A Call to Prayer for LCPC VBS 2017 – Week 4

It's all about the children, God's children

Passport to Peru

This week we focus our prayers at a critical juncture in the lives of the children. We first asked God to give the children understanding of Him as a shepherd and followed that up by asking God for the kids to trust in His timing in their lives. Last week we focused our prayers so that the children know that Jesus is all powerful. This week we tune our prayers to the finer focus that will lead to discipleship allowing us to fulfill the command to make disciples. We pray this week that the children will trust Jesus as their Savior and begin to understand the sacrifice He made for us.

It is a big step coming to this understanding and in it we have to perceive our personal need for salvation and our separation from God without it. Please pray for our children to gain that understanding and for our teachers and volunteers to have the Holy Spirit present in our lessons and interactions throughout the week.

The Thursday scripture and point for VBS week is that God gives us love. We see this in I Corinthians 13:13:

“¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of theses is love.”

Our story for Thursday to show God’s love is the death and resurrection of Jesus. Luke, chapters 22 through 24 are used for reference.

As they should be, these are the most sobering moments in history. During this week's Men’s Group reading of John MacArthur’s ‘One Perfect Life’ we found ourselves reading section 193 – The Final Three Hours on the Cross. MacArthur boiled down the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and concentrated them into three short paragraphs. The weight and import of them was almost too much for me to bear

Jesus was utterly forsaken by the Father and was alone on the cross. To know the depth of his love for me at that moment is unfathomable. He willingly took that place. At any point in time Jesus could have taken up his divinity and come down from the cross. But He did not and completed the greatest example of sacrificing his life for his friends.

Greater love has no man than he sacrifice his life for his friends. (John 13:13)

Please pray. Pray for this message to be so written on our hearts that it is the first and foremost thing people see in us and know us by.

In His grip

jerry

It should be clear by now that I just think these goes are cool looking.

Pieces of Eight - An LCPC Men's Group Review

photo credit to Geoff - thanks

Eight of us gathered this morning about the two long tables fashioned in what passes as square. Each brings his unique self to the tables early Wednesday mornings to pray, sing songs of worship and praise, and study God’s word. (Question – had I not corrected myself and left ‘work’ for ‘word’ would there have been much difference?) These men are God’s gift to me as are the others who come as they are able. Doug is there with his acoustic guitar and leads our singing of blessedly unrehearsed praise. Our only requirement when we sing is to open our hearts when we open our mouths to sing. Next to him sits Geoff with his handsome fretless bass guitar hooked to a small amp we keep in the closet, I love his style and appreciate the photo record he keeps.

Moving on, we have Ron who more often than not is the third man through the door and thereby destined to offer the opening prayer. If you thought of us as a sports broadcast team Ron would be the color commentator. We all have our stories and opine at times but Ron is not shy to point out something significant out as our morning moves along. He enriches us. There is John, a significant contributor to our tool chest of care and concern for others. He keeps a watchful eye on those around him to lend support as needed. Oh, and he brings the donuts; would we be a men’s meeting without them? 

That puts us to Jim to my right, a personal joy to me. Not only has he lent is sons and wife to Missions Arizona, he stood with me and backed me up with the rummage sale. Jim brings a balance to the table fare with wood (nut-based breakfast bars) and fruit, this morning citrus. Next to Jim is Jim, generally first or second through the door and pushing a coffee cart in front of him. I’ve written of him before, he inspires me with his quiet devotion to God’s word and his people.

This brings us to the other side of the table and facing the door. Phil is our leader and first or second through the door with Jim. I know that each of us there could take the lead if called upon and do on occasions when Phil is taken out of town. He sits facing the door to welcome each man as they walk in. Next to him is a white-board with our agenda for the morning penned in. Thankfully it’s a white board and things can be added or moved around as needed or scratched altogether if a more pressing need comes in with one or another of the men. I appreciate Phil’s leadership and his willingness to guide us. I love the opportunity to come in and sing and read and pray without the worry of leadership.

I know I’m likely to take some flak for talking about each man but, and I’ll use the PG term, tough luck. I’ve sat in similar groups with my best friend Jim and my dad and am thankful they’ve played a similar role their lives. The common thread with these groups are they are full of men who care for each other and love God and His word.

Peace men.

In His grip,

jerry

PS: We are currently reading through One Perfect Life - The Complete Story of the Lord Jesus. I had started out to look at this morning's passage and just got going about these guys. I think Jesus understands but I better make up for in the next couple of days.

LCPC VBS Call to Prayer – Week 3

The LCPC VBS Prayer Train is at the midpoint now and cresting the summit and we should be able to have a long view ahead of us to see the finishing point and still be able to look back over the tracks we used to get here.

I have been using Ashley’s suggested prayers, a series of prayer areas for the five weeks leading up to VBS, which she put in the VBS Leader Booklet. I’ve taken the daily scripture and stories that will be used during the five days and outlined them in the posts to give you all an understanding of what is being taught in order to give you a more focused approach to your prayers for the week of VBS. And, it will give you the added blessing of being a part of our week.

During week one we prayed for understanding to rest on the children and wisdom upon the teachers. We followed that up with a week of prayer for trust in God’s timing and patience. This week the call is to pray for the children to know that Jesus is all powerful and uses His power to help them because He loves them. With that we pray for the VBS staff to find ways to show Christ’s power.

Our scripture for Wednesday of VBS week is John 14:27 where Jesus says, “²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Here, Jesus had been instructing the disciples and telling them of the Holy Spirit that will be coming upon them after His resurrection. Jesus has calmed storms, fed the multitudes, and performed many signs and wonders and knows that when he leaves to be with the Father the disciples will face trials and tribulations that will rock them to the core. Jesus leaves us with peace, not as the world gives but a peace that surpasses all understanding – thus our need for the Holy Spirit.

Wednesday’s story is Jesus calming the storm and we take the account from Mark printed below:

Jesus Calms the Storm

Mark 4: 35-41 (NIV)

“³⁵That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ ³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’

³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’

⁴¹They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’

When I look at this story and see that Jesus quiets the storm and then questions the disciples on their faith and wondering at their fear I have to ask myself how Jesus would have preferred it then and how he wants me to go through the storms of life now. Are we to pray for the storm to cease? Or, rather do we pray for the peace of Jesus to be on us so that we can walk through the storm without fear? For me, I think it is the later. Storms will come and go but Christ’s peace should be on us no matter what. No easy task there so my prayer is for God to grant that I can walk in peace in the midst of the storm and project that peace for those I am around.

A couple of decades ago our Youth Ministries used a summer theme of “Fear Not!” working off of Nike’s trademarked “No Fear” campaign. I loved this theme and the scripture we used and I’ll close my call to pray for VBS and this post with it. Here is a command from God as given us by Isaiah.

Isaiah 43:5 (ESL): “Fear not, for I am with you.”

In His grip,

jerry

Simeon and Anna Got Patience

Ely Nevada Steam Engine

Our prayer train should be picking up steam now. And passengers - we need the prayers of those all around us. All aboard!

We pray now that the children will trust in God’s timing in their lives and know He keeps His promises. And we pray that VBS will help them grow in that trust and be a place to explore what this all means to them.

Our Bible point for Tuesday, day two of VBS, is ‘God gives us patience.’ The Bible verse we’ll be using to support the point is Psalm 27:14 – 

“Wait on the Lord;

    Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

    Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (New King James Version [NKJV])

The account of Simeon* and Anna from Luke 2: 21-40 will be told as an example of patience in God’s timing.

“²¹And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. ²²And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. ²⁵And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law, ²⁸then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

“²⁹Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord,

    According to thy word, in peace;

³⁰for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

    ³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;

³²A light for revelation to the Gentiles,

    And the glory of thy people Israel.

³³And his father and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him; ³⁴and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; ³⁵yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.

³⁶And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, ³⁷and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. ³⁸And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. ³⁹And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”

Pray that the VBS teachers and story tellers will be blessed by the Holy Spirit just as Simeon and Anna so we can teach the children from a point of revelation and wisdom. Pray that the children can open their minds to gain comprehension about what it meant for these two to wait so long for God’s personal word to them to come to pass. And, pray that we can all find the faith and patience to wait on the Lord for the fulfillment of His word to us.

Thank you for your partnership with the LCPC VBS staff in our quest to raise children to discipleship, one story and one act of caring at a time.

In His grip

Jer Bear

*My grandfather’s middle name is Simeon after this priest who had the word of God come to him regarding the Lord’s Christ. An extra tidbit that makes this account that much more special to me.

