Pride: Public Enemy #1

“Pride will always be the longest distance between two people.”

During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. “Nonsense,” snapped the general. “They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist….” A moment later Sedgwick fell to the ground, fatally wounded.

  Pride is a killer. One of the first victims of pride is relationships. There are many reasons for the great political division in our country today. One of the core issues is pride. How often does a politician admit that they were wrong, or that they don’t know the solution? Instead, each clings to the arrogant belief that they have all of the answers and the other side is all wrong. What is lost is the true need of what’s best for our country.

  Pride is the great divider. Pride and Satan are nearly synonymous. Satan loves pride. It’s truly a devilish evil. Yet, most of us don’t consider pride a heinous sin, but it is. It’s at the top of the list of evils that God hates (Prov. 6:16-17). There are few things that the Bible talks about God hating, but God’s hate for pride is repeated several times in Scripture.

  God not only hates pride, but actively opposes it. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). God hates pride because the proud person tries to displace God. Wayne Mack insightfully writes: “Pride consists in attributing to ourselves the honor, privileges, prerogatives, rights and power that are due to God alone…Pride, at its core, is idolatry of self. A proud person has put himself or herself in God’s place.” Pride separates us from God and causes us to foolishly try to take His place. God loves unity and community. Pride is a catalyst for division.

  Pride is the root of division in the home. Satan separated Adam and Eve from each other with the “pride of life” (1 John 2:16) that they could “be like God” (Gen. 3:5). Why do couples fight? One thinks that he/she is right. Or, they want their way. They may be angry that they feel slighted. Not only does pride cause arguments, it stokes the fire of division.

  The marital division can’t be resolved until one party confesses wrong-doing. I’m embarrassed to admit that over the years, my wife, Jane, has frequently been more Christlike than I’ve been. Even when she was not at fault, Jane would initiate confession and restoration by first taking responsibility. What caused me to cling to anger and offense? Pride.  

  Pride is the root of division in the church. You’ll rarely find division in a church over a biblical issue. More frequently, it’s over power or someone has an agenda. Sometimes they’ll cloak pride with a veneer of “spirituality,” much like the Pharisees. Pull back the façade and underneath is pride. For example, there was great division in the Corinthian church. The Apostle Paul addresses it in the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians. What was the core sin? Pride. When there’s more heat than light among God’s people, you can almost be certain that the root issue is pride.

  What’s the cure? We must cultivate humility. I’m not sure when it happened, but humility is rarely valued in the Church today. Yet, if anyone should be characterized by humility, it should be a Christian.

  First, we know from Scripture that there is nothing that we have (talent, finances, position, etc.) that we didn’t receive. Then, you can’t accept the gospel until you admit the evil of your own heart, your inability to merit any favor with God and total dependence on God’s mercy and grace for salvation. Apart from Christ’s cross, we’re hopelessly lost and doomed.

  Routinely confess your sin to God.  Too few have a regular practice of rigorous honest self-examination. In light of God’s Word with the Spirit acting as a surgeon, we must investigate the condition of our own heart. Coupled with confession, (1 Jn 1:9), it’s an essential practice of humility.

  Acknowledge your sin to others (James 5:16). When we’ve wronged others, we must honestly confess it to them and take personal responsibility. Humility before God is incomplete unless there is also humility before others. A true test of our willingness to humble ourselves is a willingness to share with others the weaknesses that we confess to God.

  Be gracious and patient when you’re mistreated (1 Peter 3:8-17). When something is unjust we want to react and rectify it. Patiently responding to the unjust accusations and actions of others demonstrates our strength of godly character and provides an opportunity to put on humility.

  Actively submit to authority, the good and the bad (1 Peter 2:18). Our culture spurns submission and idolizes individualism. We must purposefully and actively work on submitting to those that God has placed as authorities in our lives. Doing so is a healthy way to humble yourself.

  Receive correction and feedback from others graciously (Prov. 2:1). Look for the kernels of truth in what people offer you, even if it comes from a dubious source. Learn to pray, “Lord, what are you seeking to teach me through this?”

