Posts by Michelle

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. It’s a ghost, they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. Lord, if it’s you, Peter replied, tell me to come to you on the water. Come, he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, Lord, save me! Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. You of little faith, he said, why did you doubt? -Matthew 14:25-31

Last week I shared with you my comment to Dad after spending three months back home in Nigeria. I told him I knew why God didn’t call me to go overseas because He knew I couldn’t hack it. This may sound strange coming from a Missionary Kid that was born and raised overseas. What I realized though is that things are very different when you are an adult. Those three months were the first time I got to see what life was like for my parents through the eyes of an adult.

I loved growing up in Nigeria. It was home. It was very different as a child though. As a child, everything is an adventure. Not having water or electricity for three weeks was part of life and even fun. Going about life in the midst of a governmental coup was just another adventure. I knew Mom and Dad would take care of everything.

Seeing things through the eyes of an adult was a whole new ballgame. Tea cup baths were no longer an adventure. The electricity being off meant making decisions about how long to run the generator to keep food versus when gas would give out. These decisions were made more difficult by the gas shortage. When water was available, did you wash dishes, wash clothes, take a bath, or flush the toilet. Day to day living was much more complicated.

I’ve been thinking about this contrast a lot recently. I forget that God is my Father. He has plans for me and He desires to give me good things. I have a tendency to overanalyze things rather than trusting God. As a child growing up in Nigeria, life was an adventure because I knew and trusted that Mom and Dad were in control and knew how to handle things I didn’t understand. There was much freedom in that. There is also freedom that comes with trusting God like a child. I think that’s the kind of faith Peter had when he stepped out of the boat onto the water. He didn’t understand how it was possible, but because Jesus said “Come,” he did.

What about you? How’s your faith these days? Are you willing to trust God when you don’t understand?

Walking in faith,

-Michelle

O LORD, you have searched me
       and you know me.
 You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.
                                                  -Psalm 139:1-3

This morning, I woke up to a new tune on my alarm.  I’d forgotten that I had changed it, but it was a welcome wake up call.  It’s a clip from “This I Know” by Margaret Becker.  This is what I heard first thing in the morning “All these changes that I’ve been through have left me with only one absolute.  This I Know, only this I know that your love never changes as I go.”  I smiled and thanked God for giving me a personal wake up call.

Some days and weeks, we all need a reminder that God is intricately involved in our lives.  The last several months have been a blur in my life-very full.  Some days have been a roller coaster ride of emotions.  In the last couple of weeks, I have celebrated wedding, bought a house with my dad, gotten sick with a very uncool bug and started a moving process.  These are just on top of the regular day to day stuff.

I’m not complaining.  I know many of you are very busy as well.  I share this because I am grateful that God is involved in my life and that He reminds me of His love many times when I least expect it.

Here’s the rest of the words to the song:

This I Know
Oh Lord
Won’t You hold my hand
And help me to find
A new place to stand
All these changes
That I’ve been through
Have left me with only
One absolute

CHORUS
This I know, only this I know
That You love never changes
As I go
Only this I know, only this I know
That Your love never changes
As I go

Oh Lord
I’ve crossed mercy lines
For what seems to be
At least a thousand times
And still
It’s Your love that I see
Long, high, wide and deep
Reaching out to catch me
(repeat chorus)
It was love that first drew me
It is love that will keep me here
Now I see love burning brightly
When everything else in unclear
(repeat chorus)

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – John 1:12

Several years ago I had the opportunity to pack up and spend 3 months in Nigeria with my dad. It was the first extended trip I’d had home since graduating from high school. I had a great time, but at the end of three months, I told Dad that I was glad God hadn’t called me to the mission field because I couldn’t hack it.

The truth is that if God did call me, he would equip me just as he did my parents. They were not extraordinary because they were missionaries. They were extraordinary because they were God’s children and they followed His leading and He did extraordinary things through them.

Dad never dreamed of going to Africa to teach French and Spanish. Certainly few human minds could conceive taking someone with Spanish language abilities and plopping them down in West Africa. Yet, that is exactly what God did and because Dad was obedient to God, lives were touched and changed through his teaching Spanish and French in an English speaking country in West Africa.

I share this because Dad will be the first to tell you that he is not extraordinary in and of himself. It is God who worked in Him equipping Him for the work that made him so.

What about you? Ever feel there’s nothing special about you? Ever wonder if your past is redeemable? Ever wonder where you fit?

In Christ, you are a new creation. In Christ, you are extraordinary. In Christ, there is no condemnation. In Christ, you have a future and a hope. A dear friend once told me to get my hands out of my pockets, hold my head high and walk worthy of who I was-a child of God. You, my brother and sister are a child of God. Rejoice!! I will say it again, Rejoice!!

