Come to the park and don’t leave until your hunger and thirst are satisfied. Take from the bounty of pizza, chips, and water. Take until you are filled and quenched.
Whole pies went home with some, slices with others, thanks offered with starving eyes.
But there are a million ways a body can starve, physical hunger being only one.
So we prayed with those thirsty for God. Hugged those starved for affection. Conversed with those famished for companionship. And most importantly, directed their attention to the only One who can satisfy their deepest needs.
The preacher invited the starving to come to the table and feast on Living Bread. Living Bread proclaimed through Living Words able to rebirth the dying with a simple invitation. Come.
And those who were thirsty, poor in spirit, who knew their need, came to drink from the fountain that truly satisfies. God ushered souls from darkness into the Light.
And this day in the park was anything but a simple day in the park.
For many came.
by Stacey | Aug 13, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
He was lying, and she knew it, but she couldn’t prove it.
After 30 minutes of tears and denial we suspected she was right. But, he clung to his lie like a drowning man, misplaced hope in concrete shoes.
Fearful eyes flashed. Will he be exposed? And what will be the consequence for his dogmatic refusal to repent?
And they face off. Neither budging. Voices rising. Tears flowing.
I tug her aside to consider forgiveness. Undeserved, unmerited mercy gifted to him because she loves him. She can’t make him confess or apologize, but she can forgive him KNOWING he is wrong and unrepentant.
Her wet tears dampen my t-shirt as she considers the cost of letting go of her righteous anger. Forgiveness always comes at a cost.
“Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrongdoer. If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit it, than it isn’t mercy, but forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness.”
~ Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the heart of the Christian faith.
Christ freely extends forgiveness, but it cost Him much. It wasn’t fair. It physically hurt, but he loved us too much to withhold it.
A shuddering cry. She wipes her cheeks. We pray for his repentance. Pray that God does the work we cannot force in the heart of the boy we love. And it is better this way because when God does it, it is done. It is real and it changes you.
And more than her way, she wants lasting change.
She faces his indignant stubbornness and freely extends what will cost her much.
His eyes widen.
A tiny smile turns up the corner of her lips. A hug is exchanged. One is set free. One is weighed down with conviction.
And the sun sets three times before he gathers the courage to fix what he broke. With a trembling frame, he stands before her. “I did it. I lied. It was wrong and I’m sorry. Next time I will be honest. Will you forgive me again?” A single tear marks his cheek. A lower lip quivers, the full weight of conviction heavy on his heart.
She smiles wider, tugs him in, fully restoring what sin had broken.
by Stacey | Aug 6, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
We find by losing, receive by giving. The low are lifted high and the humble are exalted. Weakness is strength. We rule by serving, lead by following, live by dying. The first are last. The poor are the rich. The slaves are free. We are saint and sinner, flesh and soul, old and new.
God is one but three, fully God and fully man. He is far and near, beyond and within. He was born to perish. He surrendered for victory. He died to live.
His Word is written by God, penned by man, and made alive.
by Stacey | Jul 30, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Unbearable heat. Sparked anger. Flared tempers. Bickering over games, over toys, over every little thing that doesn’t go right. The longsuffering sigh of motherhood escapes as another insult is hurled between the children. I turn away.
How long, Lord? How long ‘till we feel some relief?
And it’s all normal, until it is not.
Eye’s wide. Tears formed. Arms failing. Horrifically quiet. Silently dying within arms reach.
I scream his name.
A deep finger scoop frees the airway and the most beautiful breath sounds fill the room. I pull him in. Skin against skin, cherishing the body heat that means he’s alive. “It’s okay now. I’ve got you. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.”
Cool tears bring relief and the embrace tightens, neither ready to let go. Neither ready to acknowledge how fast it all changes. Forced normalcy cannot stop the flood. What if I hadn’t turned back? What if the God who gives and takes away had called him home? What if—
—what if I simply give thanks? Thankful today is not that day. Not the day that requires that kind of strength. Thankful I can hold him a little bit longer.
And it dissipates.
Frustration. Anger. Heat. All ceasing to matter in the cool light of life.
Thank you, Jesus.
by Stacey | Jul 2, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
You do not promise physical healing. You said, “this world will have troubles.”
You do not promise earthly treasures. You said, “store up treasures in heaven.”
You do not promise popularity or ease. You said, “take up your cross and follow me.”
And I have trouble. Need. A heavy cross to bear. Still, I sing my praises because this life, this faith, is not about easy. It’s about You.
My wise, infinite, sovereign, holy, all-knowing, faithful, loving, all-powerful, self-existent, self-sufficient, just, never-changing, merciful, eternal, good, gracious, omnipresent God. I have enough reason to praise You – to roll out of bed and press my face to the floor – because of who You are, not what I want You to do.
I am nothing. Dust. A sinful and broken woman whose only hope for any future hinges completely on the grace and mercy of You and the sacrifice Your Son made for me.
A correct understanding of You and Your incomparable glorious nature, and a correct understanding of me and my sinful corruptible heart, should humble me to make my heart right with You and desperately seek forgiveness and transformation. No matter the cost.
