ProvLIFE

[provchurchwc]

PHILLY RESTART: A Prov Ministry Partner (by Adam Bruckner)

“Why don’t you just get a job?” That’s the question that trailed through my mind as I walked by homeless men when I was in college. One day in Chicago, I didn’t walk by. I stopped and asked. Instead of dropping a dollar in a hat, I traded a man lunch for some answers, and I was fascinated. I asked the same question in Portland, Kansas City, Phoenix, and Baltimore. I was stunned to hear a very similar answer. Men across the country couldn’t get jobs because they couldn’t get ID’s.

When I moved to Philly in 2001, I kept asking questions, and tried to find a way to help. Philly Restart is a program that helps men and women get back on their feet by providing a simple but critical stepping stone. We help the homeless get ID’s so that they can get jobs, cash checks, get into rehab, obtain housing, and take important early steps towards a better life.

The Philly Restart check book is on #62,575. The numbers can blur together, but it is critically important to remember the power of every one. Calvin has been off the streets for 10 years. George has been sober 8 years and is now a Deacon at a local church. Betty has a job, an apartment, and her family together. DeAndre is in college.

Regularly in the City, a waitress or familiar stranger will stop by to thank us for helping them get back on their feet; remembering to treat others as we would want to be treated helps us to remove judgment, and to share what we have with open and responsible hands.

In 2002, I met Fila sleeping along Vine Street near the Free Library. He was 1 of 3 men lined like sardines on the sidewalk. My immediate thought after speaking with him was that he was meant for more in life. After about a year when our meal started to be served weekly, Fila was a regular guest and then volunteer. Security. Soon we challenged and supported Fila to take a step towards a new life. An apartment. He had a small income from delivering circulars, and he was responsible enough to wake up at 4am (he would drink a lot of water before sleeping, and his bladder was his alarm). He simply needed a strong boost. Fila is a rent paying, tax paying, church attending Philadelphian. He is on the Parkway with us 52 weeks of the year. Now, he is on the other side of the line -- a volunteer.

We are grateful for the wonderful team of supporters that have built us up over the years. We hope to keep our donors and prayers engaged by sharing some of the stories and challenges on Facebook @ “Philly Restart” and on our website www.phillyrestart.com .

We serve our meal on Mondays at 4pm at 19th and the Ben Franklin Parkway. We are open for visiting volunteers, deeply appreciative of our donors, and dependent on the community of prayers.

Our very specific prayer request for 2017 is that we would be able to get a state waiver for ID’s in Pennsylvania. Free ID’s for the homeless. We are hoping to identify advocates and legislative connections in all 67 counties in PA. If you are aware of anyone outside of Philadelphia, please email Adam @ “[email protected].”

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A TESTIMONY FROM SENEGAL by Sarah Racine 

It was the first day we visited the village. Dust, trees, bushes- there wasn't much to help guide one to where we were going and I was impressed by our bus driver's navigation. I sat on the bus looking outside at the landscape, but all I could think about at the time was that I was hot and sweaty and wondering what the next few days would be like trying to photograph and film in the blazing sun. I was a bit discouraged as we got off a two-hour bus ride to what seemed like the middle of nowhere. This day is what marked this trip for me.

I stepped through the church doors and it was as if the Lord completely lifted every negative thought and showed me that He was very present in this remote village of Ngonine. I just needed to open my eyes. Church began and worship filled the building and then something happened that I will never forget. Three Muslim elders of the village walked into the church and sat down. Where I have been serving in the Middle East, this sight would have caused grave concern. I looked to Mike, he smiled and said they were the elders and I kept my eyes on them wondering what was going to happen. Then they smiled, waved and began to enter into worship with us. I was both in awe and in complete shock at the sight of this. After the service we interviewed each of these elders about how God has been moving in the village. They first started to thank us for coming, but then my jaw dropped when I heard the next few words. "This is only possible through Jesus Christ." I couldn't believe my ears and tears began to fill my eyes. These Muslim elders are claiming Jesus is their Lord! Not only that but during the other interviews they kept point their fingers up saying it was all because of Jesus Christ. This is exactly what I yearn to see in the 10/40 window. We have stayed faithful to the vision and to this village. We came alongside and saw God's vision for His people here. We have been faithful in holding up Pastor Timothy's hands in support as He is pastoring in a majority Muslim village. It's been twelve years sowing into this specific village and we are seeing fruit, but the key thing here is this fruit was made possible only because of faithful ones remaining in that place of prayer. This is what my highlight was in Senegal- to see God moving in a Muslim nation. To see Him captivating hearts, growing His church and revealing himself in the beautiful ways He always does. I'm so grateful to have been able to see with my own eyes what God is doing in Ngonine. I'm honored to have seen the fruit of prayer in Senegal.

