Congratulations Kim Metzer - by Rod Kalajainen

On Sunday, November 13, our own Kim Metzer, who is Director of Adult Ministry and Groups, was recognized in a Service of Celebration and Blessing for completing the Michigan Area School for License as a Local Pastor.

What that means is that Kim has been participating in numerous learning experiences for the year or more designed to help her live out her calling to lead a local church as pastor.  She will now be available for appointment to a local church by Bishop David Bard when and where there is a need.

Kim has felt, for some time now, God calling her to a more specific local church ministry – serving as a pastor of a local congregation.  She will continue to serve on our staff at Redeemer until an appointment becomes available.

We celebrate this step in her journey and her commitment to lead God’s people in a local church.

Beautiful Drive Days of Colorful Season - by Olga Chulakova

 In one of the October services at church it started with a small red leaf and warm words about the beautiful autumn. Pastor Rod’s words brought back beautiful pictures to my memory. I also had the good experience from recently seen autumn pictures.

I was invited to go on a short trip up North to see the colorful beauty in nature. At first it was Highway 127. As we turned onto M-15 our conversation slowed down, because our attention was drawn to the trees. The road was surrounded by colorful trees. Sometimes I took pictures with my camera, but more often my eyes fixed the beauty in my memory and I continued to see it and feel their attractions for a long time.

They were taking my breath away. The trees seemed even better than the others. The appearance was different and colorful: green, light-green, yellow, orange, red, deep red, brown, plus many shades and all together they looked like they were doing a bright round dance.  Especially beautiful were the aspen, whose silver trembling leaves gleamed and played with the wind. 

It was so beautiful. My breath was taken away. I took pictures with my eyes. And then I kept it in my memory. The roads changed but the beauty was continuing. The coming evening started to mix these beautiful colors into one dark color.

Morning returned to us our great feelings. This morning was exceptional!  The sky was blue and gray.  The drizzling rain started but the sun continued to shine. The rainbow appeared and then two rainbows. They were so bright that I started to pray thankful for God’s creation.

Beauty is a source of inspiration,
Nature is my friend that arouses a verse
Being close to beauty is my desire,
Because beauty was created by God.

Pleasing to me are the mountains,
Prairie, farmland, river, pine forest,
Creating images dear to my soul
In nature there are many wonders .

The sky is blue with clouds
I pray among beautiful surroundings
And thank the God in the universe
For beauty it’s magnificent diversity.

How is beautiful our Michigan!
Olga Chulakova

Celebrating Jesus' birth - by Sue Campbell

Halloween has come and gone, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and right after that it will be time to begin the Advent season.  While it may seem like we’re trying to rush right into Christmas, it truly is the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ as the songs say.  One of the highlights of our Children’s Ministry year is the annual celebration we call:  Night in Bethlehem. 

This will be our 9th year and everyone is invited to come on December 4th from 5:00-7:00pm.  We’ll begin with Christmas songs sung by our Kids Praise groups – 4 & 5 year olds and 1st - 4th graders, followed by a puppet performance by some of the middle school students. Then, the rest of the evening is spent in our version of the town of Bethlehem. 

The Bible records that Bethlehem was crowded with people, including Mary and Joseph, who were required to register in their hometown for the Roman census.  Well, our Redeemer Church building has been crowded as well!  So, this year, we’re excited to expand the outskirts of Bethlehem from our gym and lobby areas to other parts of the church building. There will be tents and tables with lots of crafts for the kids to make, snacks to eat and a photo area with biblical costumes and props for taking family pictures.

Sometimes the reason we celebrate Christmas gets lost in the busyness.  Night in Bethlehem is a great opportunity to join family, friends and neighbors in celebrating Jesus’ birth.  Hope to see you all here!   

Knowing Things - by Ben Barnes

I have an ever-growing pile of books in my office that I’d love to read.  Every morning, I sit down at my desk and that pile of books stares at me, growing a dusty coat, just taunting me quietly.  I enjoy reading, not because I enjoy taking the time to read, but because I enjoy learning.  Every teacher I’ve ever had would disagree with that, so let me rephrase.  I enjoy knowing things.  And quite often, reading leads to knowing things.  The pile of books in my office bothers me because I just never seem to have the time to dig into any of them.  I’m busy completing daily tasks of rehearsing with the worship band or editing videos or making sure that Sunday morning services are worshipful for the people that come to Redeemer.

