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Tag Archives: Jesus

Let’s Touch The Sky As Our Knees Hit The Ground

9 / 2 / 159 / 1 / 15

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It was one year ago.

Twenty women in the community from different churches sat on picnic tables under a candle-lit shelter at a baseball field. It was on a cool, drizzly September evening, but it didn’t stop hands from joining, heads from bowing, words silent, whispered and called out loud to our God.  They were prayers that brought glory and praise to the Creator of all things.  Prayers that cried out to our Redeemer for help.  Prayers that asked our Protector for protection.  Prayers to the Prince of Peace for unity in our community and around the world.

John 17 was prayed.

And it wasn’t just those 20 women praying that night – it was thousands all over the world. That night IF:Pray took place. 

IF:Gathering is a ministry whose purpose is to gather, equip, and unleash women in the next generation to live out their purpose through Christ. Some of you at SMC attended the two day IF:Gathering at Elon University this past February and experienced an holy time with the presence of the Holy Spirit and communion with other women in Alamance county.

A few other ways to equip women is to be solely in the Word through IF:Equip, host IF:Tables (more to come!) and once a year invite women from around the world in one night to be in prayer together crying out to our God.

He listens.

He’ll be listening again as we gather to pray at SMC on September 14, 2015 from 7pm-9pm.  Women in our community are invited to join with us this holy evening.  Again, we’ll be praying John 17, for God’s people, the world, and for unity and love as the Body of Christ.  We’ll be on our knees in confession and we’ll be worshiping.

Not only will we pray with gratitude to our Maker, but there will be hard prayers to pray, too. God doesn’t want us to sweep reality under the rug and ignore what’s happening around us.  We need to be desperately asking God’s Spirit to move in the hearts of His people and for us to have the courage and boldness to hold up the Light of the world in our daily lives.

This time of the year is busy for most, but we need everyone to make the time to beg our Savior for delivery and unity, especially because of the conditions of the world these days.

We’d love for you to come.  Begging you to.

You can register at www.exporesmc.com and you’re encouraged to invite friends, co-workers, neighbors and family to come with you!

At last year’s IF:Pray, authors and bloggers, Jennie Allen, Ann Voskamp, Rebekah Lyons and Bianca Oltoff, to name a few, wrote prayers for the occasion.  Jen Hatmaker was also one who prayed that night, and I want to pray this prayer again. Will you join me in prayer?

“God, our world is crumbling and warring, murdering and destroying each other. There is injustice everywhere and sometimes we wonder if You see us down here struggling and aching for hope.
We need You!
We live in this broken down, terrified world and sometimes hate and fear threaten to ruin us all.  We pray for peace.
Please, God.  Deliver peace.
We beg for peace between nations and neighbors, races and relationships.  Give us eyes of love to look upon each other as brothers and sister.  Raise us up not just as peacekeepers but peacemakers.  Show us how to make peace beginning in our own fearful hearts.  Teach us not to fear ‘different,’ but to learn and listen instead.
Give us hands to reach out with hope and community.  Give us feet to travel to new neighborhoods, new people, new places, new spaces where we may not understand but we are willing to learn.  Give us courage God, courage to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Courage to lay down our weapons and pick up the mantle of peace.  Courage to admit our errors and listen with humility.
We pray for peace in this troubled world. The peace only You can give.
We believe You for it, God.”

Let us touch the sky as our knees hit the ground.

Imagine

8 / 5 / 158 / 5 / 15

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humbling

family

intentional

glorious

refreshing

heart-changing

incredible

life-changing

fantastic

amazing

rejuvenating

inspiring

eye-opening

fun

guiding

So many different thoughts about the same experience.  If you’ve ever been on a mission trip you know how challenging it is to return home and attempt to explain what happened there.  Unlike Vegas, what happens on a mission trip is meant to be shared.

The list of words above were mentioned during the week of our mission trip to Monterrey, Mexico with Back2Back Ministries.  Twenty-four students and adults took a leap of faith traveling to a foreign country not really knowing what they would be doing or eating and all without hairdryers and cell phones.  They relinquished control of their day-to-day activities for a week to not just a ministry organization, but to a God who always has much bigger and better plans for each of us.