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A TESTIMONY FROM SENEGAL by Erin Freeman (3/10/17)

Learning about the Talibe boys was heartbreaking to me. After realizing that I would be providing care to these boys, all I could think about was my own 10-year-old son. While walking into the compound to set up a wound care station, I initially felt angst. While interacting with the boys throughout the day, something transpired within me. Angst was replaced by a sense of peace, honor, and love. Providing wound care for the Talibe boys has been the greatest privilege of my nursing career thus far.

Look for more posts from Senegal team members each day this week.

The Senegal team will give an update on April 9th @ Providence! 

For more photos and 31 Days of Prayer, go to Providence Senegal FB

[provchurchwc]

A TESTIMONY FROM SENEGAL by Mackenzie Foster

3/10/17

Day one: A moment that struck me just moments into our arrival in Dakar was when Mike was praying for the team before we loaded the bus to Thies. At exactly the same time that Mike started praying, the call to prayer could be heard in the background. Some might see this as an opposing part of spiritual warfare. I chose to be encouraged in knowing that we are entering a country with people of faith. I trust that God will continue to move here and pray that these brothers and sisters in prayer will someday know the love of Jesus Christ.

3/11/17  (Sunday @ Church)

Coming back to N’Gonine is always an exciting time, but this year was very special. It was my first time back in 2 years and the last time I was here was when the church was dedicated. Since that time Pastor Timothy Ousman N’Dor has completed his training and is now the official Pastor of the church. This service was special because, although the church planters including Antoine Dion and Antoine Diouf stood beside him and helped him relay the word, Timothy delivered the final sermon. This once shy, young-looking man, stood humble, yet proud and confident in the Word. It was one of the first times I ever heard so much praise not only for God, but Jesus Christ! I cannot tell you what a blessing it has been to see how God has moved since my first trip to Senegal 5 years ago. All the praise to our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Look for more posts from Senegal team members each day this week.

The Senegal team will give an update on April 9th @ Providence! 

For more photos and 31 days of prayer, go to Providence Senegal FB 

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In order to prepare our hearts for this Easter season, we are asking the body of Prov to STOP, REMEMBER, DELIGHT and CONTEMPLATE. One way to do this is to keep a Sabbath during the seven weeks leading up to Easter Sunday. Choose a 24-hour period – Friday, 6pm - Saturday, 6pm or Saturday, 6pm - Sunday, 6pm. You can mark the beginning and end of your Sabbath by lighting a candle. During the 24-hour period, take a break from food, from coffee, from TV, from social media, from email, from screens (however the Lord is leading you to stop) and spend that time in delight and contemplation of our Savior and His ultimate sacrifice. 

Visit Providencewc.org to learn more about Sabbath-keeping in this season.

#provlife #prepforEaster

[provchurchwc]

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION: A testimony by Suzanne Daniel

"How do they do this day after day? How do they handle seeing this evil all the time and keep going?" These were my questions as I headed to the International Justice Mission Global Prayer Gathering last weekend. Just home from Haiti, I knew I was exhausted and really didn't have much emotional endurance left. As I settled into my seat for the opening session, I knew these people were going to carry me through. Gary Haugen, IJM founder, took the stage and opened with a declaration. "In order to stay to prepare the soul to go to war, we must ground ourselves in the truth of God and Scripture. We need solid hand-holds in Scripture to make this climb", Gary says in his reassuring tone. And for the next 24 hours that's exactly what they did. They taught me to prepare my soul, find the hand-holds and exactly what that involves.

I will confess I didn't make it through all the sessions last weekend. I fled when the details of the abuse of children started being discussed. I even retreated for a 2 hour nap at one point knowing I had reached my healthy limit. I continue to be astounded by the ways humans can destroy other humans. But that's nothing new, right? Maybe it's my mother's heart. Just as I felt like I was plummeting into despair and feeling yet another punch to the gut as they described the crimes they are fighting all over the world, I would feel myself buoy up with the hope and inspiration that overflows from the caseworkers and employees. There is a tenacity and a passion in this organization that can only be explained by the power of the Holy Spirit. It sends chills up our spines when they say to sex traffickers, "We are coming for you and we will not give up until we find you." Praise God. It is my fervent prayer that they won't quit, that human slavery WILL end. But their work and that victory is totally reliant on a faithful God and the power of the prayers of the saints. Thank you IJM for defending and freeing children and victims all over the world. Our prayers go with you.

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The table is set with a collection of perfectly curated dishes and glasses, the lavender candles are lit under the bounty of flower arrangements around the room and the cheese plate sits on the bar anxiously awaiting the arrival of my close friends. According to my latest Martha Stewart Living magazine, I had nailed hospitality. Or so I thought…

Stepping into the Senegalese village of Ngonine, I can’t say I knew what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t a gracious lesson on true hospitality. The first time we walked into one of the compounds, we were greeted with hugs, smiles and the seat of honor. These people have never met me before. I was completely overwhelmed. Despite my clumsy attempts to communicate, we shared our lives through sincere and focused conversation until one of the women said, “We are so overjoyed that you are here, we would like to dance for you!” With a granola bar in my pocket, I looked around the dusty compound at the hard-working women cooking our food for the evening over a hot open flame, who were assumingly hungry themselves, so overjoyed by our presence that it prompted a physical demonstration of their joy. An image of the glossy magazine spread demonstrating how to be the “hostess with the mostess” flashed through my head. As a host back home, I had lost focus on my guests. These women are Marys who invited in a Martha like me, a complete stranger, and bathed me in true, unconditional and grace-filled hospitality.  

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

                                            AMANDA BACKENSTOSE: SENEGAL TEAM 2016

[provchurchwc]

CELEBRATING 12 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP

I praise God for the work He has done over the last 11 years, mostly in our hearts, through our partnership with Mission Inner Senegal and specifically with our village, Ngonine (Go-neen). As many of you know, God has allowed us to care for the people holistically through medicine, providing clean water and now a church with a pastor. I am humbled by what He has done and look forward to what He will continue to do. Over the last 11 years, we have built strong relationships with our brothers and sisters in Ngonine; we are committed to them in prayer and annual visits. We look forward to the growth of the church, partnering with them in an agricultural livestock project and helping Ngonine church reach surrounding villages with the Gospel. 

I am thankful for each person who has visited Ngonine over the last 11 years. I am grateful for this year’s team and anticipate the Father’s impact as we make ourselves available for His ministry.                                           Mike Carnuccio

Please PRAY WITH US ~ 31 Days of Prayer for Senegal will be on the Providence Senegal Facebook page. 

Day 1: Surrendered and transformed hearts of the team members; good health and traveling mercies (trip dates: March 10-19)

[provchurchwc]

SEASONS OF WAITING by Kate Skinner

The fairytales and romance movies have us believing there’s a Prince Charming out there for each of us. He’ll be kind and considerate, compassionate and strong, gentle and steadfast. But apparently he’s taking his time, like seriously, where is he?!? I’m over here, a young woman trying my hardest to serve the Lord, striving to wait on Him while I live the life He has blessed me with in a God-glorifying way. There are times it feels like I may never find my Prince. Sure, I’d love to get married, have kiddos, surround myself with great friends and family and spend the rest of my life with the dreamiest, God-fearing, smart, funny, charismatic man in the world, but what do I do while I wait on him? Or, dare I say, what do I do while I wait for whatever it is the Lord has for me, dreamy hunk of a guy or not? If I’m brutally, vulnerably honest, that is the stuff that scares me. The unforeseen future, the one day, the someday.

