An Update

Specific prayers for our mission team (Casey, Danny, Jeffrey, Alan and Linda Grizbowski, and PD: 

We pray for fruitful labor, protection and traveling mercies, and grace to be a strength and blessing to the Camenisches, Moises and Kate with their parents, and for Ari Camacho. 

We also pray for skill (Ex 36:1-3) in painting especially for the mural Casey will draw on Elena’s school, and for us as we lead and teach on worship. 

We pray according to Eph 6 that we who travel and to whom we minister, along with all our families and congregation at home to be clothed with the armor of God,  and we all be kept in the peace and unity and love of God (Eph 4:I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.) 

Pastoral needs while PD is out of country: please relate needs and concerns to Pastor Richard during the next two weeks since PD will have little access to the internet and no ability to take or make phone calls. 

We continue to pray for God’s will as we await the response from the Church of Pentecost. We will not go to court against brothers so we offered terms that would allow us to partner together for up to a year while we consider other options, like trying to partner with the Hispanic congregation in a new location. A signed contract with Whiz Kids will ensure perpetuity without any hindering change. And we asked for continued use of the building for as long as needed, up to a year, for the Trail Life and American Heritage Girls. We have the peace of Christ in going forward and again have place all in God’s hands.

We thank God for the offerings of both supplies and money which we will be able to take to the Camenich and Diaz families, as a pleasing offering to God. God bless you for your giving.

CLC finances and giving: Since we have experienced a large shortfall this year we pray for God to continue to move our hearts in freewill giving and tithes. In Exodus 36 Moses had to restrain the people from giving for the new thing that God was going to do in their midst. Ex 36:5-7 The craftsmen said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” 6 So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, 7 for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

In the passage below from an intertestamental book we find words from Moses which are echoed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (give from heart for God loves a cheerful giver) and the writer of Hebrews 13:16 (do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God).

Ecclesisticus 35:1 One who keeps the Law multiplies offerings; one who follows the commandments offers communion sacrifices. 2 Proof of gratitude is an offering of fine flour, almsgiving a sacrifice of praise. 3 To abandon wickedness is what pleases the Lord, to give up wrong-doing is an expiatory sacrifice.4 Do not appear empty-handed in the Lord's presence; for all these things are due under the commandment.5 The offering of the upright graces the altar, and its savour rises before the Most High.6 The sacrifice of the upright is acceptable, its memorial will not be forgotten.7 Honour the Lord with generosity, do not stint the first-fruits you bring. 8 Add a smiling face to all your gifts, and be cheerful as you dedicate your tithes.9 Give to the Most High as he has given to you, as generously as your means can afford; 10 for the Lord is a good rewarder, he will reward you seven times over.11 Do not try to bribe him with presents, he will not accept them, do not put your faith in wrongly motivated sacrifices;12 for the Lord is a judge who is utterly impartial.

"House" Cleaning

Our soul tends toward living in a "house" of its own making. Our memories and our beliefs about our experiences acts as a gatekeeper at the door of our hearts—filtering what happens and how others treat us. The house that our senses of intellect, emotion and will have constructed often re-frame true REALITY into our own "realities" (what we believe and feel is real).

 "Guard your hearts for it is the wellspring (gateway) of the issues of life." "As a man thinks in his heart so is he." Dennis Peacocke wrote, "The mind justifies what the heart has chosen."

Holy Spirit comes to renew (make new) our mind and conform our sense interpretations to God's mind and will and his set of values. The Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of Scripture in our hearts as our will is surrendered to God.

But if we do not "soak" our minds in God's word through meditation and if we do not chose to bend and frame our thoughts on God to acknowledge and worship Him in spirit and truth then we continue to be "stuck" in the "ruts" of our own little realities.

A prime example is how we see church. Our minds have been "mapped" into patterns of behavior that see church as something quite different from what Jesus meant in Matthew 16, as the ecclesia which He would build. We think of what is familiar to us—good meetings, a building provided for us, a time and place that fits into our already crowded lives. The world has largely rejected this model of church. It has little impact or appeal. Bob Mumford called it the scaffolding and shadow of Reality but it is not really "Christ in Session." Bob wrote that three things are needed for the Reality of Christ to be in session in the church.

1. Christ's authority:  recognition of and submission to spiritual authority (that would include things like tithing and making ourselves accountable and correctable).

