Archives For Encouragement

whatever

June 20, 2014 — Leave a comment
image: Martin Deutsch @ Flickr
image: Martin Deutsch @ Flickr

There are many times when I wonder just what to do. There are options, opportunities, moments to be capitalized upon…and not an obvious right way to go. Is there a way to know what to do? Every time we say ‘yes’ to one thing, we’re saying ‘no’ to something else, just by way of limiting our availability… and trying to determine what is the most prudent or urgent/important or furthest-reaching investment can be so overwhelming it’s almost paralyzing.

There’s a story in Scripture that speaks into a moment of ‘where do I go from here?’ and I have found it incredibly helpful: God has identified and called out a man named Saul to be the first king of the people of Israel. Saul had no idea what it means to be king; the best he has is what can be observed of the other kings in the Ancient Near East…and I think it’s safe to say that in many ways these weren’t the best role models.

God has been using a man named Samuel to communicate this kingly call to Saul. This involves certain signs that God is, in fact, positioning Saul as king. In the midst of this communication, a particular verse stands out to me:

Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. ~ 1 Samuel 10:7

What a relief it must have been to hear this for Saul. And I think the same relief is available to us–once we have been commissioned and enabled by God, there is a real sense that —presuming continued connection with Him—we are free to tackle what’s in front of us. This is a great reminder to stay connected…and to stay active in doing what’s placed before us.

Are you following Jesus and living in obedience to Him? If that’s the case and you’re struggling with knowing what to do ‘next,’ my suggestion is to heed the word above and “do whatever your hand finds to do.” After all, God is with you.

sunday recap

June 16, 2014 — Leave a comment

Yesterday was a fantastic day at SLW!

Here’s a quick recap:

:: Dads – We took a few moments to celebrate dads. In honor of our dads, we’re sponsoring a backpack as part of the Lakeview District Backpack Program which facilitates nutritious meals for underserved children right in our own community. SLW has the opportunity to help provide backpacks for over 30 children in the new school year.

OASIS_RECT:: Oasis – Nate shared about last week’s first gathering in Meadville as Oasis which included two baptisms! Go God! If you haven’t already signed up to be a prayer partner and to learn more about what God is up to in Meadville through Oasis, connect with him here.

If you’re a part of SLW, you can support both Oasis and the Backpack Program by giving through our Glocal Outreach missions focus–both are missional partnerships we’re excited to be part of.

 

279901_160_e30132SUMMER SPORTS XTREME begins tonight. It’s not too late to register the kiddos (potty trained 3yo – 6th grade) for this free sports camp facilitated by qualified coaches and includes some interaction with professional athletes. Check out slwchurch.org for more info!

 

 

original image: Vyacheslav Argenberg on Flickr

original image: Vyacheslav Argenberg on Flickr

We stepped into chapters 3-5 of Joshua before pausing in The Book of Joshua for our summer series, here are some highlights from that message:

:: What does it look like to live–in the midst of our impossible, impassible, unnavigable situations–as those ready for God to do the miraculous? (Joshua 3:5)

:: God is the God who goes 3,000 feet ahead of His people, showing the way, overcoming the most powerful obstacles, and subjugating things to Himself. (cf. Joshua 5:1)

:: Following Jesus means we can stop thinking like slaves and rebellious wanderers…and start living as people of the promise. (cf. Joshua 5:9-12)

What would you do in the overwhelming situations you face if you were certain God is going before you, that He is more powerful than the most significant obstacles you face, and that He is FOR you?

The podcast will be available soon, you can check it out by heading to SLW’s podcast site at slwchurch.podomatic.com.

inheritance

June 12, 2014 — Leave a comment

An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed in the end.
~ Proverbs 20:21

This truth is played out so often in us when we expect a journey’s worth of respect, experience, and influence at the beginning of that journey. When we expect to be given what ought to be earned in any respect, we claim an inheritance before it’s ours and seldom does that have the flavor of blessing we had anticipated.

The inherent challenge in something like this is that it demands a long view perspective–what do we want at the end of our inheritance? Of our life? Our vocation? Blessing comes not in claiming or demanding now what is ours anyway; inheritance is something given, in trust, by another. Blessing comes in the faithfulness and trusting necessary for life in the in-between.

In the waiting is a place of blessing.

strange

June 9, 2014 — Leave a comment

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image: “13” by Evan Blaser on Flick

Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. So Moses thought, I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up. – Exodus 3:3, NIV

How many of us have yearned for a ‘burning bush’ moment? An instance where it seems the God of Heaven has gone out of his way to grab our attention and adjust the trajectory of our lives?

Moses’s story is one of journey that always seems to take longer than it should to get the intended destination. I like that about his story because mine (and yours, too) seems to have the same theme. And in those moments where the journey seems destination-less we long for the kind of intervention Moses experienced at the bush 2/3 of the way through his life.

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adventure

June 5, 2014 — Leave a comment

CSpringsWhat if God could provide an opportunity for you to spend several days in an environment solely focused on helping you discern some of how God has wired you? A place where qualified people interact with and observe in order to speak into your life?

These opportunities regularly occur for those who think God might be leading them to lead in planting a new church.

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