faithfulness

Pastor Brett had shared some announcements regarding upcoming meetings pertaining to both children and student ministries.  I asked if I could share a few words.  I admitted being a little “flat” regarding church and the view of fall plans.  But then, I started hearing via phone calls, emails, and in-person meetings from a number of different people that they were committed to these ministries here at CrossPoint.  I began to hear similar accounts from other elders.

About this time, my Bible reading had been taking me through the book of Jeremiah.  It had been tough reading to be honest.  LOTS of difficult names, both of people and cities.  Sometimes I would finish a chapter and I felt like a cartoon character whose eyes were just spinning in their sockets.  But on the day I read Jeremiah 44, D.A. Carson (Trinity Seminary professor) made these comments:

One cannot say that Jeremiah’s ministry ended on a high note. We are all called to be faithful; some are called to be faithful in troubled and declining times. One dare not measure Jeremiah’s ministry by how many people he convinced, how many disasters he averted, or how many revivals he experienced. One must measure his ministry by whether or not he was faithful to God, by whether or not God was pleased with him. And so, finally, it is with each of us. I doubt that many of us living in the West have fully come to grips with how much the success syndrome shapes our views of ourselves and others—sometimes to make us hunger at all costs for success, and sometimes, in a kind of inverted pseudospirituality, to make us suspicious at all costs of success. But success is not the issue; faithfulness is.  (my bold added)

God was telling me that there are a lot of faithful people at CrossPoint.  He will raise up who and what he needs.  He cares far more about CrossPoint than any of us ever will.

Elder Meeting Devo

Todd Johnson asked me to post the lyrics to an acapella song I wrote and sang as last nights devotional. A little background on the song: it was a tune that came to me around the time that my daughter Carrie was practicing "Hawaiin Song" on the piano and, in fact, I have sung it accompanied by her playing that song. Funny how the mind works, isn't it?:-{)

There's a still small voice in my heart of hearts
Where my Father talks to me
Just to hear his voice and to do his will is the best I'll ever be

There is room for you in my Father's house
Where it's clean and warm and bright
There's no sorrow there, no nor dark despair
Only truth and love and light

There's a still small voice in your heart of hearts
Where your father talks to you
Just to hear his voice and to do his will
Is the best you'll ever do

Blessings,
Greg

For Parents

I saw this music video by Shane and Shane on Ed Stetzer's blog.  Wow - powerful!  Someone logged a comment that I thought was spot-on:

"That was a tough, but necessary reminder of our finite insufficiencies in raising our children.
Thankfully we have a Father of infinite sufficiency. Our greatest love is merely a token of His love for our children. He is far more able to meet every need our children will ever have, in His Son."


Enjoy (and grab a kleenex).

True Worship

Sunday morning before church, I read this prayer by Scotty Smith based on John 4:23-24.  John & Becky Leverington (missionaries we help support) shared that morning in the service about all the various people groups the Gospel is being translated into.  Becky talked about how all these people groups will come together to worship the King.  All types of people.  All types of music.

How many times have I been "busted" as Smith says cause of my attitude in worship.  I am not hearing or singing the type of music I want.

I need to worship in spirit and in truth - for an Audience of One.  And that "one" is not me.