  Purposely associate with those of lower state than you (Luke 7:36-39). Our culture is very status conscious. We seek to socialize upward or at least laterally. Resist the temptation of being partial to those with status or wealth. Jesus was verbally chastised by the Pharisees for socializing with the poor, those they considered vile sinners and those of lowly state. Jesus’ social circle went from high to low. Does ours?

  Serve others (2 Cor. 4:5). Serving others reduces our focus on ourselves and builds the Kingdom of God. When serving another costs us nothing, we should question whether it’s truly servanthood.

  Be quick to forgive (Matt. 18: 21-35). Forgiveness is one of the greatest acts of humility we can do. It acknowledges a wrong has been done to us and releases any right of repayment for the wrong. It’s the denial of self.

  Habitually speak well of others (Eph. 4:31-32). Saying demeaning things about others puts them down, but elevates us. Sincerely speaking well of others encourages and builds them up. Start each day with: Who can I encourage and build up today?

  If you love God, you love what He loves. But God’s enemy, Satan, loves pride. By Christ’s cross, commit to a lifestyle of daily dying to self and living through Him (Gal. 2:20). That’s the foundation for true humility. 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Gratitude is the Best Attitude

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”   Zig Ziglar

  Earlier this week I sat through a presentation to raise funds for a great cause. But one of the things that really stood out to me in the presentation – misspelled words. The project is putting in new bathrooms for a school of 400 students in a 3^rd World country. It’s a great and worthy project and compared to American costs, very reasonable. Yet, I found that I was more focused on a few misspellings than the huge impact of this project.

  Please understand, I’m not suggesting that we become sloppy and overlook misspelled words or other errors, and not aim for excellence. What I am confessing is that I’ve been so contaminated by a sinful world, that my tendency is to notice what is wrong before I notice what is right.

  With 10 stalls for 400 students, 5 for girls and 5 for boys, I’d surmise those students don’t care what it’s called – whether a bathroom, restroom, toilet, privy, washroom, powder room, loo, lavatory or some slang term. They’re just thankful that they have a bathroom with indoor plumbing.

  Are you like me? I find that the Spirit is continually convicting me for my petty, ungrateful heart. I have to be spiritually aggressive with my sinful spirit that’s more prone to groan than to give gratitude.

  John MacArthur insightfully writes, “A thankful heart is one of the primary identifying characteristics of a believer. It stands in stark contrast to pride, selfishness, and worry. And it helps fortify the believer’s trust in the Lord and reliance of His provision, even in the toughest times. No matter how choppy the seas become, a believer’s heart is buoyed by constant praise and gratefulness to the Lord.”

  For the past few weeks I’ve been thinking about what trait or traits most identify and distinguish a Christian. I was wrongly taught and believed for too many years that it was behavior, appearance or following a list of rules. I was a very good Pharisee.

  I’m so thankful that sanctification is a lifelong process and that my Heavenly Father is so patient with me. As I look through the pages of Scripture, there is a consistent identifying trait for a godly person, someone who is maturing in their walk with the Lord – constant gratitude. The last book of the Bible, Revelation, is permeated with hymns of praise. We end in eternity with praise in our hearts that flows from our lips.

  Yet, gratitude is a habit that must be empowered by God’s grace and continually cultivated. Every believer has a life filled with blessings now that overflows into eternity. It’s not a matter of what we have or what’s  going on, it’s what we see and focus on and fill our minds with.  

  Recently, I read of a study that took three groups of people and had them go for daily walks. The first group was told to focus on the good things they noticed, the second one on the bad and the third group was told just to walk for exercise. What was the result?

  At the end of the week, when the walkers’ well-being was tested again, those who had deliberately targeted positive cues were happier than before the experiment. The negatively focused subjects were less happy, and the just plain exercisers scored somewhere in between.

  The point, according to the researchers, is that “you see what you look for. And you can train yourself to attend to the joy out there waiting to be had, instead of passively waiting for it to come to you.” What I found very noteworthy was that though this wasn’t a Christian study, these individuals had significant positive change because they learned to focus on what we call “common grace.” Unknowingly, they were living out the Lord’s command: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

  Nothing so sets apart a believer as gratitude. We can be the kind of people who truly feel and appreciate the good in life because we know who it comes from (James 1:17). At first, like any habit, it takes work. It requires continued focus. Yet, if we develop the habit of gratitude, it will radically change us and our testimony for the gospel. Here are a few simple steps to help you begin.

  Confess ingratitude and pray for grace to grow in gratitude. We must by confession clear out the filth in our hearts so that the Lord can fill it with grace and gratitude. It means being honest and coming clean. Afterall, Jesus died for our sin of ingratitude. But most of us don’t take the sin of ungratefulness seriously. The nation of Israel learned a hard lesson and spent 40 years wandering the wilderness because of grumbling.

  Limit contaminations of bad news in your life. Personally, I rarely watch the news. I may listen to the headlines or scan them on a periodical, yet I don’t linger there. That’s because rarely is there anything encouraging. Most is broadcast void of a biblical worldview, that even in the “bad” God is in total control. Then, I avoid negaholics and seek to surround myself with grateful people and those who see God’s hand in this world.  

  Increase the amount of good news in your life. It’s rare to find a miserable believer who is faithfully in their Bible. Spending time in God’s Word changes our outlook and help us be aware that God is working even when we can’t see it and helps us see life from His eternal perspective.

  Start early, yet start small. Begin your day thanking the Lord for another one. Throughout your day look for God moments, little blessings like the beauty of His creation or some unexpected kindness. Perhaps keep a log and write down a blessing or blessings from each day.

  Ask the Lord to help you see those things from His perspective which most easily cause you to complain. I’m not a masochist. I don’t like trials. Yet, I know from Scripture that my Father is behind trials. Of late, I’ve been asking Him to use them to burn away dross and make me more like Jesus. It’s changed my perspective of trials from something to get through to that which I’m confident He is using to make me into His masterpiece.

  Would those around you describe you as a grateful person? Do they hear the song in your heart because you know Jesus and are confident that He has everything under control, even the trials?

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Loneliness

“Sometimes the person who tries to keep everyone happy

is the most lonely person.”

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat. Email, text, instant messages, cellphone calls. There are more ways than ever to connect with others — yet many, more than we can imagine, continually feel the hollow ache of loneliness. Loneliness isn’t constrained by age, gender, marital status or job title. CEOs feel it, as do cubicle dwellers. New moms, granddads, recent college grads and grade school kids struggle with loneliness.

  Americans are lonelier than ever—even though opportunities for social connection have exponentially increased. Even with affordable phone calls and free email, ultimately we talk to each other less. Despite the prevalence of car ownership and the low cost of cross-country air travel, we spend less time with our families. After decades of bowling leagues, Americans began bowling alone. In today’s age of social media, we’re not even bowling alone…we’re scrolling alone.

  Even royalty isn’t immune to loneliness. While normally fiercely guarded about her private life, Duchess Kate of Cambridge spoke candidly about how life with young children was isolating. “It is lonely at times and you do feel quite isolated, but actually so many other mothers are going through exactly what you are going through.” The king of “Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley before he died wrote, “I feel so alone sometimes. I’d love to be able to sleep. I’ll probably not rest. I have no need for all this, help me Lord.” Former surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, was the first to label loneliness an epidemic. Dr. Murthy demonstrated that loneliness causes “an insidious type of stress” that leads to increased risk of heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. Loneliness has the same effect on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

  The first thing that God said was bad was being “alone” (Genesis 2:18). God doesn’t want us to be lonely and if there is one place that someone shouldn’t be lonely, it’s in church, BUT too often they are.

  It’s apparent when someone is sitting or standing alone, that loneliness may be an issue for them. It’s why we continually encourage you at Grace to not let someone sit alone, to break out of our normal friend circles, to engage others. It might be something as simple as asking someone if they’d like to join you for a cup of coffee at our Coffee Café after the service. It would be a terrible failure on our part if someone walked through the doors of our church and we never sought to connect or engage them.

