IT TAKES EVERY FLOWER TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET

Although we have been at Cornerstone since October, we had never planned a service to officially install my husband and me as Pastor. Last weekend, Michael and Tami Keller of Grand Rapids, MI came to pray such a blessing over us and minister to our congregation. My sweet friend, Tami presented me with a beautiful bouquet of mixed cut flowers along with a wonderful word of encouragement. The bouquet was filled with roses, every color of tulip imaginable, daisies, irises; a tiny yellow flower and beautiful greenery completed the picture. The arrangement was beautiful in itself but what it represented was so inspiring. Tami had asked the florist to fill it with one of every flower available, representing the uniqueness of each individual in the congregation, at the same time the beautiful Body of Christ we become when brought together.

This morning as I enjoy the beauty of the bouquet and breathe in the sweet aroma, I think of the people God has brought together to form the family of Cornerstone. My mind goes to the person that greets me every Sunday with a hug and tells me how good I look. Instantly, a smile comes to my face, my day is brighter and I’m almost convinced that what he is saying about me is true. Another individual loves to worship the Lord. It blesses and refreshes me to see her hands lifted, tears streaming down her face and hear her voice praising God. One precious lady has a smile that absolutely lights up the room. Every service, I find myself seeking her out just to be in the presence of her beautiful smile. Another much loved saint always answers the phone with such a welcome in her voice, as if my call as just made her day. She has so many demands on her time but never fails to help me with any pressing matter that happens to pop up. I have a dear sister/friend that hugs me and tells me I’m so sweet. Believe me it just melts my heart because “sweet” is not a term that has been used to describe me very often in my life. Again, I’m almost convinced. There have been many emails and phone calls from one precious member just letting us know how much we are loved and appreciated. They always seem to come with perfect timing; right when I needed a boost. Yet another that comes to mind is one that comes to every service, music practice or event with energy and enthusiasm which in turn energizes and excites me as to what God is doing at Cornerstone. Others may feel that they are just “fillers” but they are so important to the bouquet. Their quiet dependability, making sure the church is in tiptop shape, completing every task without reminders or waiting to be asked, a gentle spirit, friendly smile, warm handshake and knowing that they are always praying for us sends out such a sweet smelling aroma.

Yes, I look at my beautiful bouquet of flowers and thank God for all the wonderfully unique people He has placed in my life; especially the ones we are privileged to pastor. Thank you, Tami, my dear friend for giving me such a vivid reminder of God’s love.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

At around 5 years of age, my mother bought me a “Connect The Dots” book thinking it would help me learn to count and recognize the numbers. She was right but it also began my love affair with puzzles. I love crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, mystery puzzles and connecting the dot puzzles. Although they can be a challenge, there is always an end in which the true picture is revealed, all the words fit just right, or the real villains are uncovered. There is nothing more frustrating than realizing a piece of the puzzle is missing or the mystery has never been solved; I must have closure! How disappointing it would be to open your new “Connect the Dot” book to find that there were just a bunch of dots on the page with no numbers or even worse to have a dot at the top with the number 1 and a dot at the bottom with the number 20. You would not know where to start or finish with the first page and the second page would give you a beginning but no steps in between to get you to the ending point. You need direction from the puzzle's creator to be able to follow the numbers to completion.

Sometimes it seems as if life is a misprinted version of “Connect the Dots.” We all have a beginning point, hopefully we have a vision of what we want the end product to be, but it is the in between dots that seem to be missing. You may feel that you are just not in tune with God; be assured, you are not alone. Joseph was given dreams at a very young age, dot #1. He dreamed that someday the sun, moon and stars would bow down to him, dot #15. Now where were dots # 2, through #14? Although he may not have recognized it at the time, God was supplying and connecting the dots all along the way. Dot #2, he told his brothers and father his dream, Dot #3, his brothers throw him in a pit, Dot #4, Joseph is sold to the Ishmaelites, Dot #5, Joseph was sold to Potipher, Dot #6, Potpher’s wife tells lies on Joseph, and Dot #7, Joseph is thrown in prison. At this point, Joseph must have felt like there were no more dots on the page, perhaps the dreams were just fantasies and #7 was the ending dot, but God had some more connecting ahead. Dot #8, God gives Joseph favor with the prison warden, Dot #9, involves a butler and a baker. Then Genesis 40:23 tells us that the butler forgot Joseph; God isn’t there just a few more dots to be connected? God continued, Dot #10, Pharaoh has a dream and the butler remembers Joseph, Dot #11, Joseph is elevated to second in command in Egypt, Dot #12, there is a famine in the land of Joseph’s father, Dot #13, Joseph’s brothers come to buy food, Dot #14, Joseph’s brothers bow down, Dot #15, Joseph is reunited with his father; and the picture is complete.

