Sweet Restoration

It is an extraordinarily powerful experience when you see the gospel played out in real life.  The people of Rivers Crossing Community Church (RC3) recently got to witness this first hand.

We all know the story of the pastor who falls.  Busyness takes over, stress sets in, and the spiritual leader finds himself acting fully in the flesh.  Anything can happen.

Such is the story of our incredibly gifted, young, budding, worship leader, Brandon Gilliam.  Brandon has lead many hearts to Jesus as an anointed and talented musician.  Rivers Crossing has enjoyed the fruit of the Spirit pouring through Brandon in original as well as popular worship songs.

No one is impervious to the lies of Satan.  Brandon got busy doing many good things, but in his own strength.  Satan got his foothold and temptation set in.  Brandon made a mistake. He fell.

While the church leadership could have easily slapped Brandon’s wrist and swept the dirt under the rug, what I saw was RC3’s top leaders bowing to the authority of God.  Sometimes following God can flow against our very human nature.  For our lead pastor, it was like letting his own son go. 

Hebrews 4:12 NIV

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The staff lost a family member and RC3’s people grieved as Brandon was terminated.  Brandon addressed the church in a video testimony, admitting what he had done and submitting to the elders’ discipline.

While it is common for humans to fail, it is not often you see God’s discipline displayed properly in reality.  God disciplines those whom He loves.  He does this for our good, for our salvation and deliverance.  He knows what is best and what will reach the heart of every man.  Because RC3’s leaders understand this, they were able to present the situation in such a way that Brandon and his family were able to stay at our church during this terribly difficult time.  Our people embraced Brandon and loved him through his failure.

Immediately the church started a massive search for a new worship leader.  Four long months RC3’s volunteers lead worship.  The church never skipped a beat.  Volunteer musicians stepped up and filled the gap.

The time came when the new worship leader was to be announced.  To our surprise and delight the lead pastor brought Brandon on stage.  We learned about Brandon’s road to restoration and how church leaders had been feeding into him over the past four months.  Brandon spoke about how the Lord has been dealing with and healing his heart.

Not a soul was untouched when our lead pastor announced Brandon has been fully restored as Worship Director of RC3.  The worship Brandon lead as a response was both powerful and authoritative.  God has indeed restored him.

I cannot communicate in words the power of the gospel in our lives.  My hope is that just hearing this story is stunning.  This is how God desires to work in your life and in mine. 

The Waiting Room

One thing I've begun to do more over the years is to tell my children a time to be ready, usually about 10 minutes before the time we actually need to leave.  It's something I think as moms we do naturally when our families are young.

I started to think about the reasons I do this, besides the fact that between 5 of us someone tends to be running late. Over the years I have grown to understand the children (while they are young and in training) are prone to disobey. It's best if I instruct them to be ready, so that when the time comes we can go!

I believe this is how Father is with us. Sometimes He gives us a vision, or perhaps a promise. Even after we obey, there may be a waiting period. Often as humans we give up on God, abandon our dream, or try to make it happen in our own effort. Perhaps we accuse Him, question whether He is in control or even exists! When we are young in Him, we waver in our faith.

The truth is that learning to wait is crucial to our faith. Not only does it develop the desirous virtue of patience, but there is an intangible gift intrinsically linked to our faith which is developed while waiting. That is hope. As He encourages us and confirms us with tangible proofs, we begin to know without a shadow of doubt that He will do what He has promised to do.

As we believe what God says, not being distracted by what we see and experience on earth, He gives us hope and it builds our faith. Soon we can be like Abraham and never see the fulfillment of the promise on this earth during our lifetime, but never stop believing it to be true.

Live like what God says is true!

Hebrews 6:15-20 Amplified Bible (AMP)
"15 And so it was that he [Abraham], having waited long and endured patiently, realized and obtained [in the birth of Isaac as a pledge of what was to come] what God had promised him.
16 Men indeed swear by a greater [than themselves], and with them in all disputes the oath taken for confirmation is final [ending strife].
17 Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly and beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath.
18 This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].
19 [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot [a]break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches [b]farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,
20 Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek."

Not Guilty

Perhaps one of the more difficult things for christians to understand is how God sees us.  I believe this is in part because we see with our eyes what is on the outside, or what the Bible has associated with our flesh.  Yes, it is true, our flesh is riddled with imperfections, weakness, and failures.  I believe this causes many of us to focus on our downfalls, often believing in our hearts we are hopeless sinners, living in our own self-judgement and condemnation.  

However, God is looking in our heart and says we are forgiven. I don’t believe He is distracted by the folly of our flesh.  I believe He is much more patient with (and perhaps less offended by) our immaturities.  He understands we sin, but He doesn’t see His children as sinners.  He’s looking at our new nature, given to us by the Holy Spirit.  He says there now is no condemnation in Christ.   Because of the blood of the Lamb, we are in right standing with God, and His judgement passes over us.

He deals with us in love, disciplining us so that we can experience a true, eternal life.  Every time we choose to value something that He says is valuable, our life begins to take on an eternal quality.  This is a life-long process as we are continually moving closer in relationship to Him.

