We are in the process of building a new educational wing here at Center Grove. The men are out laying the block and brick for the foundation. We all know that if the foundation is not right, you are going to have all kinds of problems with the rest of the building.
It is true with the foundation of our lives as well. We must build our life on the rock of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:24-29 describes the importance of building our life on Christ:
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Notice the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on both houses. Becoming a genuine Christ-follower does not negate life from happening. It does, however, seal your security in Christ and the ability to rejoice in the storms.
Does your life have a firm foundation? Is it founded on the rock?
I'm going go work on the church building's foundation a little bit (shoveling some dirt), but I pray your spiritual foundation is Christ!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Carpet Stains
I noticed something when I was leaving the church fellowship hall Tuesday night after another great deacon's meeting. We really do have a great group of deacons that serve Jesus and Center Grove, but I noticed that a long time ago. What I noticed on the way out of the fellowship hall is all the stains on the carpet.
I was walking beside one of the great leaders of our church, who also cleans those carpets, and we noticed the stains had come back out. See, when he cleans the carpets they look great for a few weeks, but the carpet has gotten older and is so worn that the stains quickly come back. There really is nothing you can do to keep them clean for very long. He said he could clean them again, and I told him to wait until right before the next special occasion.
Why am I bringing this up? Well you know there are a few ways you can take how these stains look. You could respond and say wow, look at those stains they look bad, but you know you can strategically place tables and chairs and you hardly notice them. Some might say, all these children running around here are making a mess of the carpet, and there have been a lot more spills than they used to be. However I must admit a couple of the spills in the last eight years have been made by me or our children. OOPS! Or you could look at it from a different perspective . . .
I realized Wednesday night with nearly 100 people in the fellowship hall eating supper, talking, and enjoying each other's company I did not think about those stains the first time. I just had a wonderful time being with my family, God's family, at HIS church. It was just a wonderful night with people I love being around. You know what? There were children all over the place and it was loud and it was crowded, and I LOVED IT. I really think everybody else did too.
So you know what I will think about the next time I see the stains on the carpet in the fellowship hall? First, I'll be grateful for one who diligently cleans them before major events, but I'll also be grateful for the fact that the stains are there. That the fellowship hall is being used every Sunday to teach adults the word of God in Sunday School (because we need the space), that it is being used every Sunday during worship to teach children about Jesus in a way they understand so their parents can be more attentive (hopefully) in the worship service. That it is used every Monday night so a group of women can study the word of God (book of James right now). It is used every Wednesday for crafts, games, snacks and bible study for youth and children learning about Jesus. I will rejoice that the carpet is getting so much use, wear and tear and accidental spills. Why rejoice? Because God is doing something at His church!
Praise the Lord for the stains on the carpet!
By the way we do plan on changing the flooring in the fellowship hall to something easier to keep clean. Something that can easily be mopped up when something is spilled. Then we will praise the Lord for all that He is doing and for worn out mops!
I was walking beside one of the great leaders of our church, who also cleans those carpets, and we noticed the stains had come back out. See, when he cleans the carpets they look great for a few weeks, but the carpet has gotten older and is so worn that the stains quickly come back. There really is nothing you can do to keep them clean for very long. He said he could clean them again, and I told him to wait until right before the next special occasion.
Why am I bringing this up? Well you know there are a few ways you can take how these stains look. You could respond and say wow, look at those stains they look bad, but you know you can strategically place tables and chairs and you hardly notice them. Some might say, all these children running around here are making a mess of the carpet, and there have been a lot more spills than they used to be. However I must admit a couple of the spills in the last eight years have been made by me or our children. OOPS! Or you could look at it from a different perspective . . .
I realized Wednesday night with nearly 100 people in the fellowship hall eating supper, talking, and enjoying each other's company I did not think about those stains the first time. I just had a wonderful time being with my family, God's family, at HIS church. It was just a wonderful night with people I love being around. You know what? There were children all over the place and it was loud and it was crowded, and I LOVED IT. I really think everybody else did too.
So you know what I will think about the next time I see the stains on the carpet in the fellowship hall? First, I'll be grateful for one who diligently cleans them before major events, but I'll also be grateful for the fact that the stains are there. That the fellowship hall is being used every Sunday to teach adults the word of God in Sunday School (because we need the space), that it is being used every Sunday during worship to teach children about Jesus in a way they understand so their parents can be more attentive (hopefully) in the worship service. That it is used every Monday night so a group of women can study the word of God (book of James right now). It is used every Wednesday for crafts, games, snacks and bible study for youth and children learning about Jesus. I will rejoice that the carpet is getting so much use, wear and tear and accidental spills. Why rejoice? Because God is doing something at His church!
Praise the Lord for the stains on the carpet!
By the way we do plan on changing the flooring in the fellowship hall to something easier to keep clean. Something that can easily be mopped up when something is spilled. Then we will praise the Lord for all that He is doing and for worn out mops!
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