Connection Central

PRAYER News - Day of Atonement Prayer this Wednesday!

This Wednesday our weekly prayer meeting will focus on the Day of Atonement. Join us at 6:00 p.m. inthe sanctuary for worship and proclamations regarding the power and promises relating to the Day of Atonement.

As you will recall, last week marked the beginning of the new year on the Jewish calender (Rosh Hoshanah). We believe this is a year of fruitfulness as we begin the year 5769. Remember that the number 9 signifies fruitfulness!

Come prepared to declare the promises of God and appropriate the power of the Lord Jesus' blood for you and your family.

EQUIPPING News

Wednesday nights equipping seminars are under way. Nan Mudiam is teaching the book of James while Bill Byrd is teaching on the model prayer, equipping us all to pray effectively as Jesus taught.

The message this weekend on the "I" Am of L.I.F.E. was so great. Kent used a model of the Tabernacle of Moses (thanks Don and crew) to illustrate the revelation of Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life. I hope lots of folks watch the television broadcast of that sermon. It will change the spiritual atmosphere and dynamic of our region. Speaking of our region, check this out.

The developments with the Gadsden campus are remarkable. Kent will be sharing more, but he just let us all know that the old Gadsden High School campus has been made available as a headquarters for Word Alive-Gadsden. Though we prayed and fought for a two-hour slot in the new Gadsden City high Scholl, the Lord had a better seat waiting for us. The old campus is large, diverse, equipped, abandoned, and nearly free! All this in the perfect location for a real apostolic church plan!

Enjoy this week's blog and continue to run the race of faith!

“We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.” - Sam Keen, from To Love and Be Loved

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” - Mother Teresa

The slow economy seems to be helping lottery sales. Of the 42 state lotteries in existence, 29 of them reported increased sales this fiscal year. At least 22 of those state lotteries have had record sales this year. - The New York Times (September 12, 2008)

“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” - Theodore Roosevelt

“Pressure is nothing more than the shadow of great opportunity.” - Michael Johnson

A human baby is the strangest and most wonderful creature this world can offer. No other mammal emerges so helpless from the womb, utterly unable to cope with the opportunity and adversity of nature. Yet no other creature holds such limitless possibility. - Andy Crouch, Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling (IVP Books, 2008)

When you are absolutely convinced how much God loves you, it will drive out every fear you have. - Wayne Jacobsen, He Loves Me! Learning to Live in the Father’s Affections (Windblown Media, 2007)

Fatigue makes cowards of us all. - Vince Lombardi

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans spent $7.5 billion at family clothing stores in August of 2007 making the back-to-school shopping season the second most important shopping season of the year. Only the November-to-December holiday season had larger sales. - Source: U.S. Census Bureau

People have short memories. It doesn’t take long in ministry to realize this. One day you’re leading someone to Christ, the next day they’ve left for the new church down the street. One day someone says they loved the sermon, the next day they can’t remember what it was about. Short memories are nothing new.

The Israelites had a short memory when it came to Moses. Just three days after the Red Sea miracle – at the very first sign of trouble – they started doubting his leadership. We think we’ve got it rough. God used Moses to split a sea, and the Israelites forgot him. If that happened to Moses, it can happen to us.

But it doesn’t just happen in ministry, does it? We live in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world. Children forget what their parents have done for them. Bosses forget what their employees have done for them. Spouses take each other for granted.