Peruvian children - traditionally dressed and with
their llamas

LCPC 2017 VBS Prayer Train to Peru

LCPC’s (La Crescenta Presbyterian Church) 2017 VBS is five weeks away and our Children’s Ministries Director Ashley Pollock has put out a call for prayer with a weekly emphasis. As you’ll see over the next several weeks, it’s all about the kids. This year’s theme is ‘Passport to Peru, Discovering God’s Good Gifts’. During the few days before VBS opens up, classrooms will start to look like rain-forests and teachers will be getting amped up after collecting treasures to add to the experience for the kids. (don’t let them fool you though, they love treasure hunting for the kids)

Calvary’s Thread is extending and supporting the call to prayer for VBS – the kids, the teachers, and the behind-the-scenes volunteers. I’ll be working as the third grade storyteller and I’m already getting pumped up. So folks, hop on board the Prayer Train to Peru.

Our emphasis in prayer for this week is that the children will understand that God cares for us like a shepherd and He knows what is best. Pray for the kids to be receptive and open and pray for the teachers to open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, our Helper and Teacher. Pray for Christ’s love to be evident in every interaction.

Our scripture verse for day 1 is 2 Cor. 1: 4 (I’m adding verse 3 for reference): “³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (NIV)

Our story reading for day 1 follows, I'm using the New International Version (NIV):

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

    ²He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

    ³he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

    for his name’s sake.

⁴Even though I walk

    through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

    for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.

⁵You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

    my cup overflows.

⁶Surely your goodness and love will follow me

    all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.

You are invited to pray over these scriptures and make them your own and to pray that the Passport to Peru leads us to make it our own at VBS.

In His grip,

Jer-Bear

Passion or Obligation? That’s a Question.

photo courtesy of graphicstock.com

Ever done anything, no matter how good and noble, out of a sense of obligation and passion for it was never in the same room with you? Or even the same Zip Code? There is a numbness that comes over me when I let that happen. Joy is not a part of the task and a task is what it becomes. There is no joy in the equation and energy is not a multiplier in the formula for getting it done, I just slog through to the completion. I know I’ve crossed all the t’s and dotted all the i’s and something is still missing when all is said and done and I know someone can tell. I can tell. And when it’s done there is a sense of relief.

On the other hand, when an obligation, even a disagreeable necessity, is taken on with passion the outcome is different. The t may be barely slashed and dotted i’s off kilter and still somehow the results are more satisfying. People can tell the difference. I can tell. And when it’s done there is a sense of accomplishment.

What is the difference between a task taken on because of obligation and without passion and one with? Love. Love for the task or activity or a love for the beneficiary infuses the outcome with life and even the onus, or the disagreeable necessity, is lite and fulfilling. Jesus, as he so often does, says it very well, ²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30, NIV)

The Passion of Jesus is generally defined as the short period of time from Jesus's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and culminating with his death on Good Friday. This culmination was the most disagreeable task God has undertaken and it would never have had its intended effect without passion. Jesus was passionate about doing everything the Father showed him and completing every task the Father laid in front of him, no matter how onerous.

Picture Jesus strolling along into Jerusalem, shuffling his feet, head down, and barely avoiding bumping into everyone while his disciples wondered in without anticipation because their Christ had no passion. Every once in a while he’d reach over and touch somebody and mumble, “You’re healed, go your way.” See Jesus ambling up to Caiphas’ place and rapping on the door and saying, “Hey bro, I’m the Christ, Son of God. I hear you want me dead. Let’s get this over with.”

Do you see? Without Jesus’ overwhelming love for everything the Father said and needed done, the sacrifice wouldn’t have worked and maybe would never have taken place. Without Jesus unfailing love for his disciples they never would have gotten it, the Church would never have been born and we wouldn’t be eagerly awaiting his triumphant return and we'd be without salvation.

When it comes to those things we know we need to be doing for God’s Kingdom, all those things we need to do as servants and ambassadors for Christ we need to make sure that our furnace is stoked with passion. Things we need to do for our churches, our families, and our friends need to be backed with a love that allows us a satisfying outcome lest all our accomplishments be in vain. We must love the Christ and do all things as unto him even when we are doing them for the least in our world.

Notice back in the first paragraph where I said, “…when I let that happen”. It is ultimately up to us to stoke the fires and find the passion to drive us to finish well even the little things we need to be about and doing.

Let us not forget the ultimate goal is hear these words from Lord or words of similar sentiment from the beneficiaries of our efforts: “"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21, NIV)

Peace and Passion friends, stoke it up!

jerry