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When God Interrupts Your Plans
1 CommentsHere’s an encouraging letter that Carolyn McCulley sent in a couple weeks ago in response to my message, Who Is My Neighbor? Let’s all be spurred on by her example of responding when God provides an opportunity to care for someone in need:
Josh,
It’s not every week that I have a direct opportunity to apply the Sunday sermon, but I clearly had one today.
As I recall, you wrapped up your sermon about the Good Samaritan by saying we don’t usually find people lying on the street but we should be willing to respond when we do. Or something similar—it was definitely a challenge about loving people even when we are inconvenienced.
So today I was in hyper-speed, running around the metro area preparing for the Sovereign Grace Ministries Mission Presentation shoot. We’re leaving in a few hours for the Bahamas and there is much left to do. But as I left downtown Silver Spring this afternoon with film gear in tow, I saw a girl lying on the sidewalk, crying. I had precious few hours to get about two days’ worth of work done, but I had no question that I was to be interrupted. I knew this was a divine appointment from my Father in heaven. So I pulled over and Drew (the cameraman) and I jumped out to see what was wrong with her. She was an 18-year-old girl with multiple face piercings and some kind of bloody, devilish shirt on (I never did get to read what that was about). She was lying on the sidewalk in a rundown section of town, crying, seemingly unaware of the filth she was lying in.
So I got out and sat down with her and started talking to her. She was very upset, but assured us she was not hurt. She had gotten into a conflict with a friend . . . and was considering killing herself. I immediately told her that this thought was a lie from the pit of hell and that God had created her and given her life because He loved her. And He obviously wanted her to know that because He had drawn my attention to her. I then offered to pray for her and told her to breathe deeply as I did, so as to calm herself down. We talked to her a bit more and then as she calmed down, we offered to give her a ride home. I’m always amazed when people willingly get into my car when I’m a total stranger, but 90 percent do.
She said she had a 4 p.m. meeting with her therapist, so we drove her to that place and continued to reach out to her in the car. I gave her an invitation card to Covenant Life, wrote my name and number on it, and told her I wanted to hear from her because I was concerned for her. Then I asked if she had a Bible and if she wanted mine. She seemed hesitant at first, but I told her there was no expectation. Then she took mine and I put the bookmark in the gospel of John and told her it was a series of intimate portraits of Jesus ministering to people, and that she needed to read this when she felt oppressed or tempted to suicide—at the very least—because Jesus came to redeem all that is wrong with the world. Then I told her about the Sunday message and how this was all no coincidence. She was much more cheerful when we dropped her off, and I’m very glad for it.
I will be short on sleep tonight, but it was exceedingly worth it to have this small Jericho road experience.
Blessings,
Carolyn
June 18 2009 at 6:44 pm
Extreme Room Makeover (Plus)
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John and Kathy Spiro sent in this testimony about the way some friends in the church blessed their family recently:
When Liana Glass, a good friend of our daughter, Amanda, found out that Amanda would be in Wisconsin on her birthday attending the funeral of her beloved grandpa, she came up with a plan to surprise and bless her. She contacted many of their friends about the idea of spending a day painting and decorating her room. They pooled their money together to buy a new bedspread and other items for an “extreme makeover” for her.
What began as a one room project soon turned into so much more. With many of the moms and a dad also involved, they decided to organize and clean out the garage and laundry room, as well as buy and plant flowers for our deck. Moms prepared meals for our return, did laundry, cleaned the carpets, and even bought new dishes for our kitchen. The joy they experienced as they served us so well was nothing compared to our surprise and joy as we returned from a difficult week to find our burden lifted and Amanda’s beautiful new room waiting.
We would like to thank everyone who gave of their time and money to bless us!
Pictured above (Top Row): Joey Switzer, Caleb Hill, Zack Newquist, Josh Hill, Jared Ray, Brandon Quinones
(Second row): Catherine Hoover, Lizzie Poelma, Brielle Layman, Ben Keeler, Liana Glass
(Third row): Alicia Nelson, Christene Hoffman, Janelle Mays
(Bottom Row): Hannah Nelson, Katie Ambrose, Alexis Ambrose, Kelsey Fortier
(Far Left): Eric Hoover
Not pictured: Emily Patton, Rachel Keeler, Marc Fortier, Dawn Newquist, Linda Glass, Karin Layman, Susan Nelson, Terri Fortier, Michele Scanlon, Rita Hoover
April 3 2009 at 6:14 pm
Finding the Right Questions
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Bob Buchanan sent in this story about his interaction with someone he met at a karate tournament. It’s so encouraging to hear how the Lord can use our humble efforts at reaching out to others:
Finding the right questions to start a conversation can be pretty easy when you’re hanging out with good friends or family members, but what about folks you don’t know so well? And what if it’s someone that you have a very clear difference of opinion with or you find hard to be around?