Rejoicing being a child of God,

-Michelle

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
       where does my help come from?  -Psalm 121:1 

Did you know that for the under $18000 category, the Ford Focus is a cool car to own?  So, if you are driving one, congratulations.  You are cool. 

I know you are wondering what this has to do with anything.  It’s a random day, so there’s a random fact I learned this week.  Actually, there is a grasping connection-FOCUS.  I’ve been thinking a lot about focus this week.  Maybe because I’m having a hard time doing so.  It’s a big week with moving and family coming in town this weekend.  It’s also hot…but then you know that.

So…back to focus.  I’ve been thinking about it since I read the following from Hybels book on prayer:  “Faith comes by looking at God, not at the mountain.”

Are you facing a mountain?  If it seems insurmountable, maybe your focus is in the wrong place.  It’s easy to do.  I work hard to focus on getting things done in my personal life and my work/ministry life.  I love to check things off my list.  Problem is, I often get frustrated because while I may be doing and accomplishing good things, my focus is not on God.  The result?  I tend to look at the mountain that seems never ending.

Where’s your Focus?  And I don’t mean the cool car.

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”   So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.  They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”  – John 4:39-42

Vacation Bible School is in full swing at Tallowood.  This year’s theme is the Jerusalem Marketplace.  If you haven’t seen it, you should.  They did an amazing job of transforming the gym and surrounding area.  This morning, I walked over to the Worship Center which is set up as the Synagogue School.  Then I walked over to the marketplace.  I watched kids stomping mud and hay together to make bricks. I stopped to look at the basket weaving taking place in ET 100. I overheard Larry Bertrand as the Instrument Maker teaching kids about making music to the Lord.  This is a great week of fun and learning for kids.

In the middle of the gym is a well.  Among the Bible stories I have thought about this week, the well reminded me of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well.  It’s a fairly well known story.  This short vignette has much to offer in the way of teaching.  It teaches about worship and inclusiveness and Jesus as living water.  It is also an illustration of what God can do with one person who believes.

The Samaritan woman was the least of the least.  In the world’s eyes, she had nothing going for her.  Ever felt that way?  The good news is that in God’s eyes every person is significant and valued and loved. This was certainly good news for the Samaritan woman and though she was the least of the least among her people, it became good news for them too.  She left the well and told her people about her encounter.  Many believed because of her testimony.  We don’t know how many that is.  I imagine they weren’t as concerned about numbers as we are today.  What we do know is that many believed and likely, many more believed because of those many.

Remember last week?  “It only takes a spark to get a fire going…”  Don’t count God out.  He can do the impossible with one.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. -II Chronicles 7:14

Have you ever made a practice of praying God’s Word?  Our recent prayer ministry retreat focused on praying the Psalms.  One of the questions that came up during that time was “what is the difference between reading and praying?”  It is the attitude of the heart.  Praying the Word involves a mindset of praying those words in a conversation with God.

I have been reading and praying through Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore.  This week, I was stopped in my tracks by the following prayer based on the above Scripture reference.

“Father, You have promised that if Your people, who are called by Your name, will humble themselves and pray and seek your face and turn from their wicked ways, then You will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  Please help me to understand that corporate revival begins with personal, individual revival.  Help me to humble myself and pray and seek Your face and turn from my own wicked ways.  Thank you for hearing me from heaven and forgiving my sin and bringing healing to my heart.”

Note that corporate revival begins with personal, individual revival.  I invite you to join me in this prayer.  See how God moves. 

“It only takes a spark to get a fire going…”

Another great resource for understanding how to pray God’s Word is Praise Habit by David Crowder.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
 The skies proclaim the work of his hands.  – Psalm 19:1

I have always loved the night sky.  I grew up in Nigeria and more often than not, the electricity went out at night.  It was not particularly fun trying to study by candle light, but being able to walk outside and clearly see the stars was great!  A clear night sky always reminds me how small I am and how big God is. 

 I recently gained a different perspective on this.  I began following one of the Astronauts on the most recent mission as he posted to Twitter.  What follows are a few of his tweets.

