Christmas Preparation #4: What Are You Waiting For?

“But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.”   Luke 1:13

Perhaps today we need to hear the words spoken by this angel, “Don’t be afraid.” “God has heard your prayer.”

No doubt a prayer for a child was spoken to God many times from Zechariah and Elizabeth. They trusted and were obedient to God even when they had to wait. Waiting is difficult – whether in a hospital waiting room or in God’s waiting room. Psalm 37:7 reminds us to wait patiently for God to act.

THE LORD IS GRACIOUS is the meaning of John’s name.  We can imagine what it was like for Zechariah to have such great news for the woman he had committed his life to or for the angel to be the deliverer of such wonderful news. God’s grace was magnified in the gift of this child. How can God’s grace be magnified through some news or gift I may be able to give someone else who is waiting?

Oh God, as I look around your waiting room here on earth, there are many women who are waiting – waiting to be rescued from sex slavery, prostitution, poverty, waiting to be rescued from rejection, singleness, barrenness, and abuse. Moms are waiting for prodigals to come home and the daughter is waiting to be forgiven. The diseased are waiting to be healed; the hungry to be fed; and the orphaned to be adopted. The lonely woman is waiting for a friend; the homeless for a home; the unemployed for employment; the forgotten to be remembered; and the live-in girlfriend for her engagement ring.  In all of our waiting God, I pray we are not afraid and know you have heard our prayers.  May you prompt us in our waiting to refocus on how we can magnify your grace for someone else who is waiting. Maybe something so simple as an invitation to church. In Jesus name. Amen.

Christmas Preparation #3: Your Zechariah Moment!

“One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him.”  Luke 1:8-12

As servants of God we must be keenly aware that every now and then a moment in our lifetime is marked like no other.  I imagine this is one of those moments for Zechariah, or so he thought.  Many other priests would have been present and looking forward to the lot falling on them, but this was Zechariah’s moment and he most definitely would participate fully.  But something different happened that day, something he hadn’t anticipated – he might have imagined the fear of messing up, or staying inside too long, but he would have never guessed an angel would appear at that precise time and would shake things up for him in the sanctuary.

Being chosen to officiate at the funeral service of 24 year old Mironda Heston, missionary to Haiti, was an honor. She had contracted dengue fever while serving the people she had fallen in love with. I remember this quote from her journal, “Life is made up of each little day . . . that is what comprises our existence . . . each day impacts the world somehow.  I just want to question what mark I want to leave. Something that is true/real . . . that is me, my contribution to humanity and the earth.” One young life, one old life . . . in both cases Mironda and Zechariah were participants of God-chosen moments forever marked in history, perhaps questioning what mark they wanted to leave while at the same time unknowingly leaving it.

When was the last time you were shaken by the presence of God, or is the sanctuary of your heart on sabbatical?

Oh Lord, help me not to be so concentrated on making a mark in the world that I miss the God-appointed moments each and every day.  Thank you for the times I have been overwhelmed by your presence in my own sanctuary. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Christmas Preparation #2: Barren or Pregnant Righteousness?

“When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah.  He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.” Luke 1:5-7, NLT

What does modern day righteousness look like if I am of the priestly order of Jesus? Are we confused because we have learned that O.T. righteousness meant that one was righteous by upholding the laws/commandments of God and that N.T. righteousness is not a result of what we can do but rather a result of what Jesus has done? Could this confusion cause me to relapse into legalism or to the other extreme, abuse my freedom? That Luke mentions Zechariah and Elizabeth were careful to obey all of Lord’s commandments and regulations perhaps gives us a clue. They didn’t want anything to hinder their relationship with God. Though Elizabeth was barren from having no children at this time, her love for God was pregnant with the evidence of wanting to please Him. What do my relationships, my actions, my language, my calendar, my emails, my internet activity, and my bank account reveal about me? Am I barren of righteousness, of love, or the desire to please God . . . or, am I pregnant with Christ’s love and the gift of righteousness, living out of that love to please God. What is my life barren of and/or what am I pregnant with?