The next time we utter the words, “I feel guilty,” it is well worth the time it takes to ask God why that is.  Has my heart hardened to God’s way for my life, or is that feeling coming from lies originating in my flesh?  Let’s not let judgement from this world, from our flesh, or from Satan rob us of our joy today.

Party Hearty!

I think one of the pervasive lies Satan uses in our culture is, "you're missing out on life." It drives us to pack our schedule beyond capacity. It drives us to schedule our children to a point where it hurts their ability to do well in those very activities. Coupled with fear this lie destroys our life.

If we focus on God, asking Him what we should do, it builds our true life. In God's Kingdom, if we focus on what God would have us focus, we have life more abundant. Less is more.

It starts this very moment, with the little choices. As He trains us, we learn how to honor Him with the big decisions. This is a process which builds over time. It is a lifestyle of obeying God. It is marked by submission and humility. When we ask God, we must ask with the intention of obeying, even if we don't like the response.

As we think about this busy season of celebration, let's keep in mind that God loves to party! He even commands it in the Bible! :)   If we really want to enjoy Christmas to the fullest, we need to learn to party with God.

Are you tired and worn out from empty "rituals", or a crazy "to-do" list for the holiday? Come to Jesus, and party like the Rock Star!

A Dog's Tale

I have a story to tell.  It is about love, loss and God’s providence.  It all begins on Jan. 17, 2006. . .

Lucy was born.  A beautiful blue Weimaraner, she was the runt of the litter.  Fearsome and strong, she made herself known to all who could hear.  She was born to love.  She loved to have fun; she loved people; she loved attention.  We took her home around 5 or 6 weeks and she cried all the way.  She cried all night long and she cried any moment she was not in our arms.  She had a will stronger than any.  We battled her night and day, trying our best to raise her right.  She had more energy than she knew what to do with, so we ran her hard and long.  In her second year she was my training partner for a marathon.  I needed it just as much as she.

But something wasn't quite right.  She was anxious and hyperactive.  Not only would she bark incessantly, but she would panic when I left.  She was so excited she’d forget her manners and accidentally hurt people.  She was discontent.  Had we gone wrong?  Had we failed?  The decision was reached that we could do no more, and she needed to go somewhere she was challenged, somewhere she could be a dog, somewhere she could shine.

The last two weeks were difficult.   I was sad about having to say good-bye.  We had changed her rules and put even more boundaries on her.  Things were peaceful, but could she keep it up?  Was there any possible way she could stay and everyone could be happy?  As I had done continuously through the 2 ½ years of her life, I prayed.  I prayed she could stay.  I prayed she could change.  I prayed we could change.  But most importantly I prayed His will be done.  I was all out of ideas.  One thing was clear: God was telling me I needed to be willing to give Lucy up.  I was reminded of Abraham and Isaac.  I thought my sacrifice was hard?  Through our neighbor Don, I got in contact with a woman in Louisiana.  She was the owner of Lucy’s brother Cooper.  Her name was Cristi and she confirmed everything I said about Lucy.  Her Cooper was the same.  She was an experienced dog owner, she had 4 Weimaraners.  She lived on a farm so she exercised them and took them to agility classes, but Cooper still was a lot of work.  Through our conversations I found peace.  We really had provided a good home for Lucy.  I also realized her good was just as intense as her bad.  She was an incredible dog.

I took pictures of her and we just had fun.  I treasured any happy moment I could with her around.  We swam, we fished, and we walked.  I watched her bounce in the tall grass; I watched her dash up the hill to get a drink of water in the pond and come barreling down.  Boy did I love her.

Then one night after dinner was cleaned up and the children were settled down for stories, I took her out for an evening walk.  She had been in all day so I kept her off the leash.  We got to the bridge and I decided she was doing well and could stay off the leash.  We continued toward the road.  None of the neighbors were out so she stayed close.  Then she saw the dog across the road and started running.  She had never paid any mind to the people across the street before.  I called and realized there was a car coming around the bend.  I called and called.  She paused in the ditch, we thought she’d stop.  The neighbor was calling her dog, unknowingly named Lucy also.  She dashed into the road and the car never saw her.  It just kept going.

I screamed.  The neighbors didn't want to get close for fear she would bite, but the thought never crossed her mind.  She dragged herself to Tracy’s feet and laid on them.  Lori took me home, Don came over to be with the children, and Casey and I hopped in the truck.  We were in a daze.  John and Tracy arranged everything; we just did what we were told.  Lori, a stranger to us, hopped in the back to help me with Lucy.  I cradled Lucy’s head.  She was struggling to get her breath.  She lifted her head straight up and looked long and hard in my eyes.  I knew what needed to be done and we nuzzled our noses.  She knew she was loved and I knew she love me.  I just enjoyed the moment and loved her like I never loved her before.

They took an X-ray and offered emergency surgery.  I longed to be with her and finally they lead us back.  The sight of her broke my heart and I asked them to please put her out of her misery.  It was done.  She stopped laboring and was peaceful.

As I pondered the irony of the whole situation I realized it was not irony.  By God’s divine purpose He beautifully orchestrated the sequence of events that had unfolded.   I reveled in His care and love for His sheep.  I marveled at His wisdom and insight.  He allowed this to happen, but not before preparing us. 

Thank you, Lord, for love, loss and Your providence.

In memory of Lucy.  1/17/06-8/4/08