  Yet, there are those who attend each week who struggle with a deep sense of loneliness. It could be a child or teen who feels insecure. Just chatting briefly, asking them questions, listening and seeking to encourage them can make a big difference. It might be someone who is married to an unsaved spouse or is divorced or lost a spouse. It could be someone who is single.

  It takes so little to make someone feel welcomed and accepted. Just a simple smile is a great way to start. And if anyone should genuinely smile, it’s a believer. For a believer, the very worst of this world is temporary. Not only that, we are never alone.

  God designed the local church to be a place of deep friendship and community. It’s why we have Grace Groups, which begin this morning at 10:45 am. Yes, we want to share and see you grow in biblical truth. Our main purpose though is to give you an opportunity to begin to peel back the masks that we all wear and draw closer to other believers. As we become more transparent, we draw closer to each other. It’s as we spend time together that we discover rhythms of true community. We want to be a healthy community. Spiritually healthy groups encourage, challenge, and support one another. And while other groups meet during the week, we’ve purposefully scheduled our primary groups on Sundays to make it very convenient. We know football is important for some. It’s why our groups are all done at 11:30 am, so you can be home for the kick-off.

  Sometimes a spouse doesn’t desire to attend. Most couples drive two cars. Compromise and let the one who is interested stay. And please, as parents, make this part of your children’s lives. Children who don’t learn the importance of community during their formative years will easily jettison being part of a church during their college and adult years. As a parent, prepare for that by helping them instill a habit of spiritual community. 
  Healthy community requires a frequency of local interactions. Jesus models perfect being-in-relationship for us. He was never not in relationship. He entered this world not by splitting the heavens but by gently growing in His mother’s womb. He entered a normal family, spent His childhood and early adulthood in obscurity, and then launched His ministry by inviting others to come follow Him and be His disciples. Even on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus gathered for a meal with His disciples, then led them to pray with Him at Gethsemane. With His final breaths, He instructed His disciples to care for His mother. If relationships were essential to Jesus, shouldn’t they be for me and you, too?

  Occasionally, Jesus went off to pray in solitude, but generally, He did everything with this ragtag bunch. His life illustrates that even our Savior refused to live in isolation. If relationships were essential to Him, shouldn’t they be for us, too? Like Him, we exist for relationships.

  Created in the image of a triune—and therefore eternally relational—God, to be fully alive means to live-in relationships. If Jesus was history’s most “fully alive” human, it shouldn’t surprise us that a person can’t become fully human without a community. God created us for community.

  Grace groups, a place for community, start today! Please join one!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

There's No Place Like Home!

“There’s no place like home.”  Dorothy

  Dorothy was right! It doesn’t matter whether it’s a mansion or a shack. There really is no place like home. Jane and I have just spent four weeks in what many call “paradise.” The beach and ocean were only a few miles away. The weather tropical. Yet, I found myself, particularly toward the end of our time, longing to come home. And it didn’t hurt that as we prepared to leave, Hurricane Dorian was looming as an uninvited guest.  

  It’s hard to believe that I am now in my 32^nd year as your Pastor in Burlington. In 1988 we loaded up our car, a moving truck and our then two very young children, left Detroit and moved to Burlington. The community was smaller then and had much more of a small-town feel.

  The next day as I went to open a bank account at what was then the Bank of Burlington, the woman at the front greeted me with, “Oh, you’re the minister that moved in last night.” There wasn’t a single traffic light and seemingly endless one-way streets. Getting lost both in town and on surrounding country roads was a fairly normal experience. The only fast-food restaurants were Hardees and McDonald’s.

  I grew up in Atlanta, worked in Chicago and ultimately moved to Burlington from Detroit. The smallest places I’d lived in were LaCrosse and Danville, IL (communities of 50,000). The small-town atmosphere was a big shock for me. I’d always qualified myself as a “big city” person.   