Do I live humbly by the ordinance of the Majesty of Heaven – is my heart overwhelmed by His Majesty? Do I live as if His name is above all others? Listen to this song by Chris Tomlin:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PIVaadNe2w

Lord, may my desire to please you be born out of love, but help me to always be “care”ful in my relationships and guarded in my actions knowing that I can hinder this relationship with you or cause others to stumble in their own barrenness. Being of the priestly order of Jesus, may I always remember that this gift comes with great responsibility and how I steward this responsibility can draw others to His Majesty or away from His Majesty. In Jesus name, Amen.

Advent Sunday Devotion 2011: Go for the Feast!

GO FOR THE FEAST!!!

“Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They have used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.”   Luke 1:1-4

John Stott writes, “It should whet our appetite, especially if we have become too accustomed to living on spiritual snacks, to know what pains Luke has taken to prepare this feast.”

The main course Luke serves is the certainty of truth he promises. Luke’s gift to Theophilus is a gift for us as well. Those of us who have missed the authenticity of mom’s cooking/baking, grow weary of manufactured snacks – or the frozen look alike meals. As we grow in our faith, we should hunger for more Truth with the only preservative being certainty.

Many years ago when I was a new believer, I rode on the shirttails of my pastor hoping to receive crumbs of wisdom to snack on. I didn’t study and learn God’s Word to know it for myself and soon discovered I was biblically illiterate – malnourished in God’s Word. It wasn’t that I didn’t receive great teaching, it was simply time for me to feed myself more so that I could feed others.

I thank God I had a grandmother and a mother who taught me how to cook (my husband thanks Him too) so our family didn’t have to ride on the shirttails of my mom for every meal. I thank God for faithful Christians in the past who have paved the way that we can be confident of the Truth as we study it and apply it to our lives today. With God’s Word and today’s technology in the United States, we never have to settle for an unhealthy snack or have stunted Christianity due to malnourishment. There is a 24/7 Bible study buffet open for anyone desiring more than hors d’oeuvres. But, just like any buffet, we can become spiritually fat if all we do is eat without exercising what we have consumed. When we live out the Word of God, we share the meal with others who are starving.

Not sure what to read? Start with a Christmas Devotional from here: http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/category/devotional?page=2

Lord, I pray for my hunger to increase for your Word on a daily basis . . . that I would take a bite and chew on it for a while and let it digest thoroughly into my life so that others receive its nourishment as well. May this Christmas bring a real certainty to many who are struggling to know the Truth, the One who has the power to transform and the One who longs to be a part of the rest of our stories.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Our Memorial Christmas Tree 2011

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas season, many of us will also be remembering precious loved ones who have passed in 2011. There is an empty place at the table, a missing person from our Christmas photo, and one less gift to purchase.  We may have already discovered we want this season to be over with before it even starts.

One new thing  our family has done this year is decorate a little memorial Christmas tree with photos of loved ones who have passed. This allows us to remember them in a special way. Perhaps it will become a new tradition that will be passed on from generation to generation as the stories of their lives are shared. I have written the names and dates on the back of each photo and eventually hope to frame them. If you don’t have a small tree to use as a memorial tree, add their photos to your large one!

As you grieve this season, I encourage you to attend a church service http://www.centralchristian.com/henderson/events/xmas-at-central.asp, stay in the Scriptures. receive daily devotions of encouragement from http://www.griefshare.org/, and allow members of your Small Group to comfort you. Let others know how they can help – don’t expect them to know the right thing to do for you.

Other ways you can remember your loved one may include lighting a candle in memory of that person beside their photo, donating a gift to your favorite non-profit/cause, or attending a special Christmas service dedicated specifically for those grieving. Pray about what you might do to help yourself and others in your family during this time of grief – be proactive.

Perhaps you have survived a season of grief and God has given you a great idea that might help others during this time. What is one thing that has helped you through the Christmas season during a time of grief?

Thankful for this Irishman at Central

God’s Love Letter by Bill Hanna

I’ve only known Bill Hanna for about five years, but the impact he’s made on my life will last forever.

• Remembering back to the first time I met him, what captured my attention immediately was his true Irish accent. I will miss his Irish accent every day at Central.
• Bill was the first one to reach into my heart with friendship to this stranger/female pastor who was without her family the first six weeks of being in Vegas. I will miss my friend every day at Central.
• Bill always (as he says in the attached video) has a word from God. He is an innovative thinker, a listener, and a preacher with a deep love for his Father. I will miss the way he so sincerely shares his new revelations (i.e, sermons) with me every day at Central.
• Okay, I admit it . . . there are only a few men whom I would accept a daily kiss from and Bill is one of them. I will miss his daily kiss on my cheek every day at Central.
• Bill has been my in-house mentor. I will miss the convenience of his Godly wisdom every day at Central.
• Bill has been a grandfather to my sons. Of course I couldn’t have been more pleased that Kyle chose him to officiate their wedding. To Jordan he gave some interesting advice, “treat your lady like a queen during the day and she’ll treat you like a king at night.” Bill cares that our sons know how to love others. I will miss hearing him talk about his own grandson as well as asking how my boys are every day at Central.
• Bill has been my teacher. What he has taught me about being a pastor goes far beyond my years of seminary, any number of books read, as well as my experience. He has taught me about the purity of the pulpit – that it is not a platform before people but ultimately the platform before God and how we interact with the least of these that we serve and partner beside. I will miss him equipping me every day at Central.
• Bill’s presence always brings peace and stability. No matter what we were attempting to accomplish as a team, Bill’s presence and his contributions gave us confidence that things were going to be okay no matter what. I will miss his presence every day at Central.
• Bill has been one of my pastors . . . in fact he is referred to around Central as “The Pastor of Pastors.” He has been and always will be a pastor I look up to, a pastor I can trust with my stuff, a pastor who will give me the Truth, and a pastor who inspires me to love God and my spouse more than the ministry. I will miss this pastor at Central every day.
• And the list goes on . . .

As Bill retires from Central, it would be without question and with great confidence that I can say – that we all can say, “well done good and faithful servant.” Bill has surely been one to take to heart and live out the love letter from God that he continues to read on a daily basis. I thank God for this man and the influence he has had on my life.

Oh, and in case you read this Bill . . . you are not retired from my life and I know where you live!

Written with love from your friend, your colleague, your sister, and your prankster,
Rhonda

Rescue Campaign: When Women in Vegas Get “All Shook Up”

“My tongue gets tied when I try to speak, my insides shake like a leaf on a tree.” These lyrics made famous by Elvis years ago ring true for me, not because of some passionate love crush for another person, but because of the way God is shaking up the women at Central through our Rescue Campaign. It seems the church is accused of always “asking” for money and people get turned off even if we understand it is for a good cause.  In reality, the heart of the ask is founded biblically from discipleship, stewardship (an obedient act of love for God), and rescuing others (an obedient act of love for our neighbors) – or at least it should be. That’s why during this campaign I sensed God wanted to inspire the body of Christ (in Women’s Ministry) by bringing to light through discipleship a parable that was taught by Jesus in Matthew 25:14-28: the Parable of Talents (i.e., loaned money). In response, the church entrusted and loaned $7.70 to each woman willing to participate, steward the loan, and multiply funds. Reports of wise investment are now coming in:

• One woman is baking for Christmas and took in over $900
• One Small Group held a garage sale and took in over $1,100
• One Small Group thought outside the box and sold muffins at a bazaar for $77/each and made $385
• One photographer offered Christmas photo sessions at $30/ea. which included a cd of photos for print. Her time slots filled in quickly.

