Dr. God, Deliver Us - Day 19

Lisa wrote this a couple of weeks ago. It speaks to our vulnerability and the reality that this is where God wants us. This is why He will use us!

"The thought of a new year is a bit overwhelming…all the work, tasks, goals, exercise, errands, etc. Starting a church has been the most daunting task since at eight months pregnant I realized this baby had to come out eventually! I’ve been called to birth a church. Not much different from birthing a child. The dream of it is wonderful, euphoric even. Then once it’s conceived you get nauseous thinking of all that has to be done. Then you get into a groove and it seems to be moving right along. Then once again you find yourself overwhelmed but it’s too late now. You’re forty pounds of commitment heavier than you were six months ago and there’s no where to go but the delivery room.

This can be completely paralyzing. What happens to us? We begin to focus on the limits rather than the infinite possibilities. We stop at the reality of our inability to be the perfect parent instead of following that thought to the logical conclusion that where our abilities stop (early on) God’s abilities pick up.

We do so well for a while. We’re praying, seeking, listening, working. Then we slowly, so gradually begin to focus more on the working. We stop looking heavenward for a moment and realize what we’re doing is impossible. This is when we find ourselves in quicksand. What do we do? Why, we wrap our arms around ourselves and focus on the quicksand of course! “My this quicksand is terrible. It’s so ugly. Look at this quicksand. I’m really stuck in it now. I hate quicksand. It’s grainy and gooey. Look it’s up to my waist! Oh this is not good at all. I’ll call my friends and tell them about this terrible quicksand. Quicksand is dangerous. It’s such a bother.”

We are so focused on the problem we don’t see the Tree of Life right next to us. There’s the life saving branch right there! Grab hold! Stop focusing on the problem and focus on the solution. The solution is not more time, it’s not better ideas, it’s not more money, it’s not more staff. The solution is the Truth. God is saying, “I gave you two arms. Use them and grab hold of me!” When you were dead in your transgressions I used my two arms and rescued you, now child of mine, grab hold of me!” God never let go of us but we can find ourselves letting go of him. We too quickly and easily loose our grip on the Truth of who we are, who HE is and what he is able to do.

We need strength and a lot of it to birth a church. But where do we find our strength? In the Joy of the Lord. Enjoying his presence. Bathing in his word. Using those two arms he gave us to pick up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit.

Let us therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have {its} perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

So I guess I don’t need to be overwhelmed at the thought of a new year and a new church. God is my ob/gyn! He’s giving me the care I need. He’s monitoring this baby’s growth. He’ll be there when it’s time to deliver what he promised."

Today's Prayer: Pray today for the planning of Elevation. Pray for Chris and for the words that God will have him to speak. Pray for Matthew and Lizi and the songs that God will have them to sing. Pray that the delivery will go as ordained by Him.