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Book StudyCurrently studying the Book of Ephesians
Bring your Bible, Bring a friend.... |
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The Tabitha MinistryThe Tabitha Ministry is an encouragement and helps ministry. The goal is when we become aware of a need such as an illness, a birth or just different struggles in life - we send out notes of encouragement. In some cases, we have a group of ladies that will make meals for families in need of help. I felt like there was a need for this sort of ministry in the church and God put it on my heart to start it. That was confirmed when Kimika told me they had been praying for this very thing. I've been so blessed when I hear people say how much these things have meant to them. Even if it helps in some small way, it's worth it. My hope is that the whole CCL family gets involved in this. I can't possibly know all the needs in the church. So, if you know of a need - even if it's just an encouraging word - come to me and let me know, please. That's what we're here for! From Our Nursery Coordinator -A couple months ago I felt led to oversee the nursery and I was a little hesitant. I knew it would be quite a commitment and I was right. When Paul & I first started going to Calvary Chapel of Lima we had just gotten married and we were always looking for a church where our children could learn and have proper care. Little did I know I would have to be that care. Calvary Chapel was not the “ideal” place for us because we could not sit back and let others do all the work. God certainly has a sense of humor. He has shown me so much these past months about what it means to serve and I have been blessed for it. In our society today servant-hood is not emphasized. Peoples need for recognition is evident in the Church today. People do not want to work where they are not noticed. This is something I struggle with too. We must constantly check our hearts to make sure our attitudes are Godly. In a recent Bible study Beth Moore said something worth sharing: “Every one of us who embraces the glory of God as our purpose will end up doing ‘GREAT THINGS’ precisely because we do ‘GOD-THINGS’... manning the nursery so a tired mom can go to church are acts of high worship when offered in the name of Christ.” CCL has great workers, but even great workers can get burnt out if used too often. The nursery can always use help! If we did have more people on the schedule, workers could enjoy a Sunday service more often. There are more opportunities to help than just watching the kids on Sunday mornings. |
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Is It Spring
Cleaning For Me?
Well it’s spring again! And you know what that means…spring cleaning. Cleaning out and getting rid of things that have accumulated over the past months. But have you ever thought about the spiritual spring cleaning that takes place in our lives?Let me explain…in nature, winter usually looks like there is nothing taking place. Things just seem to stand still. Things lie dormant. No growth. You don’t move about as you desire because of the cold or snow. And, all you see is just ‘cold and dreary’ days ahead...booo!
We all go through a winter season in our lives that may come in the form of trials; even when we feel God is silent, or when we’re angry with God about something. It could be so many different scenarios which looks different for many of us. Those are the times I call winter because those are times where there seems like there’s nothing taking place, and things get covered up in our hearts that you may not even know it’s there. But He knows. Just remember, whatever your winter… spring always comes! Our God is a God of renewal. He is the only one who can make all things new -Revelation 21:5.
Maybe in the winter of your life you have developed some bitterness or coldness towards someone, anger or even indifference to God; or you are just plain numb or depressed from what you have been through. These things will hinder your relationship with God. See…our Father is the Master Gardener as Jesus calls Him-John 15:1-2. He knows what it takes to conform us to the Image of His Son-Romans 8:29. It takes pruning….oucchh…which hurts. But this same pruning causes us to be more fruitful-John 15:2. And you say, “Well, how can a misunderstanding between a brother or sister, or sickness, persecution on a job or loss of…you fill in the blanks, cause me to be more fruitful?” Just hold on we’ll get to that.
Or in this season could it be that He wants to deal with those hidden things in our hearts? Some of those things are even hidden to you. But the Holy Spirit knows how to shine the spotlight on these things hidden in our hearts during this time. See…If we aren’t dwelling in Him, He will use these times to draw us closer. Not to harm us, but because He loves you and me so much that He desires to be intimate with us. Go figure!!! The Creator of the Universe, The Holy God of All, The I AM, that I AM desires to be intimate with me? How can it be? But it’s true. Selah, …for real!!!
If we would just yield our hearts towards Him, and realize that He knows what He’s doing. He is sovereign-In total control of all things concerning everything. And because of that, He can be fully trusted with everything in our lives. I haven’t arrived there…fully trusting Him in all things, but I know that’s what He desires from me; along with me walking so much closer to Him. So close I can hear His pulse…so to speak.
Also He desires that I may be a clean vessel (He does the cleaning though-and I yield to this process-sanctification) that He can pour His life into. Be ye holy for I am holy-1 Peter 1:16. It’s in this same vessel (you and me) that He desires to use to pour into someone else’s life and bring Spring to them. Newness of Life only found in Christ Jesus! Could it be in this fruit that He is glorified?
Maybe this season wasn’t so much about you as you think. Maybe this was used to get you to a place where your heart would become soft in His hands. Where you would say with reckless abandon-“Not my will but yours be done in my life Lord Jesus!” And now you’re willing to be poured out into someone else’s life. And now you realize that this winter isn’t a bad season but a season that He uses to grow you spiritually. Because of this past winter season He brought you through, you learned something about our Father (and yourself for that matter) that you couldn’t have learned any other way….have you thought about that? Through this whole process, it would cause you to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; in other words, with your entire being. Nothing withheld from Him. A heart that’s truly His!!! How cool is that! Praise be to GOD!!!
Now that you have a different perspective (this is just meka’s perspective), a picture of what winter is in your life, are you willing to allow Him to take the weeds of bitterness, anger, pride, fear, the past, whatever it may be that’s choking the Joy of the Lord in you out of you? So that He may renew and revive your heart towards Him? If so, then it’s truly, Spring for you! Praise be to Jesus!!!
Romans 8:18 ~ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 ~ To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 ~ He hath made everything beautiful in his time:
