BIG God

Recently, I have been reflecting on the story in the Bible when the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River and were confronted with the city of Jericho. Those massive walls were in front of them and God invited them on a journey to break down those walls. God's plan was an odd one. I am sure it raised some eyebrows, but the people responded...relying on the BIG God they served.

I have often heard people respond to life's difficult challenges with the faithful cliche, "God is bigger than my problems!", then later slump in spiritual despair because they are not experiencing the power of God behind them. When faced by large obstacles in life it is not enough to just state our belief in a BIG God, we must also be willing to follow this God and be led by Him.

God is BIG enough to only be limited by the obedience of His people. There are many things that limit me. I am limited by my body, my experiences, my skills, and my stubborness. I could go on and on and on, for there is virtually no end to the list of things that limits me. But God is so big that there is only one thing that limits Him. And that one thing is the obedience of
His people.

God was big enough to part the Red Sea, but the Israelites had to obey Him and be willing to cross. They crossed confidently on firm footing with firm hearts, danger behind, danger on both sides. They could have this kind of attitude because they knew that they had a big God, and He was fighting for them.

God was big enough to make the walls of Jericho fall, but the Israelites had to be willing to obey and march. The real obstacle was not Canaan but unbelief. The only difficulty for God was getting His own people to go with Him. It isn’t just belief that makes things happen. It is the obedience that faith produces that makes things happen. The people had to cross the Red Sea
and they had to march around the city. They had to be persistent and unflinching. Going halfway through the Red Sea or marching for 5 of the 6 days would not have gotten them victory. After the 6th day, their feet would have been hurting, and they would have been tempted to give up.

After all, they had seen no fruit to their labor – not even the smallest crack in the city wall. God is not limited to doing things a certain way. Militarily, the seven days of marching demanded nothing. But psychologically they demanded a great deal of courage…the effort appeared utterly preposterous…it would have been easier to fight than to have faith. If we fight, we will at least have a certain respect from the world, even if we lose. But faith always looks foolish in the
eyes of the world.

The Israelites marched around the city of Jericho to make the walls fall. I would have to say that there are a lot of walls that prevent people from coming to faith in Christ. There are a lot of walls that could prevent us from growing as a church or from being successful in our attempts to share the love of Christ to people. We have fears. We have doubts. But we have a big God. And He can make the walls fall down.

God is only limited by our faith and obedience. Let it not be said of us as it was said of the people in Nazareth that Jesus “did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:58)

Almighty God, Who is bigger than my wildest dreams and expectations, strengthen me in my weakness, help me in my unbelief. I want to be led by You and experience the BIG blessings you have to offer in my life and in the lives of those around me. I desire for my faith to be more than words. I want to be obedient to Your direction as You lead me to break down the walls in my life and the walls that exist in our world, so that others can experience how BIG You are! In Jesus' name, Amen.

My Love

Good morning!

It's been a while since I have offered a blog post. I am happy to be back at it and to share with all of you what God is laying on my heart. The last few weeks have been a time of conflicting emotions and ardent prayers lifted up to God. As many of you know, I have been asked to take a new church appointment beginning July 1, 2012 at Hope UMC in Greenwood Village, CO (the south Denver metro area). My family is excited about the new opportunity God is giving us, while at the same time we are saddened to leave such loving and faithful people in our church and community. This transition will be a major change for me and my family. We are humbled that God, the Rocky Mountain Conference Cabinet, and the leadership at Hope UMC see within us the potential to succeed in another ministry setting. On the other hand, we feel there is so much more God wants to do here in Canon City.

It is in these conflicting moments that we have learned to trust God and His movement in our lives and to trust the work He will continue to do at FUMC Canon City. God is providing opportunities for all of us to partner with Him as He paints a beautiful picture of His Kingdom through the lives of all who consider themselves a part of His Body. We are blessed that God has created us in a way that we are forever connected.

That became so clear to me on Tuesday during staff meeting when Glenna Huskey shared a poem by her great-granddaughter, Rachael Murphy. Rachael is one of our 5th graders at FUMC. I would like to share her poem with you:

My Love
Love is often hidden to those lost in it
But my love is like a black hole trying to suck in the universe.
My love is one of a kind & can run far around the world.
My love will never stop
It will always go on & on & on.
Even when I pass away
My love will still go on.
I wish my love could go farther out of this world into the Galaxy.
I wish people could feel my love.
Love is a magical thing
It's God's wife,
It's Mother Nature's baby.

It is the love God gives that binds us together. It is the love we pour out to others that keeps us connected to each other and God. It is our love for one another that will go on and on and on, even when we pass away...even when we move.

My love to you all!

Pastor Don

Remain in Me

Good morning!

This Christmas is taking on a whole new meaning for me this year. I mentioned it in my message on Sunday that I always approach Christmas and this holy season with the best of intentions. I want to give more of myself. I desire to experience hope, peace, joy, and love on a deeper level. But I find that I get swept up in the current of the manic activity this season has to offer in our world. This Christmas things will be different and I refuse to wait until next year!