In scripture, we can read of God shaking things up to get a response from His people. We can also read about the shaking that occurred as a result of his character and action. The responses of shaking are varied: joy (1 Sam. 4:5; fear (Nahum 2:10); salvation (Acts 16:29); symbolic shaking (Neh. 5:30; Mt. 10:14); an awareness of God’s attributes (power – Job 9:6; protection and comfort – Ps. 16:8, 62:2, 62:6; Acts 2:25, 1 Thess. 3:3; and his trustworthiness – Ps.33:11).

If God inspires a “shake-up,” through a teaching of His Word, the most important thing I have learned is that while I have to lead through an unstoppable movement of God from start to finish, I also without hesitancy, must get out of His way. Below is the guideline of ten steps He has given me for this:

1. Listen closely, pray, and wait to hear from God: I received a word from God almost a year ago to teach this parable but waited for everything to line up strategically for the greatest impact on the body of Christ for a Kingdom purpose. This also included a timeline.
2. Get affirmation: I took the time to cast the vision for our Women’s Sr. Leader Team and my Executive Pastor for affirmation before announcing in all of Women’s Ministry. Their affirmation gave me permission to proceed.
3. Cast the Vision with Implementation: Trusting others inspires them – they understood the church was taking a risk in loaning this money. When the vision was cast, the women were empowered at the same time through immediate implementation. How many times is a vision cast and implementation never happens? I’ve made this mistake before and people actually lose trust.
4. Jumpstart Creativity: Fear was driven away and creativity nurtured as women publicly shared ideas of what they could do to multiply the $7.70.  This was also strategically done during a time we were teaching Ephesians, Chapter 4 (Unity, God’s Generosity, and Gifts).
5. Worship: This wasn’t a rote act of handing out money, it was incorporated into an act of worship – we prayed over the money first, the women prayed about whether or not they would participate, and then as an act of worship they stepped out of their seats to take out the stewardship loan.
6. Inspire: Take time to share stories in a public forum. The stories ripple inspiration to other women and other ministries of the church. This also serves as a reminder of what God is doing, and that the leader has a reporting strategy – see the parable for more details.
7. Be Present & Stay Out of the Way: Sounds sort of like an oxymoron in leadership doesn’t it! This is where the parable for us took a twist from the original text (I didn’t leave on a trip but instead was visible to the women). One thing that meant a lot to the women was that they saw me participate. I opened my own home for a bazaar, I drove out to a garage sale and took photos, I purchased items from others, and responded to questions from phone calls, texts, and emails. I also stayed out of the way. I secretly said hallelujah’s when each woman didn’t ask permission for what they could do (no micromanaging) – this is the step of equipping that many leaders get hung up on when unable to release.
8. Praise Report: Announce the outcome – this gives glory to God and inspires others of His faithfulness.
9. Celebrate: The parable is clear that the master understood the importance of celebration. The operative word is “Let’s” (i.e., he celebrated with them instead sending them off to celebrate alone – what kind of party is that?). Any woman that participated receives an invitation to a special event of which I not only will plan but also attend.
10. Mark the Moment: Mark the moment by remembering. It’s another chapter in the history of what God continues to do through His faithful people. Journal it, tell it to others, and give it a spiritual marker.

Here we sit in the middle of an economic downfall in Vegas, but there is a financial movement of God happening in the church through generosity. It is unstoppable because the women at Central have been shook up by God’s faithful Word. I have never in my life been more proud of how these women have stepped up to the plate to rescue others. If I weren’t a little bit shaken up (from joy and God’s power) by the response of women living out God’s Word, I would question if I were a leader with the right motives. These women have sacrificed during a season when they could have used this money to ensure this Christmas is better than the last for their families. In truth, the reality of the shake up is just that: their Christmas will be better and so will that of many others because of what God has done through them.

(Written by Rhonda Baker, Pastor of Women’s Ministry, Central Christian Church)

Women’s Small Groups Bible Study Tips

Each week in Women’s Small Groups, we present Central women with a few Bible Study Tips. It only takes five minutes to present these and the women love them. One woman on our Sr. Small Group Leader team, Blaga, is assigned specifically to write these up for presentation so that any of our leaders can present them (unless she switches over to her Bulgarian language which she tried to do last week, however I switched it back over to Greek).