So, what am I supposed to do?

I am one of those girls who has never actually dated. I’m 22 and I’ve never had a boyfriend, never been on a date, never held a guy’s hand (unless you count in prayer), never experienced those things. Some may say it’s a little weird, or just rare (I’ve been there), and there are some who think it’s cool, but kind of like that zany, science teacher from high school that was the crazy cool that you didn’t really understand. For all my single girls out there, you know that there are times when you feel lost, left out, and lonely. And coming from a fellow single girl, I just want you to know that that is okay and totally normal. And for my girls out there who are no longer single, I want you to know that that too is okay and normal and your single friends are so super happy for you. BUT- for my girls who are still waiting, I felt my heart led to share some of the things that the Lord has been teaching me in my season of singleness in hopes that through some of my story, you can be encouraged.

I’m a note-taker. Hopefully these will be some chunks of thought to mull over as you wait on what the Lord is doing in your life. 



1.  The concept of trust is no joke. I’ve experienced hard stuff; I’ve come up against people who are so mean it’s almost unbelievable and there have been times that my life just didn’t feel fair. There are days when the lies of the enemy, those telling me that I am not good enough for a relationship, that there isn’t anyone who will be interested in me, can feel stifling. Trust is not easy and we are not programmed to automatically do it, but we should. Trust the Father. Be strong and faithful in the wait. Be honest in prayer. And pray a lot. I believe that it’s okay to ask the Lord for a spouse. He already knows the true desires of your heart, so if a spouse is one of them, it’s healthy to vocalize that. Ask Him what to do while you wait. Open your heart fully, be vulnerable, it’s scary I know, but totally worth it. Look to the community around you, but above all, seek community with the Father. I fall to the advice of the world all the time. You’ll have dear friends who love and serve the Lord and strive to give you Godly counsel, but they’re human (just saying) so that advice may not always be in line with the heart of God. Be brave in the quiet and stillness that comes through prayer and communion with Jesus. He is fighting for you, so take heart.  

2. Take heart in knowing that your dream for a Christ-centered relationship is a good one. It is healthy and right in line with what the Lord has for His people. So now, your job is to pray and wait. When I hear that sometimes my first response is to cringe or immediately get defensive. What do you mean I have to wait? Aren’t I ready now? Haven’t I waited long enough? And then there is that still, small, faithful voice that calms me. Have confidence and remember that what the Lord has for us is so much better than anything we could possibly cook up (crazy huh)! Let Hebrews 13 rock your world.

3. Okay not to burst the bubble, but let’s get to the real deal…the Lord does not promise us a man. There is no verse in the Bible that says “Every good, believing woman will automatically receive a Godly man to marry.” If we think about it and do some self-reflection, we know that a husband is not one of the promises of God, but just because we know it, does not mean it doesn’t sting. This is that “what if” I was talking about. I really hate that “what if” sometimes. The self-absorbed part me of feels like I deserve someone incredible and a beautiful marriage - - but newsflash, I don’t. Bu, the beauty of Jesus, and the beauty of the Gospel is that through the death of Christ we are given by grace, and through mercy, what we do not deserve and cannot earn. God is so good. Better than we can comprehend. His goodness poured out onto our lives is because of who He is, not what we have done. So, I encourage you not to fixate on things that the Lord does not promise us. That’s a dangerous place to perseverate. Focus on the beauty of Jesus and watch as your life is flipped upside down by the zeal of redemptive love.



4. This one is kind of tricky. Not because it’s necessarily awkward or anything, but it’s one of those things that we reference all the time, yet rarely actually talk about. So- for the sake of being straight forward, try to remember that your purity has not fallen out of importance with the Lord. Maybe it’s no longer a cool thing to talk about with your friends or your family, but how you take care of your temple, your body, is still important to God. It’s hard to think about your purity when you’re not in a romantic relationship. Somehow, from the outside looking in, it seems as though there couldn’t possibly be any temptation. Wrong. Honestly, I tend to struggle with this a lot. Over the course of my young adult like, I have found different guys attractive because of their personality, pursuit of Jesus and their looks, and sometimes I let those thoughts take me places they shouldn’t. It doesn’t necessarily manifest itself as a dramatic moment with a traumatic sinful act, but it certainly does not honor God’s grace in my life nor Jesus’s death, resurrection and ascension. The Bible tells us that if we are the Lord’s, then our bodies have become a temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell within. We have been bought. Purchased by the blood of Jesus. So be bold, be persistent and strive to honor that purchase. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by a God that knows you and loves you more than anything in this world. Cue the goosebumps. 



5.  This is tempting (if I’m honest) but I encourage you to challenge yourself not to be like the woman from Ecclesiastes 7 woman that Solomon warns about. This story, though convicting is a great example of what not to do. The Bible tells us to not be a manipulative, conniving woman who does not trust God, and from whom a godly man will run away in fear and mistrust. So, in order to not be a total downer, try and be the 1 Corinthians 7 woman who is focused on the things of the Lord, and is trying to chase after that which honors the Father. I found such freedom when I laid my singleness down at the foot of the cross. There is so much, infinite possibilities, that God can do through whatever season of life you are in. But it is a two-way street. Being a vessel, an instrument for the Lord, means daily laying aside pride, and choosing Jesus. Embrace where the Lord has placed you in this moment, right now. Take flight with the incredible truth of the Gospel. Let that be what attracts Mr. Right to pursue you. Though I haven’t yet experienced that, something tells me that’s where the good stuff will be. For some context, check out Ecclesiastes 7 and 1 Corinthians 7.



Jeez, this stuff isn’t easy. I have stumbled; I’ve been sad; I’ve been confused and I’ve asked the Lord to help me understand. So, ladies, women, beautiful creations, you are an incredible gift that the Lord has crafted for a specific purpose. Every fiber of who you are reflects the beauty of the Lord. That fact alone blows me away. When you feel lonely, discouraged, or even a little sad, remember that the Lord’s plan for you is so much bigger and better than any relationship that you had, have, or may have. There is no other love like that of the Father’s for His children. He loves you; He made you; He knows your heart of hearts; He knows exactly what you need and His plan for your life is good and kind.

[provchurchwc]

SERVINGLEADERS MINISTRIES: A Testimony by Mark Hough

Kim and I have served as the Campus Director for Cru at West Chester University for 5 years, and we have the privilege of impacting thousands of students with the Gospel. The pressure of ministry is not easy. That is why we, and other Cru leaders, turn to ServingLeaders Ministries as a safe place to get help when needed. Kim and I have received insightful, life-changing, individual and marriage counseling there. Dave Wiedis has trained our staff through powerful seminars focused on the needs of ministry leaders. ServingLeaders impacts the world one leader at a time. It has impacted me, my family and our staff; that positive impact is felt around the world as we send our leaders throughout the world. Supporting ServingLeaders is a highly leveraged investment into the hundreds and thousands of lives around the world who have been radically changed by the Gospel.

ServingLeaders Ministries exists to serve leaders, their families, and their ministries. We provide pastoral care, professional coaching, counseling, mediation and a variety of other services. Our mission is to strengthen, encourage and help you and your family fulfill God’s call to excellence in ministry.                                                                 servingleaders.org

[provchurchwc]

RETURNING TO SENEGAL: A TESTIMONY by Mackenzie Foster

It’s hard to express the feelings I have knowing we will be heading back to Senegal in just about 5 weeks. While it will be my fourth trip, it has been 2 years since I was able to go with the team and I cannot say how thankful I am to the Lord for the opportunity to return. Recent updates from Mission Inter Senegal (MIS) have shown how God has been faithful to the Senegalese people and our village of N’Gonine. I can remember the first time I went...standing on an empty plot of land where a beautiful church stands today. It's hard to believe that in this same village there have been 2 baptisms and now weekly bible studies with pastor Timothy. I am very thankful that I will get to see firsthand how God has moved since I was there last. As we begin to shift our minds towards the trip in March, the team asks that the church would pray for safety, smooth travels and that the MIS team and Senegalese people we encounter will feel supported and really know the love of The Lord. It is often difficult for us westerners to go into a trip like this without a “To Do” list or agenda. Please also pray that we would be humble servants and move as He wills us. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45.  [The 14-member Senegal team will be commissioned at both Prov services on March 5th and travel to western Africa from March 9-19.]