Imagine standing in the back of a church not understanding a word being said or sung and having someone lay hands on you in prayer.  At the same time you’re being pulled into a throbbing connection with Christ’s presence.  Those two hours in Spanish worship may not have been understand, but they were felt.

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12 ESV

Imagine painting an outside wall in 95+ degree weather while singing your heart out.  Or mixing and pouring concrete for sidewalks that will last longer than us.  How about pulling nails out of wooden planks, sweeping a dusty new church building and creating a ramp entrance allowing services to be held a few days later for the first time?

Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.     Philippians 2:14-15 ESV

Imagine being sprayed by a water bottle by a child who desires connections with others.  Take a dozen bikes to the park with about five of them fully functioning yet watching children persevere through the trials of broken bikes.  Push a child on the swing, make bracelets, create Lego empires, sing songs, give endless hugs.  Be Christ to the orphans.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.      James 1:27 NLT

A small, simple sampling of God at work in us, through us and for us in Mexico. No one remains the same after that week; a week where words are inadequate for expressing and hearts are filled to overflowing.  Grab a student or leader, they would love to share what God was up to in Monterrey.

 

Shea

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It Simply Started With One Question

7 / 16 / 15

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The cheers and whoop-whoops were heard loud at 10am last Saturday.  A parade of families – elementary aged kids holding their younger sibling’s hand, moms, dads, grandparents, great-grandparents, and teachers come to the playground.

Music was playing, games were set up, and bouncy houses were blown up and ready to be invaded by hundreds of small hands and feet.  There were endless amounts of hot dogs, Icee pops, and bottled water accompanied by words of thanks in different languages, but all with one, common smile.

People of different ages and races were dancing – together.  Kids were running and giggling.  Bean bags were tossed and crafts created.  Faces became works of art and balloons turned kids into knights and princesses.

It’s Back-to-School time and SMC threw a party to kick off the new school year which starts in the middle of July for this year-round school.  The past two years SMC has hosted this event to give the love of Jesus away to the families and teachers at Eastlawn Elementary school along with backpacks packed with school supplies.

There were many memories made and stories to be told from that sunny, summer day but as I was taking pictures of the festivities, one stood out to me.  Under a tent at the end of the celebration, there was an SMC woman with her knee on the hard, dusty ground, listening to another woman sitting in a chair holding a baby. (By request they’ll have different names for this story: Kay is a women from SMC and Louise is a grandmother from Eastlawn)

Their conversation went on for quite a while.  Afterwards, I talked with Kay about that moment in God’s timing.  It was a powerful one even though it was simply a conversation:  one woman needed to talk and someone to listen to her, and the other woman was willingly listened with love and kindness.

Kay told me she felt compelled to go talk to the older women sitting in the shade hugging the child.  She walked over and simply asked if she could help her with anything.  The older woman said, “No thank you.  I’m waiting for my great-grandson to finish playing.”  But to Kay’s surprise, that was only the beginning of their conversation.  This great-grandmother, Louise, continued talking and sharing some of her story with Kay.

Kay felt she had known Louise for a lifetime only a few minutes after meeting her.  Louise is retired and has children, grandchildren and was with her  great-grandchildren.  She takes care of them most of the time.  She’s had one kidney removed and her hip gives her pain.  But that doesn’t stop her from living and doing all she can to help others, especially all her children.  She believes it’s important to help raise the next generation.  Some days are easier than others but she’s always willing as long as she’s able.  Because of her rough, family situation, she’s using her retirement funds to make ends meet while raising her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Louise isn’t the only woman walking in those shoes in Burlington.  This cycle of poverty is right here in our city and it’s going to keep repeating itself until those who aren’t in poverty do something about it.  Offering financial support isn’t a bad thing, it is needed, but it’s not until we make the effort to form relationships with different people will we begin to end poverty.

I want to ask you some questions that I’ve been asking myself lately.

What IF women developed relationships with women different than themselves?    What IF you get out of your comfort zone and come alongside women not like you?   A women who’s a different race or a different age?  Or one who lives in a different part of town?  Or someone who’s not in your circle of friends?  What IF you asked a few women over to your home for a simple meal or dessert or met for coffee somewhere– and provide childcare if needed? 

What IF you go meet them where they’re at?

That’s what Jesus did.