This morning, I was hit by two scriptures that speak to my pile of books and my daily tasks.  Ecclesiastes 1 is a lament from the King of Israel that says ‘Much learning earns you much trouble.’  And Matthew 6 tells us to store up treasures in Heaven instead of treasures on earth.  I guess my take-away from those two very different ideas would be this:  Knowing things isn’t going to last.  But helping people glorify God on a Sunday morning (and beyond) certainly will. 

Who Do You Trust More Than Anyone in the World? - by Susan Jensen

 – When someone asks us that question we have a tendency to answer with, a parent, a spouse, a grandparent… someone we’ve spent a lot of our life with. But I’m guessing since you are reading a blog from Redeemer Church in DeWitt, you already have a sneaking suspicion who I’m referring to. God of course. Let’s face it, look at His credentials. The Alpha and Omega, Creator of everything that is, All Knowing, Healer, Protector, King of Kings and the list goes on. Why wouldn’t we trust Him more than any mere mortal? But real life sneaks in, we get busy, we get distracted, and we fall into a routine based on our mortal efforts and independence instead of relying on God’s plan for our lives and the path He lays out in His Word.

Sound familiar, maybe it’s time to hit the refresh button. Pastor Rod is preaching through a series this fall called “Something Greater”.  Join us each Sunday for messages that relate to our everyday lives by showing us the call to something greater that God has placed on those who have gone before us.

Leave the routine behind and follow the path to something greater.

By Faith - written by Kim Metzer

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

Hebrews 11:1-2 (The Message)

I’ve preached a message on faith four times over the last year in four different venues.  Each time I’ve used this message I’ve tweaked it so that it is relevant to the particular congregation I’m in front of.  I find that each time I’ve delivered it, instead of being bored by it; I’ve learned something new or had a new insight. 

There’s been several points in my life that I would not have been able to go forward had it not been for extreme faith that God is with me even in, especially in, the low points.  Having faith is not something that can be taught, it must be demonstrated and I was fortunate to be surrounded by people living faith filled lives during my formative years which provided this unseen foundation.

It is by living out our faith that we become an example to those around us.  What are you doing this week to demonstrate that you’re living a faith filled life?  What step of faith could you take right now that will take you out of your comfort zone and make you rely on God? While Hebrews 11 gives us several examples of big steps, leaps really, of faith (Abraham trekking towards the promised land without a map, Noah building a giant boat on dry land, Sarah believing she could bear a child while in her 90s, etc.) our steps don’t have to be that big – we just have to take one!  It could be as simple as picking up a volunteer shift here at Redeemer or as audacious as committing to going on a mission trip to Haiti. 

Comment on this blog with your step of faith so that we can inspire each other!

Awesome Sauce!!!! - by Ron Bekkering

One of my favorite things to eat is Chicken Wings. I especially like them Hot!  Like rub your eyes and they hurt hot. I have friends who make the best hot sauces. Awesome sauces! Sauces are what can make your meal. A savory Hollandaise sauce, a delicious barbeque sauce, a succulent sweet and sour will all do the trick! Well, last Wednesday morning, the youth of the world celebrated See You at the Pole.  See You at the Pole day – it’s about one simple act—prayer. This is an opportunity for students to pray for themselves, their teachers, their grades, the world, etc.… This movement started over 25 years ago and I have been plugging kids into it since I got into ministry in 2002. Here are three reasons we have been a part of this movement.

Christian students discover that they aren’t alone. When they gather at their school’s flagpole on that morning, they meet a bunch of people from other churches; kids they otherwise might not have known were believers. One of the neatest things I heard when we were at Herbison  Woods praying was a little girl say, “I didn’t know there were that many kids here that loved Jesus.” That’s a good thing!

The community takes notice. In an environment that is anything but friendly to Christianity, students who are willing to gather together to pray for their schools is a remarkable event. What I mean here is that when kids are walking by or coming to join, there are lots of looks. Lots of questions, but it has been happening at DeWitt schools for so long that kids and administration at the schools understand and respect it. A neat thing I saw at both the High School and Herbison Woods were the huge walk up crowds. I saw kids jumping out of cars and sprinting across the parking lot to join the High School circle. I watched as kids got of their parents car at Herbison and cautiously walked into the circle to join it. That was awesome!

Prayer is effective. Ultimately this is it!!! Prayer changes hearts, opens doors, and creates movement. Any time we can encourage students to pray, we’ll be engaged. Having opportunities for students to openly share their faith and pray for each other is just another thing we believe strongly in the Student Ministries of Redeemer. Covering each other in prayer is great!

So over 60 kids showed up to eat breakfast with us before their school day started and as we got to the High School, the Jr. High School, and Herbison Woods we witnessed, by rough count, 132 students from the community of DeWitt pouring their hearts out in prayer! And let me be the first to tell you, in the world we live in, where it seems Christianity is under attack, to see these guys and girls standing for what they believe in…that’s awesome sauce!!!  God is good!

 

 

The Original Verizon Message: A Modern Parable - by Debby Kloosterman

Do you remember the old Verizon commercials?  Actor, Paul Marcarelli, portrayed a network serviceman who travels about asking, “Can you hear me now?”  It seems to me that Verizon received way too much credit for immortalizing that phrase! 

This was reinforced for me last Sunday as Rod preached about Elijah.  There is no reference to Elijah in the Bible until 1 Kings 17:1-9.  God instructs Elijah to go places and follow His leading.  Meanwhile, God systematically reduces the things that Elijah can rely upon (his resources, his labor, his security).  By reducing all the things that are familiar back-up plans, it is as though God is asking, “Can you hear me now?”  As God encourages Elijah to rely more and more upon HIM, Elijah is able to do more things that further God’s plan. 

Lesson #1:  God’s strength is made perfect in Elijah’s weakness.

Lesson #2:  Sometimes it’s okay to rely on your network but ultimately God wants us to rely on Him.

Fast forward to today:  Actor, Paul Marcarelli, is now working for Sprint and telling us that it’s every bit as good as his old network.

Lesson #3:  Our network may change but God’s love and His message are the same.

Better & Stronger - by Tammy Bowman

This week I will begin following a strict 16-week marathon training schedule…YIKES! I say “YIKES” because this will be my 3^rd marathon and I mentally and physically know what to expect. This is extremely exciting, but it also terrifies me a bit.  I know that I will experience moments of running highs that will include reaching distance goals, achieving a faster pace, and braving through challenging weather conditions. But there will also be moments of running lows including exhaustion, blisters, body aches and pains, challenging Michigan weather conditions, and I usually trip and fall a couple times.

I have been preparing myself over the past year to get physically prepared to not just run 26.2 miles but to make it through the 4 months of training. I feel that I have properly prepared myself physically but that doesn’t always ensure that things will go the way I plan. There will be a lot of unexpected bumps along the way, but I know that after I cross that finish line in Disney World, I will be a better and stronger person for having gone through it.

Even more so, I hope to be a better and stronger Christian when I cross that finish line.

I have been reading the book Soul Detox by Craig Groeschel and it has helped me to focus my thoughts, mind, attitude, actions and soul towards Christ in all that I do. When I run, I am alone a lot with my thoughts and I spend a lot of time in reflection. Knowing that I will have hours of alone time terrifies me a bit too. Like most people, I fill up my days doing things, being busy. Sometimes it’s just easier to be distracted then to be challenged with focusing on Christ. Even as I write this blog, I am distracted.

“What about you? What’s your greatest fear? Can you choose to trust God with it? Be as honest with yourself as you can. This is really important. In my experience, the further away I get from God, the more the what-ifs of this world begin to pile on, trying to suffocate me with fear. But the closer I am to God, the more I’m able to trust him, and the less hold the things of this world have on me. Choose. Tell God what it is you’re afraid of. Then trust him no matter what.” Craig Groeschel, Soul Detox

Not only is it difficult to face my own fears, it is painful to even begin to identify and admit those fears. Sure, foam fingers scare the mess out of me but I’m not talking about those kinds of fears. I’m talking about the ones that I think about when I have time in solitude. The painful fears that I’m not sure I’m fully ready to give up control on. The ones that for some reason I am holding on to because I know that when I give them to God, he will not only make me face them but he will use them to make me a better and stronger Christian.

Beginning a training program is always a little scary, because I know the process of improving is sometimes painful.  As Christians we tend to take the same approach.  Admitting our fears and facing them to become better will be painful, but in the end all the time and effort will have made a lasting difference and will bring us closer to God.

