The Power of Gifts United

Did any one else have fun this past Sunday?  I had a blast!  Yes, Kidstuf was amazing as usual – filled with upbeat, impacting music, tastefully funny drama, great crowd interaction and a solid message.  And then there was the parade.  It was so cool to see people’s faces as we passed by.  At first they didn’t know what to think but then you could see them start to move their head in rhythm with the song.  By the time we were in front of them they were smiling and enjoying the Kidstuf dancers and the music.  I believe they caught a glimpse of what the church can be.

As I said to my wife, “We had a Kingdom moment this Sunday.”  Yes, we wanted people to hear about the Quarry and the ministry God has called us to but more than that we wanted people to experience the reality of God in their lives.  As we passed by, people were inspired by the quality of the float, lifted by the energy of the dancers, touched by the music and then invited to participate by those passing out bracelets, books and CD’s.  It was a total team effort.  God was glorified and people were loved.

The real power of Sunday came when uniquly gifted individuals offered what they had for the sake of growing God’s Kingdom.  Then the Holy Spirit took those offerings and brought them together creating something that couldn’t happen individually.  That is the power of the church.  People coming together with the gifts God has given them and collectively doing something together that couldn’t be done alone.  Sunday was amazing!

We often forget who we are and why we do what we do.  We are God’s chosen ones and we exist to glorify God by reaching people with the Gospel and encouraging them to develop an intimate and contagious relationship with Jesus Christ.  The mission is too important to ignore.  The mission is too big to do alone.   We were created to fulfill it together and privileged to be asked.  Praise God and way to go Quarry!

OTC Update

I’m falling behind!  For those of you who are taking the challenge and anyone else interested in developing a richer prayer life, this weeks lesson will open doors you never knew were there.  As you read over the Psalms for this week, think about how you can use these prayers to talk to God.  Maybe you’ll change a word or two but the emotion and direction will often be the same.  In the coming week, use these Psalms as  a template for you own time with God.  In the words of the Psalmist:

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:8 (NIV)

This weeks reading:  Psalm 19, 30, 51, 58, 96, 103, 119, 137