This past Sunday at SMC, Milan Ford, our guest pastor, gave a powerful message about racial division.  He broke down the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4.  Jesus was  looked at as a Jew.  The woman was a Samaritan.  They were from different cultures, different lives.  But Jesus didn’t see it that way: He saw this woman had a spiritual need.   She needed someone to tell her about redemption, forgiveness, truth, and love.  He sat down right beside her and looked at her face to face, eye to eye.  He asked questions.  He listened.  Because He cared.  He’s showing us that “cultural differences should never override spiritual needs” as Milan said.

A couple of weeks ago I started reading  a book called, “Transforming Together: Authentic Spiritual Mentoring” by Ele Parrott.  How timely this has personally been for me.  This book fits right in with serving at Eastlawn this past weekend, along with Kay and Louise’s conversation, Milan’s teaching, and Jesus and the Samaritan woman.  Parrott is saying how we, as women Christ-followers, need to come alongside other women and start forming relationships because they are vital.  And because that’s what Jesus did.

“Jesus could not have cared less about another person’s job, position, appearance, financial status, social status, or anything else that made up his or her personal packaging – He zoomed in on the “who” – the thoughts and intents of the person and the direction in which he or she was walking.  He ‘came alongside of’ those who were seeking truth, and He walked with them.”

When we form a relationship, we can learn from each other.  We can begin to appreciate who we are and live how race, age, and culture don’t mean a thing because we’re all made in God’s image.

On Sunday, Milan pointed us to Revelation 7:9

“…I saw many people.  No one could tell how many there were.  They were from every nation and from every family and from every kind of people and from every language.  They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

I want to see what John saw.  Do you?

Kay has the desire to meet with Louise again and it’s exciting to see what may come from their new friendship.  That’s beautiful and that’s the way God wants it to be.  Learning from each other.  Listening to each other.  SMC Women!  Let’s challenge each other to not only give away school supplies and canned food – but offer some of our time, listening ears, and hearts to other women who need to talk and someone to listen.  Both will be blessed.  If you want to take this challenge, a good place to start is to pray and ask God to put a woman (or women) in your path who you don’t normally spend time with and see what happens.  Then when conversations start, ask God’s Spirit to give you the questions to ask, the ears to listen and the words to encourage her, and lift up the Name of Jesus.

{If you’re interested in talking more about reaching out to other women, please contact me.  I have a couple of resources that can help guide your discussions around a table – whether they be about friendship, racial reconciliation, or day-to-day living as a Christ follower to name a few.}

 

Beth                                                                                                                                                                                     (bhildebrand@triad.rr.com)

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A Glimpse of Sacred Moments on Good Friday

4 / 3 / 154 / 2 / 15

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It’s Good Friday.  The first thought I have when I hear it’s Good Friday, I think it’s anything but good knowing what Jesus experienced.  We usually don’t think the few days before Jesus’ crucifixion were good or beautiful.  But there were holy and prophetic moments that had to take place for you and me.

These sacred moments had to happen: the moment Judas handed Jesus over to the guards, the moment Peter betrayed Jesus, the moment when Jesus had to stand trial before Pilate, the moment the high priests and Jews yelled, “Crucify him!”, the moment he was ridiculed, beaten, flogged, broken, spit on, and how he was forced to carry his cross.  Then Jesus was thrown down onto the cross and too weak to stretch his arms out on the cross, the soldier grabbed them, threw them on the wood, and hammered his hands and feet into the cross.  The cross was raised and there he hung.

Then only the struggled sound of his lungs gasping for air could be heard. The hate swirls in the air as he uses what’s left of his strength to lift his body to give himself a breath. His forehead dripping with blood from thorns shoved in his brow. His was face tired and weary covered in both dry and fresh blood. His eyes. His eyes looked on with compassion with what these people had done because His love for them remained. As the hours drag on, he remains silent. Not a word comes from his mouth. No retaliation, no defense. He takes the taunting, the jeering , the hateful remarks as if they’re whips to his beaten body. (reading from Bianca Bortolussi)

Then the final moment was here and Jesus cries out loud, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” and breathed his last breath.

But there is still beauty that led to the cross.  Jesus still experienced moments of love and compassion in the midst of his pain and suffering.

What about the moment when Jesus knew Pilate saw Jesus innocent, and wanted to set him free, but couldn’t because he gave into the crowd yet deep down maybe he sensed what Jesus had to do.

