2011 Highlights: Indoor Yard Sale
For both Dawn and me, helping to run the yard sale is always the annual highlight of our volunteering here at Hempfield UMC. There are so many ways to see God at work that it is truly overwhelming. There are the obvious ways, of course…the generosity of our congregation and friends with so many, many wonderful donations; the enthusiasm of the volunteers, both adult and youth, as everyone enjoys each others’ company throughout the week to make it all happen; the thrill of hearing the total profit and knowing that God has provided for our kids to go serve.
But inevitably, it is the quiet moments that are the most powerful, and there is no shortage of these, either…being able to tell a senior member who recently downsized that her treasured possessions are now at the home of a family in real need; hearing a woman thank us for helping her provide clothes for her family during these hard times; accepting an anonymous payment for a bike that was given to a person in need of transportation for work, but who could not afford it. This list could go on and on.
It is humbling to be part of an event where we all put the pieces in place and just let God work!
The 2011 Indoor Yard Sale raised $13,000 for youth mission trips. This year’s Indoor Yard Sale will be Saturday, March 17.
In what way did you see God work at last year’s Indoor Yard Sale?
Advent Devotion – Day 26
Expectant waiting
By Darriel Davis
One definition of Advent calls it a time of “expectant waiting.” What a wonderful phrase! It seems to give purpose and action to the otherwise passive task of waiting. Mary and Elizabeth literally defined “expectant waiting,” as they anticipated the arrival of their babies.
But what about us? How do we wait expectantly, purposefully? Especially at this time of year when some of us are distracted by simply surviving…surviving the hectic pace of shopping, decorating, wrapping, cleaning and baking. Or surviving the stress of the season because we are not having the “storybook” Christmas, due to economic pressures, family struggles or health issues.
Today’s reading in 2 Samuel reveals what it is like to expectantly wait. David offers a truly moving prayer of thanksgiving, which follows Nathan’s prophecy of God’s covenant with David. He comes before the Lord in complete humility. “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me so far?” But he also comes in boldness… claiming the blessing that the Lord has promised. “Now, please bless Your servant’s house so that it will continue before You forever. For You, Lord God, have spoken and with Your blessing Your servant’s house will be blessed forever.” David is waiting in full expectation that God’s promise, having been declared, would be fulfilled. He then goes on to serve God’s purpose, and with God’s promised help, conquers enemies of Israel. There was waiting involved before God’s plan would be completely fulfilled, but it was not passive waiting. David listened to God and carried out his part in the plan. David had no fear that God would not fulfill His promise.
Like David, we can also wait expectantly…we simply need to put aside the distractions of the season and come to God. Like David, we can be humble. God will show us our part in living out His plan if we put aside our agenda. Like David, we can be bold. God will equip us to carry our His plan if we put aside our preconceived limitations.
Like David, we need not fear. God’s plan is already fulfilled through the gift of Christ.
Today’s Readings – Psalm 80, 146, 147, 2 Sam 7:-18-29, Gal 3:1-14, Luke 1:57-66
Advent devotions – Day 4
By Readings
Matthew 1: 8-25, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 1:5-45, Luke 2:8-20
Elizabeth, Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, the wise men, the shepherds.
Looking at the verses above relevant to this season of Advent, it’s easy to find the common thread among these individuals. Each heard God, whether through angels, scripture, or the prompting of the Holy Spirit. And then, they responded: Zechariah in disbelief, Joseph with quiet resolve, Elizabeth with joy, Mary in submission, the shepherds immediately ready to make a journey, the wise men with an outpouring of offerings. Different emotions, maybe. But the same response…obedience to God’s plan.
It makes me wonder. How would I respond? Do I respond? Do I even hear?
I need to start with that last question first. Do I even hear? Am I really living my life in a way that leaves my heart and mind open and available to discern God’s plan?
Luke 1:6 tells us that “Elizabeth and Zechariah were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.” Scripture also tells us that Joseph was a righteous man, and Mary was favored by God. While no one is perfect, of course, it seems clear that each must have had an authentic walk with God. Am I living a life of authentic faith?
How do I respond to God’s call? Skeptical Zechariah burst with praise and prophesy when his tongue was set free at the time of John’s birth. The shepherds could barely wait to get to Bethlehem and then share the news. Mary is described by Luke in 1:38 as willing to be the Lord’s slave. Knowing God as they did, each was able to see their part in the plan and respond with great emotion. What distractions in my life keep me from the joy of seeing God’s plan for me and living it out?
In this time of Advent, perhaps the best was to prepare for the gift of Christ is to clear away the secular clutter and honestly answer these questions for ourselves.
Lent Reflections – Broken by the Brokenness
“I am broken by the brokenness of my dear people. I mourn; horror has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? So why has the healing of my dear people not come about?” -Jeremiah 8: 21-22
The words of Jeremiah cut deeply when I take the time from the busyness of my life to see the pain and suffering of those around me. Like most of us, it is easy to fill my days with activities that seem important to me but may not be God’s agenda.
In one crystal clear moment in the chaos of the Hempfield UMC Indoor Yard Sale, the suffering of God’s people became real and our purpose as His hands and feet to heal became clear. A young mother was the first to rush forward the moment I stepped into the Sanctuary to hand out the red bags indicating the price of clothing was now $1 per bag. My initial cynical reaction (yep, she’d probably been hoarding stuff for the last hour) was replaced in a split second as she looked up directly into my eyes and said “Thank you. Times are hard. I wish I didn’t have to act like this.” I was ashamed of my first jaded thought, ashamed that we were offering her only the leftovers of our abundance, and overwhelmed by her honesty.
Jeremiah prophesies in 8:19, “Why have they provoked Me to anger with their graven images, with their worthless foreign idols?” The woman’s eyes remain with me, forcing me to ask myself “What graven images am I focusing on that keep me from seeing the suffering around me? What are the idols in my life that keep me from putting God and His plans first?” As part of the body of believers, I am called to God’s service every day…not just when it fits into my plans or the church calendar.
There is brokenness and darkness in the world. But God does not expect us to hide from it in the comfort and activity of our daily living; nor does he leave us stumbling in the dark on our own. He has provided His Word to be “a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105). He has sent Christ, who reminds us “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
As so, we are equipped. Let us not be afraid to pray, as in the hymn, “Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.”
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