In order for this season to remain holy, for that matter, our lives to remain holy, we need to be intertwined with the presence of our holy God. Usually, I use the word "connected". But that word does not seem to go as deep as I'd like. If I am connected to something, I can become easily disconnected. However, if I am intertwined with something or someone, it is hard to unravel.

In my morning devotion today, I was reminded of the Scripture of John 15 when Jesus kept saying, "Remain in me...". This is more than being connected...it is living and breathing in Jesus. It means that He wants me to be so intertwined with Him that His will becomes my will...His way of loving becomes my way of loving...His way of living becomes my way of living. I encourage you to read the entire chapter and go deeper with Jesus and His timeless truth.

In that devotion, a quote from Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity was shared. The quote speaks of the work the Lord is doing in my life this Christmas. "Remain in Me, not for a few moments, a few hours which must pass away, but remain, permanently, habitually, Remain in Me, pray in Me, adore in Me, love in Me, suffer in Me, work and act in Me. Remain in Me so that you may be able to encounter anyone or anything; penetrate further still into these depths. This is truly the solitude into which God wants to allure the soul that He may speak to it, as the prophet sang."

Allow this Christmas season to be God's call to bring you back into a deep relationship with Him. Allow this season to remind you of the perfect gift that comes in the form of a little baby - not the one you buy on the shelf. Allow this season to inspire you to remain in Jesus...not only this season but throughout the year.

Gracious God, Loving Lord, thank You for Your presence with me as I make my journey to the manger this Christmas season. Forgive me for what I have made of this season...for connecting and disconnecting with You as I do the lights on my Christmas tree. Thank You for calling me back to You and wanting to live deeply with me. My heart's desire is to remain in You. Give me the will to go deeper and the strength to endure. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Thanksgiving Quotes

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I would share some quotes that honor this season of giving thanks.


"Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world: It is not he who prays most or fasts most, it is not he who gives most alms or is most eminent for temperance, chastity, or justice; but it is he who is always thankful to God, who wills everything that God wills, who receives everything as an instance of God's goodness and has a heart always ready to praise God for it." William Law


"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." Meister Eckhart


"We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?" Dietrich Bonhoeffer


"Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment. It is amazing how many occasions present themselves in which I can choose gratitude instead of a complaint. I can choose to be grateful when I am criticized, even when my heart still responds in bitterness. I can choose to
speak about goodness and beauty, even when my inner eye still looks for someone to accuse or something to call ugly." Henri Nouwen


"If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled." Charles
Haddon Spurgeon


"When we were children, we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?" G.K. Chesterton


"What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?"


Thank you God for being You. Thank you for the blessings, great and small, in my life and for the love with which you have surrounded me through Your presence and the presence of those who love me. Thank you for even the difficult times that shape me and remind me of my need for You. May my heart give thanks to you with every breath I take. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Fearful or Fearless?

Good evening,

I wanted to take a moment to share with all of you the story of Gideon in Judges 6 and 7. It keeps coming to me in certain moments in my life over the past few weeks and it is having a profound impact my outlook on life and ministry. If you are not familiar with the story of Gideon, let me briefly share with you. Gideon was a timid man who was called by God to save Israel from their idol worship and from the Midianites. Gideon was not sure how God wanted to use him, but he was a man of faith and he wanted to be sure that God was leading him. God assured Gideon that he was the man for the job.

To make a long story short (and I encourage you to read the story), when Gideon was to come up against the Midianites he had an army of over 32,000 men. A rather formidable army. But God saw fear in the men of the army and God told Gideon to get rid of the men who were afraid. Gideon told those who were afraid to go home, so 22,000 men left...too afraid to fight. Fear defined their legacy.

God told Gideon that his army was still too big so Gideon looked for the men who were focused and carried themselves with a sense of purpose. The other men he told to go home...that was 10,000 men. This left Gideon with an army of only 300 men to fight the Midianite army! What would you say the odds of them being victorious would be? Isn't it like God to defy the odds and use what seems like scarce resources to bring about incredible victory? 300 men was enough!

When I am faced with fearful moments in my life, the Lord keeps bringing me back to this story. To live into God's purpose for my life, I cannot allow fear to lead me. Fear of conflict. Fear of what others may think. Fear of change. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of my own emotions. Fear of the unknown. Fear of...(place your fear here). When I choose fear, God cannot use me. Remember, God does not give us the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

Through the battles of my life, God desires for me to be like Gideon. To be fearless in my trust in Him. To be purposeful and focused in His mission for my life. To be watchful and willing to be led by His Spirit. I can either choose my fear and let it define my life and my relationship to God. Or, I can choose a fearless faith...willing to walk into the mysteries and battles of life knowing that my God will use my faith to bring about victory.

Are you led by fear? Is your church led by fear? Is your organization led by fear? If it is...go home. Get right with God. Then, when you're ready, join the battle and experience the victory you can find only in Him!

Mighty God, forgive me for my fearful ways and for being a barrier to your purpose in my life. Give me a spirit of courage, strength, and determination as I fight every day for Your truth, Your justice, Your love, and Your healing to be experienced in this world. I want to be a fearless faith follower! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Take Care & God Bless,
Pastor Don

Veteran's Day Reflection

On this day in which we honor our veterans, I would like to offer some brief reflections and share two links to some videos that stirred my soul.