Or the moment Jesus and his mother locked eyes together and he comforted her with love just by the way he looked at her and made sure the disciples would take care of her.

What about the moment when Simon from Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross when he couldn’t do it by himself anymore.

Or the moment when the man on the cross beside Jesus defended him as they hung there, saying Jesus didn’t deserve to die, and how that must have still brought Jesus joy, knowing they’d be in heaven together soon.

Each moment was a step closer to the beauty of our salvation.

Then after Jesus’ last breath, speechless moments continued: mountains shook and lightning struck. The curtains of the holy temple tore in two from top to bottom.  The centurion saw the temple divide and praised God saying, “Surely this was the righteous Son of God!”.

The moments his followers, over the next two days, thought it was over. Now what?

And what about the moment, only God knew, that was about to happen – Jesus’ resurrection!

Every moment in life counts.  God’s Word makes that very clear, filled with promises that each moment in Scripture, and in our lives today, are all part of His plan.

May this holy Friday, and the promise of Jesus’ resurrection, be filled with moments that remind you of his redeeming and relentless love for you.

{*Picture above is Rembrandt’s “The Three Crosses”}

Beth

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True Disciple or Uncommitted Pretender?

4 / 1 / 153 / 30 / 15

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Have you ever considered what you would do and whom you would share your time with if you knew you would die within a few days?  I’d like to think I could have a pre-funeral with all of my friends and loved ones to celebrate and reminisce. I know I would want to spend this time with those I loved and loved me in return.  So it comes as no surprise that Jesus spent His last week with His disciples and at the home of Lazarus, Mary, & Martha in Bethany.  These were His friends, the people He could let His hair down with, the ones who understood Him.

Mary is fully aware of what’s to come.  She has sat at Jesus’ feet and heard Him, really heard Him.  Her gift of hospitality allows her to be a full, active participant in listening. She knew when to listen and when to act. She gives Jesus her full devotion.  She understood why Jesus was going to die.  Because of this she gifts Him with an act so beautiful, so aware of what was to come, so real.  She breaks the seal of an alabaster jar (a beautiful, expensive vase) filled with pure nard.  This expensive oil was then poured over Jesus.  Mary used her hair to wipe the oil from Jesus’ feet. The visual message inherent in Mary’s act of wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair was one of humble service, submission, worship, and surrender.

Mary does all of this, getting expensive nard, anointing His feet, and wiping them with her hair to show her devotion and affection to the One she loved deeply and sincerely.  Jesus tells us that her act will always be remembered.  Jesus said, “When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.” Matthew 23:12.  He knew.

It’s been said the fragrance of nard, just a drop even, will last for a week.  Jesus was covered in it; surely it was still present at his crucifixion. We are reminded of this in Ephesians 5:2 wherein “Christ gave himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God, as a fragrant aroma.”

Mary does this as an act of service, submission, worship and surrender. The worship of Christ in this scene is extravagant in the extreme and reflects the type of worship that Christ deserves.  This kind of devotion to Christ cannot be bought; it’s priceless and the rewards are plentiful-hope, redemption, forgiveness, love, eternal life.

How are we showing that we have full devotion to Christ?  Is something holding us back?  Are we true disciples and followers of Christ or are we uncommitted pretenders?  Are we being more like Judas?

Judas makes a deal to betray Jesus.  He receives 30 pieces of silver.  That was about an entire year’s salary at the time.  It was the going rate for a slave.  It was also close to the cost of the bottle of nard poured over Jesus in Bethany.  When Mary poured the expensive oil over Jesus the disciples were shocked and upset.  None were as outraged as Judas.  This was the tipping point for him, this is when he decides he’s going to be a game changer, this is when satan enters his heart.  He asks the chief priests what they will give him in exchange for Jesus.  After accepting the money Judas waits for just the right time to hand Jesus over to them.

Is there anything in our lives we are choosing over Christ?  Is there something that we are willing to do regardless of the knowledge of His great love for us?

Jesus knew what was coming.  We do not.  We cannot plan our pre-funeral party.  But, we can take advantage of each day offered as a day to cherish.  Cherish those we love, cherish the gift of life, cherish the Giver of Life.

 

Shea

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