  Woody Allen once quipped, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans.” Jane and I were originally on our own five-year plan. In fact, it was more foolish than that. As we were praying for a church and place of ministry, the one place that we told the Lord that we didn’t want to go was – Wisconsin. But in our great “wisdom,” we capitulated and determined that we would come and stay for “five years” and then look for greener pastures in another state and in another church.

  Are you like me? More times than I can remember, I’m so thankful for the prayers that my all-wise Heavenly Father didn’t answer. Because we fell in love. We fell in love with you as our church family! We fell in love with this community! And God gave us two of His greatest blessings – peace and contentment.

  Like many pastors, there were calls of inquiry from other ministries. One, back in the Detroit area, was very strong and tempting. But Jane and I never had peace about relocating. Or, the timing was just wrong. And so because we did not believe that we had marching orders, we stayed and stayed and stayed. Looking back now over three decades, we see so clearly that our Heavenly Father is so much wiser than we are. Doors and relationships have been built both within the church and outside of the church that rarely happens in short term pastorates. Unless the Lord has other plans for my life, this will be my last senior pastorate. Though I am approaching my 60^th birthday, I feel very much like Caleb, who as a very spry 85-year-old, spoke of seeing God’s faithfulness for the past 40 years and had mountains that by God’s grace he still wanted to take for God’s glory (Joshua 14). In many ways I feel as if our ministry is just beginning here and there are many mountains to take by His grace and for His glory.

  To be very honest, it would be very hard to leave this community. This is our home. You are our family! This is where our many friends are.

  Jane and I can well relate to the ministry of John and Mary Fawcett. John was born in 1740 and was orphaned by the time he was 12.  At the age of 16, he heard George Whitfield preach and became a Christian. When he was 25 (and had just wed his wife, Mary) he was asked to serve as the pastor of a small church in Wainsgate. The people of the village were all farmers and shepherds, very poor, most of whom were unable to read or write.  They were not able to pay much, and most of what John received as wages came in the form of wool, potatoes or other produce. When John and Mary began having children they found it difficult to make ends meet. After serving at Wainsgate for 7 years, John received a call from Carter’s Lane Baptist Church – a very prestigious parish that would be able to provide him a much larger salary.  John decided to accept the position.

  The Fawcett family packed up their household belongings and prepared to move. The day came and the congregation was in tears as John and Mary prepared to leave.  Mary is quoted as saying, “I can’t stand it, John! I know not how to go.”  John responded, “Lord help me Mary, nor can I stand it! We will unload the wagon!” And John is recorded to have said to the crowd gathered around them, “We’ve changed our minds! We are going to stay!” They unpacked the wagon and let the church in London know that they would not be accepting the position.

  John Fawcett then wrote this hymn to express his thoughts and those of his wife to the church and community they’d chosen to serve. After his sermon the following Sunday, John shared a hymn that he wrote that expressed their hearts. You may know it, Blest Be The Tie That Binds.

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

We share each other’s woes,
Each other’s burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

  The Fawcetts continued their ministry at Wainsgate for 54 years with John passing from this life to glory on July 25th, 1817, at the age of 77.

  Jane and I do not know God’s plans for our future or our church. Yet, if the Father would let us finish our course here at Grace and in Burlington, we would consider ourselves very rich and very blessed! 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

How's Your Serve?

“Happiness…consists in giving and serving others.”

Henry Drummond

  Ten days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, residents of North Platte, Nebraska heard a rumor that soldiers from their town, part of the Nebraska National Guard Company D, would be coming through on a troop train on their way to the West Coast. About 500 people showed up at the train depot with food, gifts, letters and love to give the boys. But when the train showed up, it wasn’t the Nebraska National Guard Company D on board; it was the soldiers from the Kansas National Guard Company D.

  The North Platte residents decided to give their gifts to these soldiers that they didn’t know. It was a spontaneous act of genuine devotion that touched both the soldiers and those who served them at the depot that day.