I read an article one time about a chief accountant for a millionaire. He was paid very well, but he committed suicide. His suicide note said: “I’m committing suicide because in 30 years I’ve never had one word of encouragement. I’m fed up.”
What do you do when you feel taken for granted? Moses gives us a great example to follow.
1. Don’t curse it. When Moses heard the Israelites grumble, it would have been natural to respond back in anger. Most of us would have done that. But Moses didn’t. Revenge just wasn’t an option. When people don’t appreciate you, choose not to strike back. Leave your frustration in God’s hands. When you let God settle the score, you are well represented. Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse” (NASB). Instead of cursing those who forget you, speak positively about them.
2. Don’t rehearse it. Every time you review the hurt you feel when you’ve been taken for granted, it gets bigger. If somebody you’ve served selflessly criticizes you, it hurts. No doubt about it. But if you’re not careful, it’ll blow out of proportion in no time.
Notice that Moses never went back over the pain. He focused on the future. Rehearsing pain is a dangerous habit in ministry because soon you’re addicted to it. I’ve met some very bitter pastors who allowed experiences of their past to color their perception until they thought everybody was against them. You can’t allow that to happen.
3. Don’t nurse it. Don’t allow yourself to have a pity party. It’s OK to be angry. Anger is a legitimate response to hurt. But holding on to anger becomes sin. Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “Don’t get so angry that you sin. Don’t go to bed angry, and don’t give the devil a chance” (CEV). If you are a leader, you can expect to be misunderstood. It’s a fact of leadership. If you choose not to take the disappointment personally, you’ll avoid becoming cynical.

So, what should you do when you feel forgotten and taken for granted? First, share your pain with God. Often we go to the wrong people with our pain. We go to the people who’ve mistreated us and remind them of their oversight. Instead of doing that, take your pain to God. He can take whatever you dish out to him.

Second, expect God to reverse your disappointment. God is the master of reversing hurts. Remember the story of Joseph in the Old Testament? Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. Then in Genesis 50, 20 years later, he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Joseph had every reason to be cynical. His own family had sold him out. But he wasn’t cynical.

Moses had a similar experience. The people had been whining and complaining because they didn’t have water – and when they did get water, it was bitter. But where did God lead them after that? He led them to a land of abundant water. He reversed the situation.
Friend, I don’t know how you’ve been taken for granted in ministry. But I do know one thing.

God has not forgotten you. He’s seen every act of service. He’s watched every time you’ve faithfully prepared a message. He has walked into the room of the dying person with you. He’s listened as you’ve prayed for the direction of your church. He’s seen your acts of service. Others may take you for granted. But God doesn’t. Never forget that.

I showered and shaved. I adjusted my tie. I got there and sat in a pew just in time, bowing my head in prayer.

As I closed my eyes I saw the shoe of the man next to me touching my own. I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side I thought, “Why must our soles touch?” It bothered me, his shoe touching mine, but it didn’t bother him much.

A prayer began: “Our Father”, I thought, “This man with the shoes, has no pride. They’re dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!”

“Thank You for blessings,” the prayer went on. The shoe man said a quiet “Amen.” I tried to focus on the prayer, but my thoughts were on his shoes again.

Aren’t we supposed to look our best when walking through that door? “Well, this certainly isn’t it,” I thought, glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer was ended and the songs of praise began. The shoe man was certainly loud, sounding proud as he sang.

His voice lifted the rafters. His hands were raised high. The Lord could surely hear the shoe man’s voice from the sky.

It was time for the offering and what I threw in was steep. I watched as the shoe man reached into his pockets so deep.

I saw what was pulled out - what the shoe man put in. Then I heard a soft “clink”, as when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me- to tears, and that’s no lie. It was the same for the shoe man, for tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service, as is the custom here, We must greet new visitors, and show them all good cheer.

But I felt moved somehow and wanted to meet the shoe man.. So after the closing prayer I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark and his hair was truly a mess. But I thanked him for coming - for being our guest.

He said, “My name’s Charlie. I’m glad to meet you, my friend.” There were tears in his eyes, but he had a large, wide grin.

“Let me explain,” he said, wiping tears from his eyes. “I’ve been coming here for months and you’re the first to say, “Hi!””

I know that my appearance is not like all the rest. But I really do try to always look my best.

I always clean and polish my shoes before my very long walk. But by the time I get here they’re dirty and dusty, like chalk.

My heart filled with pain and I swallowed to hide my tears. He continued to apologize for daring to sit so near.

He said, “When I get here I know I must look a sight. But I thought if I could touch you then maybe our souls might unite.”

I was silent for a moment knowing whatever was said would pale in comparison. I spoke from my heart, not my head.

“Oh, you’ve touched me,” I said, “and taught me, in part, that the best of any man is that is found in his heart.”

The rest, I thought, this shoe man will never know. Like just how thankful I really am that his dirty old shoe touched my soul.