 

"A Man My Age" - by Kelvin Fizzell

As many of you know, I celebrated my 65^th birthday this past May. I had not been spending a lot of time reflecting (some read agonizing) on my age. I would generally go about the daily activities of life without giving it a second thought.

 

During a recent office visit, to review some routine tests, the doctor began the evaluation with the phrase “well, for a man your age”… I vaguely remember some discussions about cholesterol, blood pressure, yada, yada, yada… Honestly, the phrase “for a man your age” kept resonating in my mind! “A MAN MY AGE”… Had I been overlooking something? Was I supposed to be looking at life thru older lenses? Was I supposed to be acting differently? Was I supposed to slow down…not try to accomplish as much? Be more like “a man my age”?

 

During everyday life, self-doubt, apprehension, lack of self-confidence, or even the questioning of one’s faith can easily creep into our daily thought. If or when it does, God has this amazing capacity/timing for offering support and strength when we really need it. One needs only to be receptive in order to hear His guidance and direction. For this “man of my age” dilemma I was struggling with, God’s message came to me during a sermon series Pastor Rod offered on Sundays at Redeemer Church over the recent summer months. The sermons talked about a man from the Old Testament of the Bible by the name of Abraham. Abraham was well into his late 80’s when God asked him to do the unexpected…to pack up everything that he owned and to move to a land far away, from his family, and from everything that he had ever known in his life. Interestingly, God did not begin instructing Abraham by saying…I have something special for “a man your age” to do. God simply presented His vision to him. To God, Abraham’s age was inconsequential in the matter. Even though Abraham himself wondered why God would ask him to do all this as a “man of his age”, he faithfully did what God had asked of him. By being faithful, and overlooking his own self-doubt regarding his age, Abraham went on to build a great nation as God had promised that he would.

 

As we grow in years, it’s tempting to develop a mindset that discourages us from being open to opportunities that God places in front of us. This attitude should be put aside in every way. We should not be concerned with being “a person of our age”, but rather being “a person for all ages” when it comes to serving the Lord.

 

After this, Abram had a vision and heard the Lord say to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I will shield you from danger and give you a great reward.” Genesis 15:1 NIV

 

Decisions - by Diane Lantzy

A little three year old boy I know (who will remain nameless to protect the innocent) was bitten at day care recently.

 

The teacher asked: “Why did he bite you?”

 

The perhaps less then innocent little boy replied: “He had his reasons.”

 

As adults, we think we have moved past this type of behavior but unfortunately, it often just changes formats. I certainly have done things that haven’t been done for the right reasons and then I am surprised when these actions come back and bite me (at least I am speaking figuratively now). On the other hand, there are times when I should take action but am afraid of the consequences so do nothing to avoid getting bitten.

 

I face many decisions each day – some are more important than others. When I struggle with any decision, there are many verses from the Bible that are helpful to me. Here are a couple:

 

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning and let the discerning get guidance.:"  Proverbs 1:5

 

I can always use good advice from godly friends.

 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  Philippians 4:6

 

Remembering that God is always with me helps comfort me especially when I am worried that there may be negative consequences of a well thought out decision.

 

Listening to others, reading the Bible and talking to God is always a good path to take.

Change - By Suzie Unruh

So these last few weeks and the next few weeks bring a lot change in my life … at work and within my family. Not only are we switching from summer to fall (which means checking the kid’s closet), a change in work schedules, a change in school buildings /school schedules / school pick-up and drop off times, a change in switching from gearing up every night for summer camp to school, homework, school lunches and everything else that comes with it. Changes at work with managing and learning the new Redeemer Church website (which is very exciting), to changing where my husband and I will serve on Sunday mornings with Christian Education starting on September 11^th.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed! This year I find myself looking at things differently - I have made the choice to look at things differently.

I am welcoming change; change brings reflection into my life.  One, I’m lucky God blessed me with three great kids - that have a home with a closet full of clothes. I am blessed to see God’s work and the change of the seasons. Lucky to live in a community with great, safe schools, where my kids can grow, learn, and make new friendships. Lucky to be part of Redeemer Church, a church that is growing and its purpose is to bring love, joy and Jesus to this world.

With all the changes happening in my life, I am changing on the inside – grateful for living this life … grateful, for another day to live this crazy, beautiful changing daily life.