In January I competed in a full-contact (no pads/gloves) karate tournament. I was able to compete against a former World Heavyweight Champion who, for the length of the fight (and a little while after) I viewed as an obstacle and an enemy. This guy was good. He beat me (thoroughly), left me limping for a few days, cracked one of my ribs, and left my legs and chest black and blue. I learned a lot from his style and wanted to learn more. I knew though, that if I didn’t try to befriend him that evening, I probably wouldn’t have an opportunity to speak with him for another year.
So, beaten and bruised, I made my way over and introduced myself, saying, “I hope you win another world championship this year.” He responded that this year looked unlikely because of a “family issue.”
Normally I would have backed off, but I figured this guy owed me something since I’d allowed him to use me as a human punching bag! So I asked some questions and found out that his wife had been recently diagnosed with Stage Two breast cancer and would be starting another round of treatment soon. That conversation spilled over into e-mails and Facebook conversations over the next week or two, and I’ve since been able to learn a lot about this guy. Several opportunities have opened up for me to share how my faith impacts the way I try to love my wife, work faithfully in my vocation, and train in the martial way. It’s almost as if we reached a certain momentum, and the words just began to flow.
People will open up and talk to you. Often, they’re even eager. All you have to do is find the right questions. These interactions have helped me to see that once you get the ball rolling, it gets so much easier.
April 2 2009 at 7:00 am
Not Too Busy To Reach Out
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Travis Earles sent this encouraging note about how Josh Deckard (pictured at right) is living as an ambassador for Christ:
As a former government worker starting up his own consulting business based here in Washington, Josh Deckard is a busy guy. But not too busy to reach out and encourage men in his sphere of influence.
Because of his heart to reach out to others and encourage other men, Josh seized the opportunity a few weeks ago to initiate an informal Bible study, and invited a handful of guys who work nearby (including Brian Gallagher, T.J. Weber and me) to join him at 7:45-8:45 a.m. on Friday mornings. We read a chapter out of the book of John together (a few verses each), Josh prays, and then he leads discussion with simple questions to draw out the main points and intent of the passage and how we should respond and apply it.
The simple faith that Josh demonstrated in taking this initiative, primarily as a means of outreach, has inspired me to love God’s Word and love God’s people even more. It has been a tremendous blessing to pore over God’s Word together in those settings, and affecting to see how the Holy Spirit blesses us and opens our eyes. Josh’s heart to serve in faith like this has provoked me to reevaluate the limitations I set on myself, particularly at work, and to think more broadly about how God would have me reach out and encourage those under my influence, both friends and colleagues.
As ambassadors for Christ, let us never think ourselves too busy or too deficient to serve in even simple ways, when the rich resources of God’s Word and his Spirit are available to us.
February 24 2009 at 4:55 pm
Grateful for Bob’s Message This Sunday
1 CommentsHere’s an encouraging e-mail I received from a member who was affected by Bob’s message this Sunday. (Shared by permission. Name withheld.):
Hi Josh,
I want to communicate my gratefulness for your leadership and your “change in plans” this morning. I was truly blessed by Bob’s message today! It was one of those messages where I felt like God was speaking to me directly. I have been experiencing condemnation recently as a result of sin in my life. It’s been hard for me to run to the throne of God lately, feeling like I can’t approach a Holy God and that I don’t deserve to be in His presence. I am so grateful that the pastors at Covenant Life consistently bring us back to the Gospel! Bob’s third point, “Celebrate God’s Victory,” brought it home for me. I must consistently be reminded that Jesus is the only one that lived the perfect life that God requires, and because I am covered in His righteous blood, I can approach a Holy God!
This morning at home when I prayed, “God, humble me and do whatever is necessary to bring me into your presence,” I could not have imagined that He would meet me so specifically.
Bob, thank you for your faithfulness in preaching God’s word and so accurately communicating His heart!
I am grateful for this church!
February 4 2009 at 11:36 am
Encouraging Words for Braden
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I received a copy of this note of encouragement that Jean Mays sent to Braden Greer (and I heartily agree with her!):
Braden,
Thank you for being faithful to preach God’s Word with such clarity and eloquence this past Sunday. I find it hard to believe you’ve never preached from the front on a Sunday before. The Lord definitely ministered to me through you. Clearly God’s Word is alive and living, yet the way you organized your points and delivered the teaching was particularly clear to me and easy for me to understand and follow.I just received the summary and discussion questions from Matt Maka that he regularly sends to Care Group leaders. I look forward to reviewing your message in my quiet times this week.
You are a gifted preacher, Braden! Be encouraged that the Lord is using you and your gifts for my good and His glory.
Grateful,Jean