Philippians 1:6 promises, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” God is faithful! Although at times it may seem that there are a few dots missing or they are all jumbled, His plan for your life is not incomplete or without direction. If God has given you a dream with the beginning and ending dots, allow him to slowly fill in the “in between” one dot at a time. When you look back at the whole picture, you will be able to see every dot along the way and exactly how God connected them to accomplish His perfect will in your life.

DO YOU EVEN KNOW MY NAME?

In the 1980’s there was a television show named Cheers. I must pause here and say I did not watch this sitcom nor am I advocating that anyone else watch it, but it has a message that today’s churches should study and apply. The show was about a bar, the people who congregated their every day and the ups and downs of their lives. The characters were from all socio-economic levels, they were different ages and different careers, yet they were together sharing life. The theme song portrays why the story worked and thousands would tune in each week to participate in this fantasy life; at least for half an hour.

♪♪ Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got;
     Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot.
     Wouldn't you like to get away?
     Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name,
     And they're always glad you came;
     You want to be where you can see, our troubles are all the same;
     You want to be where everybody knows your name. ♪♪

We live in a world full of hurting, exhausted people. Just making it day to day takes everything we’ve got then on top of that pile emergencies, tragedies, lost jobs, illness, homes torn apart, broken children, addictions and any other issue you can imagine. It is no wonder that we just want to get away from it all, if only for a short time. Why the bar? Why NOT the Church? We all agree that the bar only offers a temporary band aid to cover the problem while the church offers solutions to fix the problem. So why would someone choose a temporary cover to an eternal solution? Perhaps this line of the song holds the clue; ”Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, And they're always glad you came.”

When hurting, desperate people come to our services do they find a welcoming atmosphere or are they quickly sized up and labeled as we usher them to a seat. Do we surround them with the warmth of God’s love in our friendly smiles or do they feel the chill of our disapproving stares as we take note of their piercings, body art and unacceptable dress. Have we taken the time to talk to them, get a sense of their hunger, and find out their name? Are we even glad they came?

Several years ago, Steve and I moved to Michigan from Minnesota. We had just resigned the pastorate of a church and were exhausted, bruised, hurting and burned out. We wanted to find a church where we could worship, rest, and heal until God opened the next door. I remember visiting one small church. We walked in, an usher showed us a seat and handed us a card to fill out. The typical service concluded with a time of prayer at the front and we left. The next Sunday we decided to attend the morning service, we walked in, sat down and this time the pastor came up, shook Steve’s hand and asked if we were first time guests. We never returned. This was a church of about 50 people, we had filled out a card the previous Sunday, yet the pastor had not noticed that we were in the pew and had not bothered to read the visitor card and learn our name. This occurred enough times at other locations that we decided it didn’t even matter what the church believed, we would become faithful attendees to the first church who acted like they were glad we had come.

I have determined in my heart that when that wounded soul enters the sanctuary, I will embrace them with God’s love and a warm smile. At the end of our service, I want to know their name and I want them to know that they are in a place where we all have troubles and issues but it is also a place where an eternal answer can be found. When they leave the church we pastor, I want them to be singing, “I’m so very glad I came.”

BUT IT'S JUST A CUP OF WATER!!!