  A few days later, a 26-year-old woman named Rae Wilson wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper recounting the profound experience they’d shared that night. She suggested that the town organize a canteen, so they could do something similar for every troop train that came through. She then offered to lead the effort as a volunteer, and for the next four and a half years, the people of North Platte and the surrounding communities met every troop train that came through their town. Each day, they prepared sandwiches, cookies, cold drinks, and hot coffee. They had baskets of magazines and books to give to the soldier and snacks for the train. There were even birthday cakes for anyone having a special day. They did this, some days, for as many as 8,000 soldiers and sailors.

  The statistics are staggering. By the time the last train arrived on April 1, 1946, six million soldiers had been served and blessed by the North Platte Canteen. 45,000 volunteers had served faithfully until the war was over and most troops had been transported home. If the residents of North Platte were that dedicated to doing whatever they could to serve American soldiers, shouldn’t we as Christians be even more committed to serve the Lord any way that we can?

  If you are a Christian, you’re saved to serve. Those who don’t believe in grace as the means of salvation, in other words “religious people,” confuse good works. They believe that one earns their place in heaven by doing things or works. Yet, God’s Word clearly tells us that it’s not through good works through that we’re saved (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). It’s by grace alone, plus nothing! But though we’re not saved by works, if we’re truly saved there will always be works. While we’re not saved by serving but if we are – we will be serving.

  Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Scripture knows nothing of a “chair sitting” Christian. Those who love Jesus “labor” for Him. God designed each one of us with unique talents, personalities and skill sets. When Christ comes into our lives, we’re given at least one spiritual gift. We discover the most joy and make the biggest difference when we use our God-given gifts and abilities to serve Him and build His Church. Why?  

  Serving lets us discover and develop our spiritual gifts. The New Testament compares the church to a human body. As our bodies are made of many parts serving specific functions, the local church is made up of people with different skills and abilities. Alone these pieces aren’t useful, like a finger without a hand. Together we create something wonderful!

  By serving we experience the joy that comes from obedience. The church is not a spectator sport, where we come, watch, consume and leave. We’re to come and be a part of the life of the church, not watching from the sidelines, but getting involved. It’s part of being a family. In a family everyone pitches in and has a role. It’s not done out of obligation. It’s done out of love for the Lord and others. 
  Serving helps us to be more like Jesus. We all are selfish by nature. Most of our agendas consist of self-centered desires, but selfishness destroys us. Our walk with God must be about Him and others. Serving each other is the essence of Christianity. The Bible says that we’ve been set free so that we can love and serve others. If we’re not careful, we may sit happily and smugly in our born-again condition and never grasp our Lord’s intent that we’ve been set free so that can serve each other in love. 

  One cartoon showed a picture of a woman lying in her sickbed, obviously in misery. In the sink were stacked piles of dirty dishes. A huge basket of clothes to be ironed sat nearby. Two dirty children were fighting in one corner. In the other, a cat sat licking spilled milk. A smiling woman stood in the doorway and the caption had her saying, “Well, Florence, if there is anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

  Too often that’s a picture of the local church! Pastors, church staff and leaders are overwhelmed with work. More needy people cry out for their attention than they have time to serve. Ministries lack workers. Visitors need a personal contact. New people need someone to befriend them. Facilities need maintenance and improvements. Even some who are involved seem to be committed only when it’s convenient. And yet people often say, “If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know!”

  We make all sorts of rational explanations for not serving; I don’t have time. I don’t know what I’d do. I don’t have any special skills to contribute. They don’t need me. Yet, the reality is the Lord doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. God used men and women with similar doubts to change the course of history. Moses didn’t think he was a leader or speaker, but God used him to bring Israel out of slavery. David was the youngest (and most insignificant) of his brothers, but God worked through him to take out a giant and eventually made him king. Paul killed Christians before he met Jesus, but he went on to become one of the most highly-regarded and prolific writers/church planters in history.

  Jesus doesn’t want to work for Him. He wants to work in and through you. He does that when you willingly serve Him. Are you missing out on His will and best? How’s your serve?

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.