Friday, February 27, 2009

Mashed Potatoes... Hold The Gravy!!


You know things don't always go the way that you want them to.

This past weekend we had our annual Sectional Fine Arts Competition in Uniontown, PA. Our students did a great job all day as we ran from event to event trying to see all of them minister. I was so very proud of each one as they did their best for the Kingdom of God.

There were a few events (as always) that I really felt strongly that our students should have moved on to the district level in. I have to confess that as a youth pastor I tend to get upset when judges do not see it the way that I do! I have to look back and laugh at myself as I get worked up reading evaluations that just plain don't make sense to me. I try hard not to let my displeasure ruin the day for the students that these evaluations effect. It can be difficult though, I am HUMAN!! I want the very best for these kids and I want them to be encouraged as many of them are blessed with talents that are unbelievable.

This past week I found myself sick as can be. I woke up Wednesday morning so sick I had to go to the doctor's office. (I never go to the doctor!) I have not been to the doctor for sickness since I was a kid! I went and found out that I had an intestinal virus and was extremely dehydrated (go figure)!! I was given 2 liters of IV fluids and sent home to rest. I even missed youth group for the first time since I have been in ministry!! It was very difficult to lay at home and place everything in trusted hands to do the job! (thanks Tim, Katie, and Andrea) It is good (necessary at times) to have trusted people in our lives that can step in at a moment's notice and stand in the gap for us!! What a blessing, even though at the time it felt like a curse!! All I ate on Wednesday was a little bit of Grammy's mashed potatoes... without the gravy I didn't need gravy at that point in my life!!! What a lesson I was given through this.

Often we find ourselves dependent on only what God has given to us. We must learn through life. We cannot give up on something because a "judge" does not like our style or our song. It's our song that He has given us... we must keep singing it for Him and for no one else!! If others desire to lend an ear and be blessed by it than so be it!! Don't let someone steal from you the gift that He has so graciously given to you! Sing, preach, write, teach, live the way He has shown you! Allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide, sometimes people miss out on the message because of their own humanity. Don't let that discourage you. Peter walked on water toward Christ until his humanity stepped in between and he started to sink. What did Jesus do? He reached out and lifted him up from the wave that he could have drowned in!

Be lifted up today!!
Blessings,
Pastor Carl

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

I Learned Something Today!

So often we get caught up in the business of our days and sometimes we forget that we are real people in a real world, who are trying to do our best.

This morning as I was driving my daughters to school we paused, as we do everyday, to ask God to help us through our day and to pray for protection. As Abby was praying I felt something on my shoulder. As I drove on I looked down to see Megan's hand (my youngest daughter) on mine and Abby's shoulders. She was agreeing with Abby in prayer by simply whispering a prayer of her own as her big sis prayed. I was taken back that she would lay her hands on us as we prayed together.
This moment in time made me think about our lives. We often over think our "prayer life" and the ways that we communicate with our God. You see, I don't think He cares to see us praying in public or for any kind of performance. He wants to see our hearts in our words and our actions. We don't need to dramatize our prayers to get through to our Creator. He looks into our very souls when we communicate with Him. He knows when we are being real and when some are just showing off their educated words or actions. When my daughter touched me this morning I was a little shaken, because I had been taking these prayer times a little too lightly. We were talking to God and He was listening to us. I learned (from my 6yr. old) that it doesn't matter if we are driving down the street in the car or eating dinner or even just hanging out, God is concerned about us and we need to communicate with Him. We need to share everything with Him and never take Him for granted.

Luke 18:16-17
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Just something to think on...

Blessings,
Pastor Carl