From orbit: We see 16 sunrises and sunsets in 24 hrs, each one spectacular as the sun lights up the atmosphere in a spectrum of colors5:06 PM May 19th

From orbit: Viewing the Earth is a study of contrasts, beautiful colors of the planet, thin blue line of atmosphere, pure blackness of space5:08 PM May 19th

 From orbit: The stars at night in space do not twinkle, they look like perfect points of light and I can clearly see the milky way galaxy7:33 AM May 20th

From orbit: Flying over the Pacific Ocean at night there were some thunder storms, it is so cool to see lightning go off below the clouds7:33 AM May 20th

From orbit: It is so beautiful up here, I wish everyone could see it7:34 AM May 20th

favorite moment on last full day was night pass over Australia with thunderstorms and city lights below and universe above, a heavenly view8:37 AM May 25th

As I followed Astro_Mike I was reminded through his tweets of the Awesomeness of God.  The heavens declare His Glory.  His creation declares His Glory each day.  I wonder…do we declare His Glory each day in what we say and do?

God, make a fresh start in me,
      shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
   Don’t throw me out with the trash,
      or fail to breathe holiness in me.
   Bring me back from gray exile,
      put a fresh wind in my sails!

-Psalm 51:10-12 (The Message)

I believe God is getting ready to do something here at Tallowood and beyond.  Why do I believe this?  I believe this because I can already see evidence of the Holy Spirit stirring. 

In his Times article last week, Dr. Brooks shared the burden that the executive staff has for renewal and for calling God’s people to prayer.  This has been my burden as well and I have been praying to that end.

This morning, I met with to ministry friends to share and pray together.  One of these ladies shared how God had diagnosed the deadness in her life and began to change her.  She shared God’s work with her family which in turn has lead to the beginning of healing and change in her family.  At the same time, the executive staff at her church has also been burdened with a need for renewal. 

 The Spirit is moving!  Dr. Brooks has suggested “that this summer be a time of setting our sails in hopes that God might breathe a mighty rushing wind upon His people.  Will you join us in praying for God to pour out His Spirit?  Let’s prepare our hearts this week, this month, this summer and wait expectantly on our knees.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  -Romans 12:9-10

The last couple of weeks we have talked about what it means to be the Body of Christ.  We have talked about rejoicing with each other and mourning with each other.  We have talked about using our spiritual gifts and fulfilling our part in the body.

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians and in his letter to the Romans, follows his teaching on the spiritual gifts immediately by writing about love.  In Romans, he writes “love must be sincere,” and “be devoted to one another in brotherly love.”  In 1 Corinthians, he follows with what we know as the love Chapter (1 Corinthians 13).

We can rejoice with each other and mourn with each other.  We can even use our gifts admirably, but if we don’t have love, we gain nothing.

I confess that I was not anxious to spend time with this passage to write this today.  As I sought God for what to write about, I landed on 1 Corinthians 13 and thought, “ok, I’ll put that down as a possibility.”  I wanted to move on, but God stopped me there. 

I remember, as a child, they had us substitute our name for the word love in verses 4-7. Michelle is patient. Michelle is kind…you get the picture.  I can’t say these things are true all the time.  I am mostly patient (except when I’m behind the wheel of the car).  I am not always kind.  To be devoted to one another in brotherly love though, is to be these things to each other…to be patient and kind, not keeping a record of wrongs, holding each other accountable so that we do not delight in evil, but rejoice in the truth.  It is difficult to be devoted to one another and be self-seeking at the same time.

Loving each other is the bottom line of being part of the Body of Christ. “They will know we are Christians by our love.”

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
-I Corinthians 12:14

Last week, we talked a little about what it means to be the Body of Christ.  I’d like to spend some more time with this idea.  In his letters, Paul spends a good deal of time talking about this concept.  I think there are times when we have heard it so much that we don’t stop to think about what it means.

Paul writes about the body being made of up many parts.  Each individual part is part of the whole.  Each part is important even though the function may be different.  The eye can’t say to the ear, “I don’t need you.”  My mom would say those with the gift of evangelism can’t say to those with the gift of teaching that “We don’t need you.”

Have you ever wished you were a great communicator like Dr. Brooks? Or wished you were a great musician like several of our single adults?  Maybe you have wanted to be a details person that can easily put together events.  What if, instead of wishing we had someone else’s skills, we looked at the gifts God has given us and determined to use them for His glory?  You are an important part of the Body of Christ.  You are an important part of this community of Single Adults.  No one person or group of people is going to result in a successful ministry.  It is God working in each of us as we use the gifts he has given us together.  What part are you? 

Here’s my challenge to you this week as you consider this.  Pray.  Ask God to give you wisdom and guidance as to where He can best use your gifts and abilities.  As you pray, I would also ask that you consider one of the more immediate needs within our single adult community: people to serve on the Single Adult Council.  This group of people helps guide the direction and ministry of the single adult ministry at Tallowood.  We have three people rotating off in June and need to fill those spots with new people with a fresh perspective.  We need you.  Pray for these elections, but pray knowing you may be the one needed to serve at this time.