I know I’m not supposed to feel this way, I’m a Pastor’s Wife and pastor’s wives have it all together, right? We always have the perfect outfit, complete with shoes to fit any occasion, our homes are always clean with everything in place waiting for the unexpected visitor and our dinner parties always included perfectly cooked gourmet recipes presented on a perfectly appointed table, right? Furthermore, no matter what venue I enter, people are drawn to my side with most of them instantly converted as I eloquently teach them the Gospel, right? I always have a smile on my face, am instantly ready to play the piano, sing the perfect song to enhance the sermon, teach Sunday School or plan the perfect extra-curricular activity, right? If anyone from the church we pastor is still reading, please skip the rest of this paragraph. I’m not sure who this describes but it certainly isn’t this Pastor’s wife. Sometimes the smile is just a façade, I pray and labor over a precious soul, only to have them choose a bigger more exciting church, my voice cracks on the high notes, nothing in my closet fits and I usually burn the biscuits.


Is there a perfect pastor’s wife? For too long I have clung to an illusion, feeling so inadequate and overwhelmed. I wonder how and why God would ever choose me to play this part in His plan. According to books and conference sermons, everybody else starts a church with 3 in their homes and begins to look for a building to hold their 150 members the next month. The youth group evangelizes the neighborhood and baptizes 25 in a friend’s swimming pool. The choir comes together and sings songs written by the pastor’s wife to a 50 piece orchestra accompaniment. The prayer meetings are power packed, the children’s pageants are Broadway productions and people are lining up early before service, just to get a seat. Why do you love “them” so much more than me?

I experienced such a day of overwhelming inadequacy last week. The task ahead appears so daunting and everything I try, every idea I have never seems to accomplish what I envision. I hold out my hands to God and my offerings are so meager compared to the crusades, choirs and conferences others proudly present. Tears streamed down my face as I listed all the reasons why God had not chosen the right person. All my fears, inadequacies, attempts and failures poured out of me, mingled with the tears. Mark 9:41 reminds us, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” “But God,” I wailed, “It’s just a cup of water! I wanted to bring so much more. It’s just a cup of water!”

The word of an old song streamed through my ranting and raving, "If just a cup of water I place within your hand, then just a cup of water is all that I demand.” I dried my tears and stood to my feet with new purpose. I am determined I will carry that cup of water with dignity and care. I will offer a drink from my little cup of water to those who are thirsty. Water from my cup will be used to wash the wounds of those who are hurting. A sip of water from the cup in my hands will bring comfort to those without hope. I will pour out the water from my cup to refresh those who have become discouraged along the journey. God, it’s just a cup of water but it is what has been placed in my hands and I want to empty it for You.

HOW GOES THE BATTLE?

Some days it feels as if everything we encounter becomes a battle. The alarm clock doesn’t sound and the kids are late for school, the coffee canister is empty, you get behind the lady in the grocery line that must write, record and balance her check book before the clerk can finish the transaction, then return home to find that even the dog has not cooperated. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could just crawl back into bed and start over? Or as my mother would say, “Go back and get up on the right side of the bed.” You long for someone to sympathize with you, give you hope for tomorrow and make you smile again. If only one person would take the time to ask, “How goes the battle?”


In 1 Samuel 30 we read of David’s really bad day. It was a day that thankfully, most of us will never face. David and his men returned to Ziklag to find that the Amalekites had arrived first, burned the city and taken the women and children captive. There were no encouraging words for David, no friend tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Brother David, how goes the battle?” Instead, the men spoke of stoning him. What do you do when everything goes wrong, your loved ones are being held captive and your trusted friends want to throw stones at you? Give up, start the day over, take a happy pill? The Bible tells us that David encouraged HIMSELF in the Lord!!!

I believe he began to remember all the times that God had led him, delivered him and given him victory over the enemy. After his encouragement session, David went on to the priest and enquired of the Lord what should be done. God told David to pursue the enemy, that he would be victorious and recover all. David obeyed and God was faithful. Hey David, “How goes the battle, now?”