What's New? - by Pastor Rod

It’s hard to believe but we are in the middle week of August.  Most of us in this congregation and community value the summer months for relaxation, vacations, travel, and spending more time with our families.  And while those things are also important to us, this is also a busy time for the staff at Redeemer as we prepare for the fall. 

Our staff is preparing for the return of fall programming – Christian Education for children, youth and adults; several outreach opportunities; Welcome Weekend; and more.

Some of the “new things” that you will experience this fall are:

·         We will be launching a new website in a few weeks – giving us a more up-to-date look that is compatible with all devices and more ease of access to all the ministries and opportunities here at Redeemer.

·         With the help of a graphic artist, we developed a new logo.  While there are many core theological doctrines and values that do not change…how we market ourselves to the community is constantly changing.  We hope that it invites people who may be far from God or looking for a church home to come to Redeemer and encounter God, find hope, and experience grace.

·         This summer we changed the look on stage in the Worship Center.  We’ve moved the drums, added some new musicians – all in a desire to grow people and provide our congregation with a quality worship experience.

·         On August 3, we held our first Summer Fun Night.  This was an outdoor event – planned for the community.  In partnership with Tiffany Funeral Home in Lansing, we hosted nearly 500 adults and kids as we enjoyed food, fellowship and lots of fun.

·         Two Mission Teams shared the love of Christ, this summer, in Haiti and in Eastern Kentucky…using their spiritual and vocational gifts to bring help and hope to those in need.

·         Scores of students and adult staff experienced the joy of Christian camping at places like Christian Athletic Camp and ACT Camp at Wesley Woods.  The inspiration, encouragement and impact for Jesus Christ that is experienced in each of these camps will make an eternal difference.

·         We continue to be a resource for many pastors and churches in the West Michigan and Detroit Annual Conferences (soon to be the Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church).  We believe that “the local church is the hope of the world” and we have a responsibility to help strengthen and revitalize churches that are struggling.

·         Being the largest UMC in the Lansing area and strategically located near the Bishop’s office and Area Ministry Center (located in DeWitt) – we are asked to host numerous Conference meetings and events.  On October 9, we will host the Installation Service for 3 new District Superintendents.

·         On September 17, we will host a national event – The Radical Disciple Making Conference – led by Bill Easum, Bill Tenny-Brittian, and Scott Musselman nationally known church consultants.

I am excited every day to wake up and be part of a church that is dynamic and making a difference in the lives of people in this community and beyond.  But know that we can’t do it without you.  Please pray about how you can best serve and give as we continue to expand our reach and make a Kingdom impact.

Pastor Rod

Defining Moments - Sue Campbell

I like to spend quiet time reflecting while I’m digging in my gardens.  As one thought led to another, I started thinking about defining moments in my life – death of a parent, going to college, getting married, having kids, starting to work at Redeemer, etc.  That led me to question:  “just what is a defining moment?” 

Here are a couple of definitions:

·        an event that typifies or determines all subsequent related occurrences
·       a point at which the essential nature or character of a person, group,etc., is revealed or identified

Interesting…and better yet, here are some synonyms:

·         moment of truth
·         critical moment
·         turning point
·         point of no return

Wow – some of the defining moments in my life have been good while others have been bad.  But I don’t think I ever thought of any of them as a “point of no return!” 

However I am wondering how have I revealed my character during those times?  Could people tell that I’m a Christ-follower?  Was it apparent that I try to put my trust in God’s hands?  Did I show the Fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? 

Hmmm…good questions…  

Because I have free will to make choices, I know there will be more defining moments in the future.  In preparation of them, I’m praying that God reminds me that the ultimate definition of me is that I am a child of His.  That there is never a point of no return to His open arms.  And that if I continue to trust and obey Him, and be in His Word, the Bible, I can use those defining moments to reflect His glory to others.   

The Magnificence of Niagara Falls - by Sandy Hrostowski

Our first vacation in five years and what a powerful vacation it was. I had never been to Niagara Falls and knew very little about the area on the Canadian side. On one of our walks along the really wild rapids, I learned that it was a class 6 rapid. This is the only one in the world and considered completely impassable and illegal to be on. As I made a video of the rapids, I was awestruck by the sound and the power the water was making. I had never heard such a thunderous noise before.

We were able to go under the Falls by going down an elevator and then walking through a tunnel. There were a couple of places where you could actually walk out very close to where the Falls were raining down 60 million gallons of water per minute. Amazing!