This is the beauty of a team, I don’t have to do it all and other women are encouraged and able to use their gifts in the Kingdom of God to teach. “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love (Eph. 4:16).”

We have a lot of fun with this and the women are learning simple Bible study tips and tools that increase their knowledge of Scripture (For example: “Which chapter is the middle chapter of the entire Bible?”)  We give the women multiple choice on the answer and of course encourage them to turn in their Bibles.

As a pastor, I believe God encourages us to equip (Eph. 4:11-13) and empower others with tools for growth instead of hoarding knowledge or even a platform to deliver such. I never want to end up on God’s star line-up for a “Hoarders” Show. That’s why I appreciate women like Nancy Leigh DeMoss and the great article she has written on Scripture memorization. Nancy has a heart to equip the saints with tools that will help them grow.
http://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/tips/11634857.html?utm_source=Bible%20Study%20Tools%20Weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=11/02/2011

The Buzz of a Bazaar is not Bizarre!

One women is using her talent of photography to sell $30 photo sessions for Christmas cards in order to increase her $7.70 loan for our Rescue Campaign. A Small Group of women will hold a bake sale. Another woman will raffle off a basket of products. Our Parable of Talents challenge is taking off in Women’s Small Groups and I’m so excited to see what God is going to do.

But is this latest buzz of a bazaar just bizarre nonsense or is it really happening? Yes, it is happening! Next Saturday, November 12, from 9am-1pm, women who have taken out the $7.70 loan in Women’s Ministry are invited to set up their “for sale” booth for our Rescue Campaign. Invite others to come and have some fun doing some early Christmas shopping at 1782 Clear River Falls Lane, Henderson.  We’re going to have a blast so don’t miss it gals.  Proceeds will be donated to our Central Rescue Campaign.

How Big is Your Ask?

• I serve a God who was able to heal my broken heart after my parents’ divorce.
• I serve a God who was able to bring new friends into my life when old ones deserted me.
• I serve a God who was able to save me from marrying a very heavy drinker.
• I serve a God who was able to bless me with a faithful groom and dedicated father who has never had alcohol to his lips.
• I serve a God who blessed us with two sons (one biological and one through adoption) after losing two children.
• I serve a God who was able to restore my relationship with my mother after one year of silence.
• I serve a God who was able to forgive all of my sins and secure my eternity with him.
• I serve a God who was able to send me off to seminary without an undergrad to receive a Masters of Divinity after five long hard years.
• I serve a God who was able to provide me with some of the best pastors/colleagues to learn from and serve with.
• I serve a God who was able to move a conservative Midwest small-town family to the mission field of Las Vegas so I could speak Good News and teach community to women.
• I serve a God who was able to provide a job for my husband after eight long months, provide friends for our then-junior in high school, and as a bonus provide a way for our other son to move here and meet his wife.
• I serve a God who is able to gift me with the daily opportunity to raise women up, equip them, and watch their gifts at work for a greater purpose.
• I serve a God who is able to gift me with the daily opportunity to learn from hearts of women who practice servant leadership and volunteer to grow the Kingdom because of their love for Jesus and other women.
• I serve a God who was able to save my brother one month prior to his death and allowed me the opportunity to be there for his baptism.
• I serve a God who is able to allow me, “though I am the least deserving of all God’s people (Eph. 3:8),” to lead my own father to Christ one day after my brother’s funeral.
• I serve a God who is able to make me laugh, allows me to cry, holds my head up when others push it down, and pulls it down when I hold it too high.
• I serve a God who is able to remind me in surprising ways that the Kingdom is bigger than me.
• I serve a God who is able to help me understand in new and different ways “how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is (Eph. 3:18).”
• I serve a “God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Eph. 3:20).”

Now tell me, how big is your ask?