Many times I have received a timely phone call or email from a friend with an encouraging word. I am always so thankful for those Godly men and women who are obedient to the voice of God to pray or send a word as the Lord has impressed them. There are days, however, that nothing changes until I encourage MYSELF in the Lord. Down on my knees I begin to recount God’s faithfulness; the many times of blessing, the times he didn’t just walk with me through the flood, but he carried me, the times of healing, and the times of provision. Then a still, small voice whispers to my heart, “How goes the battle?”

If God has put a friend in your mind today, pray for them, give them a phone call, send an email, and ask them, “How goes the battle?” Let them know all is not lost; they are not in the fight alone; God is faithful and will help them recover all. If on the other hand you are in the midst of the fight, and there are no encouraging phone calls, get down on your knees and enquire of the Lord. He will send His peace and calm the storm. Soon the battle will seem like just a little skirmish and you can face the day with victory. To the question, “How goes the battle?” You can answer, “The battle is not mine, it is the Lord’s!”

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Have you ever read a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book? The author creates a list of characters, a scenario and a list of events but leaves the ending up to the reader. Usually there are 3 different endings dependent upon the decisions made by the leading character and the reader gets to choose the decisions. Our life is a “choose your own adventure.” God places each one of us in the midst of a list of characters, sets the stage and presents various opportunities then we get to choose. The list of opportunities is determined by the most important choice; do we submit our life to God or follow after our own desires. Throughout our life every decision sets the path to the next opportunity that ultimately culminates in choosing our final destination. When we reach the end, our life choices determines whether we “Go Home” or “Pass Away” into eternity.


John and Fred started out on their life’s journey in similar fashion. Both men grew up in large southern families with limited religious experiences in their early years. Their paths did not cross until they reached adulthood, became brothers-in-law and forged a close friendship. Life continued, both men worked hard, bought homes, had loving wives with the same number of children. Sunday afternoons were full of laughter and good food, holidays were shared with more good food, gifts for all and lots of love. The children were close, trading nights at each house, playing endless days of baseball in the back yard and sharing their childish dreams. In the early years of the relationship, however, John made a choice to follow a path that Fred refused to pursue. At 23 years old, John gave his heart to God and everything in his life changed.

Although he chose to follow God, John was not a perfect man. There were times in his life that his humanity got in the way and a wrong choice was made but because he had a heart for God, God would gently nudge him back onto the path and life continued. As John’s children grew, he took them to church, taught them the ways of God and rejoiced as each one made their own decision to be baptized and was filled with the Holy Ghost. Throughout Fred’s life, however, he continued to resist the voice of God. He made choices that set the course of his life and stood by as the choices were transferred to his children. As his children would feel the drawing of God in their own hearts, Fred would discourage them from moving toward God, telling them there would be time to decide when they were older. The children began to follow the same path as Fred, making choices that led them further from the life chosen by John’s family.

The men grew old and became ill. John learned that he had a horrible disease and would not live long. He used this space of time to examine his life, correct the wrong choices, forgive and be forgiven by those who had been offended. John went home to be with the Lord with his loving wife by his side. His home-going service was a celebration of a life well-lived. The tears of sadness were replaced with the knowledge that it was just a temporary situation and someday soon the family would be reunited. Fred also suffered for some time with a disease. He used his space of time to continue his life as he always had, loving his wife, kids and grandkids and doing all the things he desired. A convenient time for God never came. One day Fred told his wife he was tired, lay down on the bed and never woke up. Fred “passed away.” The funeral was held at a church, which Fred had never attended, a minister-acquaintance spoke nice words in an attempt to comfort the family as sad tears ran down sorrowful faces. There was no hope; Fred had “passed away.”

We are each given a space of time that begins the moment we take our first breath until we breathe our last. During that time God presents various opportunities as He draws us unto Himself. How we respond to each of those opportunities is our choice. For those who turn aside and follow their own pursuits, God’s mercy continues to reach until He hears the final NO!!! God doesn’t love the person who submits to Him more than the person who rebels but the end has a different outcome. It’s your choice!!! When my space of time ends, will I have chosen to “Go Home” or “Pass Away?” It’s my adventure and I choose the ending.