Many might not know that I am afraid of heights. I can only climb three steps on a ladder before my legs start shaking. I went on a ride called the Aero ride over the Niagara Whirlpool. My husband would not go and thought I was a bit crazy for doing it. He said “What if it falls”?  I told him my heart and soul are ready to meet my Lord and God, so if that’s the way he wanted to bring me home, well than what a ride. I was glad I went, as all my trust and faith were placed in Jesus.  When I got off the ride (besides saying “Praise God”) my legs were still shaking.

Seeing the Falls and all the sights and sounds it makes, gave me a glimpse of the thunderous sound and power our Lord will make when He returns for his people...  I won’t be afraid, but my knees may still shake!

Relax and Refresh - by Ben Barnes

Summer is such a great time to relax and refresh when life has been so busy during the school year.  Schedules loosen up. Naps are on the to-do list. Flip flops are appropriate in public again somehow.  Society relaxes a little bit. It’s great. Summer helps us back away from the harsh reality of work and school and keeping up tiring paces. It’s as if our bodies are telling us we weren’t meant to live life at the speed we’ve talked ourselves into living. 

Jesus kept a pretty fast pace. He was always going from one place to another, healing people, performing miracles and changes lives, then going to another place. I imagine his schedule was pretty full (especially with twelve people in his group). But he got away to rest, too. Mark 1 talks about Jesus getting away to be alone to pray.  I’m sure he needed that break from the tight schedule to just relax, sit back against a tree and talk with God. Maybe we should look at Jesus’ example and take time this summer to relax, to get away from the noise and the crowds, and to pray. 

Prayer Changes Everything - by Susan Jensen

What does that really mean? Can we pray and ask God for anything we want and get it? No, God doesn’t give us everything we want like a big vending machine in the sky. He does what He chooses and He does what He know is best for us. There is also the factor of free will. God did not create us as robots, He gave us free will - the will to do what we choose, regardless of what He wants or knows to be the best for us. God allows free will; therefore, some things that happen are a result of that free will whether it was ours or the free will of another.

Some of you are aware that we lost my brother and father just a month apart from each other a few months back. Did I pray for my brother to live? Yes. Did he? No. I sadly accept the fact that even though my brother should have taken better care of himself, he didn’t. That was his free will, and his early death was in part a result of that. Did I pray for my father not to suffer through his trial of cancer? Yes. Did he suffer? Unfortunately, yes. My father did smoke for over 20 years, although not the last 30 of his life. He also worked in a profession that exposed him to asbestos for 30 years. Once again, his free will and free will in the world played a big factor.

So if I prayed, and these factors didn’t change, why did I pray? These weren’t the only factors. My prayers offered me and those around me peace, comfort, and strength that can only come from a loving God…a God who says, I know what it is like to see a loved one die, and He says My heart cries for yours.

My prayers and the prayers of others also made a difference for my brother and my dad. How comforting to know, that someone is remembering you before the God of the universe. Likewise, the prayers from faithful friends have helped my family through the toughest time we have ever had to face.

It has not been an easy year, but I know without a doubt, that my mother, sister and I have been blessed with a comfort that only comes from God. It still hurts, there are still tears, but I KNOW that prayer changes things. I have felt it. Most of all, I know that God will see us through and one day in heaven we will see Cliff and Dad again.

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!    Psalm 66:20

 

*Come here Pastor Rod’s message entitled “Prayer Changes Things” at Redeemer UMC, DeWitt, Michigan this coming Sunday and Monday as he continues our summer series exploring the faith of Abraham.

The Wind Beneath My Wings: A Lesson from the Birds - by Debby Kloosterman

A couple of weeks ago, John was out of town and I decided to go out to breakfast by myself.  After enjoying a delicious omelet with spinach and mushrooms (my nod to healthy eating), I exited the restaurant to begin the tasks of the day. 

Overhead in the blustery gray sky, large birds flew against the direction of the wind.  As I observed their flight I noticed that they did not continuously flap their wings.  In fact, they would flap four or five times and then coast.  The aerodynamic design of the birds allowed the wind beneath their wings to hold them in flight and support their forward movement with seemingly minimal effort.  This sight reminded me of the many times that God instructs me to rest in Him, to cast my cares upon Him, and to rely on Him to work things out.