It is an understatement to say that I am extremely grateful for the men and women who have served our country through the armed forces. Their willingness to give their lives for the protection of freedom throughout the world and to stand for the dignity and rights of all people is inspiring. I do not ever want to take for granted the full sacrifice of many in giving their lives for the sake of others (John 15:13), nor do I want to take for granted the other sacrifices many have given: limbs, eyesight, separation from those they love, emotional and mental health, mental capacity from traumatic brain injuries, mobility, personal peace, and the list goes on and on. Only those who have gone through the traumas and horrors of war fully understand the sacrifices that have been and are being made. May God's grace and restorative power be in your lives.

I also want to honor those who have served our country during times of peace. While war was not raging, they trained and showed the willingness and ability to make the sacrifice. I am grateful for the time they took to train others to be about the work of a military officer, soldier, and seaman. They have modeled strength, courage, honor, and discipline and through their example have trained up those who protect us and others throughout the world today.

I would like to honor three men in my life that have served or are serving our country honorably:

Arthur Merle Bird: My grandfather who served in the Army during WWII. He was present at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He died when I was in Jr. High, but I remember his silent strength and his love for me.

Donald Merle Bird: My father who served in the United States Air Force. He is a retired Lt. Colonel and he continues to serve as a civilian professor of chemistry at the Air Force Academy. He became an officer at the end of the Vietnam War, but did not tour. Most of his service was during the Cold War. He is the most honorable man I know. He lives with incredible integrity and he serves his God, his family, and his country with pride. Thank you Dad for modeling for me a love for God, country, and family.

Christopher Ronald Bird: My little brother who is currently a Sergeant in the United States Army. He has finished two tours in Iraq and is currently training to be deployed to Afghanistan in February of 2012. His courage and boldness inspire me. His willingness to serve his country in a time of war creates a well of pride within me. So proud of you Chris and I pray daily for your physical, spiritual, and emotional protection.

This time of year evokes many emotions. But, it also evokes many questions. The first video below reminds us that some gave all and we should honor their sacrifice. The second video speaks of the results of war and the war at home. As I reflect on those who serve and on the ways they go about fighting for the cause of freedom and protection throughout our world, I wonder if I approach my life with the same urgency and passion to fight for the principles worth fighting for here at home.

Am I willing to go to battle for the injustices throughout our land? Am I willing sacrifice my time and "reputation" to stand up for those who have no voice or for those the world would rather ignore? What am I really fighting for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRGd0wI2tm8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1wPphW5CoA&feature=related


Thank you Lord Jesus for the men and women who put their lives on the line for others. Thank you for theri example of sacrifice, honor, and service. Almighty God, be my strength in the midst of strife, conflict, and fearful circumstances. Give me boldness and courage to stand for that which is right in Your eyes. Keep my heart focused on You and may Your character be instilled within me. Forgive me for asking you to fight the wars I have waged and for asking You to be on my side. I want to be on Your side, O God, and fight against the evil, injustice, and oppression that is an affront to You. You, O God, are my refuge and my strength. You, O God, are a shield about me. May the life I live and principles I fight for be acceptable to You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

Take Care & God Bless,


Don

Who Is Your Nest For?

Good morning!

I pray all is well and that you have been able to experience the fullness of God's love and grace in your life today and throughout this week! I would like to share with you a devotion that I have reflected on for a couple of weeks now. It is from Practicing Extravagent Generosity: Daily Readings on the Grace of Giving by Robert Schnase.

The notions of building nests is often used as a metaphor to describe people successfully providing for their own comforts. If someone arrives at a career position of some ease and security, friends say, "You've built yourself quite a nest for yourself here!"...The words nest often connotes shelter, coziness, homelike, comfortable.

In actual fact, the nests which birds build are not for the birds who build them, but for their young, for the next generation, for the future of the species. The hours of carrying straw, sticks, and mud; the days of defensive watchfulness; and the weeks of endless feeding are all for the benefit of the new ones, the young, the future.

Now consider "nests" we build in our churches. The buildings, the programs, ministries, job descriptions, and services we build - are they for our own comfort and coziness? Or are they to further the faith and provide for future generations? Does our giving serve us and our needs or serve God by serving the mission of the church to reach new people? Vibrant, fruitful congregations focus as much energy, prayer, and planning on those who are outside the congregation as they do on those who are already active in the congregation.

When I think about the nests I build, I realize that many of those nests are for me. I wonder how God is calling me to use the nests that I've built in my life for others? Am I ready to put in the time, the effort, the hard work, and probably with no recognition for it, to ensure that God uses all of me to reach people for Christ? Am I ready? Am I willing?

Are you?

Precious Lord, You provide all I need. The nests I have built, I've been able to build because of Your provision and blessing. Remind me again and again that the nests of my life come from Your hand. May I be generous in the way I share all of myself and all that I have so that others may experience the fullness of Your love and grace in their lives. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.