2. Christ's power: small groups as well as large meetings that manifest the power of Holy Spirit through grace given gifts and miracles confirming the preaching of God's kingdom.

3. Christ's character: a people who demonstrate the love and humility and fruit of the spirit of Christ in their unity and conformity to Him.

I would add that to the degree these three are present we will be filled with the Pentecostal power of Christ in mission as his witnesses.

On the other hand, to the degree that our buildings and committees and meetings and programs that serve our own senses and wills and agendas are constructs of our own hearts and minds and are basically empty of the Holy Spirit and Christ in Session and Mission. We are like "Clouds without rain" and "land that drinks water without producing" and "bread and water that does not satisfy."

On the other hand, if we empty ourselves and our "house" and seek to be filled with Him ("the fullness of Christ filling the church and the world") then we may yet be conformed to His REALITY and the world will see our love and unity and power is all in Christ. Then their lite "realities" will be challenged by the LIGHT OF CHRIST.

The Ascension of Christ Transforms Us and Co-missions Us.

By His ascension to the right hand side of the throne of God, Christ gives us through his own sacrifice and through our baptism, not only a clear conscience, but also a living entrance into growing union with God. Therefore in and through Christ, by the Holy Spirit, we have access to the Father and are becoming One (Eph 2:18).
With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭12‬ NLT)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭19-22‬ NLT)

In Christ and by receiving Holy Spirit we can be transformed gradually into his likeness and in unity and love are compelled into his mission. At his ascension Christ commissioned his followers to first be filled then to be His witnesses. He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes    upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1‬:‭7-8‬ NLT)

Paul prayed for transformation from inside out and for unity in his   mission. I keep on asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be  flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the  incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.

This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or    power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭17-23‬ NLT)

To be missional in Christ He gave us gifts in the Holy Spirit and in the Body to equip and empower us-all the whole building one another up in love, so that the world will believe.
That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭8, 11-13, 15-16‬ NLT)

Dwight

Motherhood

Gen 3:20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

…her offspring shall crush the serpent’s head. Gen 3:15-20 

Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Luke 1:45 And blessed is she who believed (see verses 46-48).

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured and pondered in her heart. (see Luke 2:3, 48, 51)

John 2:3-5; John 19:25-27; Acts 1:14 Mary was with them-devoting themselves to prayer,

What can we draw from these verses about motherhood: Mothers persevere through the pain in producing new life.  Mothers believe the promise and power as they go through that pain, in order to be part of God’s ultimate purpose. Mothers feel deeply the words about their children and ponder their meanings in their hearts. Mothers long for and search for sons and daughters who are lost. Mothers treasure the joy of seeing them grow although it also means letting go of them into the greater good. Mothers are beside their maturing children into adulthood to encourage and boldly exhort them. Mothers desire to be present at the most painful moments of our lives. Mothers need cared for by sons and if the son cannot provide for her then another must step in. And if a mother outlives her child, she will never forget the promise and purpose of that life. Her child will always be in her heart and she will be devoted to God through all these events. Mothers will receive the same power and presence of the Holy Spirit as any man because God so honors the mother of Jesus and all mothers throughout the ages.

We live in an age that has lost the distinct honor mothers so deserve and a culture that fails to appreciate the unique cost of motherhood. Can two men produce a daughter to be a godly mother? Can two women produce a daughter who will become a godly wife? Can test tubes and contracts produce a family as if it is a commodity to be bought and sold? God have mercy on us for dishonoring mothers and motherhood.

A blessed Mother’s Day to all and may all bless their mothers, the living and those at rest.

“Thou shalt honor they father and mother, that it will go well with you and you live long in the land.”

The verses in detail:

About 4,000 years after the promise see the fulfillment in Mary, the mother of Jesus. Listen in on her conversations with the angel, with Elizabeth:

 Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Elizabeth said to Mary: Luke 1:45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

Imagine mother Mary’s ponderings and the things she treasured in her heart after the proclamations of the shepherds, of Simeon and Anna and even Jesus’ own declaration that He will do Father God’s will (after he had been with the teachers of the law for several days alone in the temple).

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Luke 2:48

And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”

 51 And Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them.

And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

Jump ahead to Jesus at age thirty:

John 2:3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Then to the fulfillment of “a sword shall pierce your own soul” at the cross

John 19:25-27 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Finally be with Mary in prayer at the fulfillment of his promised Holy Spirit:

Acts 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.