Why do I spend all my time flapping, worrying and trying to control outcomes that are not mine to control?  Maybe I need to allow God to be my hero and hold me up in trying times and regular days as well.  As the song made famous by Bette Midler says:

Did you ever know that you're my hero
And everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings

The apostle Paul continually repeats this theme in 2 Corinthians and again in Philippians:


2 Corinthians 1:8-10New Living Translation (NLT)
⁸ We think you ought to know… about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. ⁹ In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. ¹⁰ And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.

Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

God is more than able.  I just need to allow Him to be the peace, the power and the hero He longs to be.

God is There!!! - by Ron Bekkering

So I've been listening to some old dcTalk recently and just before we left for Haiti on the annual Redeemer UMC Workcamp I had my headphones in and heard the song Supernatural. I focused intently on the words as I didn't know if I remembered the lyrics. I could recall the chorus, and more importantly the tag behind the chorus..."God is here, God is there" and "God is everywhere". I felt comforted by those words and knew he would be present on our trip! Well to be perfectly honest I didn't think I would see it but He made sure I did; let me explain!

The house we wanted to stay in was booked and a month out we had to find another house. Working with our contact in Haiti, he found another house and that fell through! We were about to be staying at his house and out of sheer panic he called one more place; they had room for us all! We quickly sent a deposit to secure it a month out!

When we arrived we went and looked at our worksite. They had begun making the foundation and it wasn't what we were told it would be. We went back to the house where we were staying and started trying to figure costs and how we would do it?

As Larry Olsen and Dan Klein were outside they struck up a conversation with RoBERson (emphasis added because that's the strong part of the name). Roberson was the construction manager for the mission of the guest house. He gave the guys a whole new plan and better than that; he had just finished a house on Friday and didn't have anything lined up! We asked the CEO of World Village if we could use him and his team? Not only could we use him, but they would pay for his services if we covered lunch! Gladly we accepted!!! God was there and got us in the right place at the right time to build a hurricane safe cement block home where the owners could now have their kids live with them; the kids had been staying with grandma, but now they live with mom and dad thanks to all of you for your prayers and support of the trip!

You would think that would be enough for us but we knew we didn't have the money to finish the house we had $388 left of our initial budget and knew we needed a lot more! I asked the team if they were willing to put some money together to see what we could come up with? When all was said and done the money we had was $1,280, we thought we would be way short and wouldn't be able to finish the roof. Dan went to the store with all we had. Get ready! The bill to finish the house was $1,286. Our host kicked in $6.00 and ladies and gentlemen; God is Here!

There is so much more to tell from the trip, but I want to tell you how I figured God was everywhere! VBS was amazing and to hear the over 270 kids screaming out that He loves Us made me know!  God was in Haiti and in Redeemer's worship on our first Sunday back, and He was certainly in Vacation Bible School! "Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you" (1Peter 5:7). Not only does He care, but He's there! Yup Everywhere!

God Rocks and We Roll,

Ron

Don't Take It Back - by Suzie Unruh

I was recently reading in Sheri Rose Shepherd’s book His Princess – Love Letters from Your King.

My Princess …. I CAN DO ANYTHING

“I know how hard it is for you to believe that My power is for you personally. The only thing stopping you from seeing My mighty hand at work in your life is you, My love. Remember, I placed within you the same power that I used to raise My Son, Jesus, from the dead. Don’t let past disappointments or fears keep you from asking what you need and believing that My timing is perfect. Keep seeking Me with all your heart and continue to obey all that I say while you wait on Me. Know that I will always keep My word and fulfill My promises. Even when the world lets you down, I will lift you up again. I will be true to you until the end of time and beyond. Love, Your True King”

A friend once told me when I am feeling stressed and overwhelmed to, “Let go and give it to God AND don’t take it back!”

The “don’t take it back” part is what always gets me! When I wake in the middle of the night, concerned about a work problem or one of my kids, my mind starts racing with a hundred ways to fix it. Then I remind myself, “you gave it to God – don’t take it back.” Like everything in my life, God has a plan! Most of the time things are even better than I had imagined. Sometimes, not always the plan I had hoped for and not always in my timing.

I know God’s plan is not to harm or hurt me, but for me to grow, learn, and love like Jesus. I just need to remember to “Give it to God and don’t take it back.” His timing – His plan – is perfect!