[provchurchwc]

Financial Peace University: A testimony from Josh and Jamie Hosan

Josh:  We took FPU during last year’s class at Providence. At the time that the class started, we had been married for just over 5 months. Despite beginning the class with very different mindsets about our finances, FPU gave us practical tools to aid in our communication and helped us experience peace.

We both came into marriage with student loan debt. Using the principles that Dave teaches in the course, we were able to pay off just under $20,000 in student loan debt in 2016, and we are on pace to be debt-free by the end of this year. Even with this focus on debt, with the help of the budget we created, we were able to give more generously than we had in previous years and we experienced the joy in partnering with God's work both here in West Chester and around the world.

Jamie:  We came into the class with different views on our finances. At the beginning of the course we took a survey which defined each individual as a "nerd" or a "free spirit" based on your personal opinions on spending and saving. As we expected, Josh was deemed a " nerd" and on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, I fell into the category of "free spirit".

Being a free spirit, I just wasn't as passionate as Josh was (is) about budgeting. Originally I viewed a budget as an electric fence around our finances, and all of the fun and exciting things I wanted were just on the other side. I was hesitant to take the FPU course because I expected that I would be shamed into a boring lifestyle because it was financially necessary for this stage of our lives. Instead, I learned how important the budget, among other things, was to living an unrestricted lifestyle, where we knew from the beginning where and what our money was going toward so that we could freely spend within our means.

Josh and I used to struggle with communication and respecting one another's thoughts and feelings about money--how it should be spent, how we treated debt, or for me personally, why is it assumed that "my money" is automatically "our money". What once caused tension in our relationship now is one of our greatest strengths. As a couple, this course has played a huge part in enabling us to communicate and get on the same page, and changing my view of "your money, my money" to "our money, God's money."

Josh:  As a "nerd" who already enjoyed making a budget and thinking about finances, FPU was critical for me to learn how to communicate with my wife. Before FPU, I just handled our finances and really didn't expect to learn a lot from the class that I didn't already know. But that expectation was the furthest thing from the truth, as we learned how to discuss our money in a healthy way. Now we truly have a budget that has been created by both of us, reflecting our values, instead of just my values.

We represent a population of newly married couples and young adults here at Providence, but I can think of just as many reasons for a student, especially a graduating college senior, singles, and couples with kids both in and out of the house to take this class. God has something to teach everyone here about the way He has designed our finances to be handled. I would encourage all of you, regardless of what stage of life you are in; regardless of how much you think you have control of your finances, to take this course and learn how to gain full control over your finances in a way that glorifies and honors God.

Go to providencewc.org to sign up for the course starting Feb 12th. 

[provchurchwc]

PROV COATESVILLE CHURCH {1.22.17}

Praises

God continually providing for needs of the church plant (monetarily, volunteers, provisions for game nights and parking lot to borrow)

50+Children in our Children’s Ministry!

Mom’s Club women beginning to serve in the church and children’s ministry rotation to help during services

The Church Plant is an answer to almost 30 years of prayer!

Praise the Lord for the funds to hire Nora Fogg as our Children’s Ministry Director

Pray

For the rest of the money needed to launch the church to come in

For partnering chuches to support long-term

For weekly volunteers in the Children’s Ministry

For more men in the community to be reached and for their desire to come to church

For authentic relationships to develop as we strive to be a diverse and multi-ethnic body of believers

Pray for the City of Coatesville: that the churches and ministries will have a profound gospel presence and that many people will come to know the wonderful Savior Jesus!

[provchurchwc]

YOUNG LIFE WINTER WEEKEND 2017: ONE LEADER’S TESTIMONY

Most weekend retreats or youth trips can focus on creating converts rather than disciples. But at Winter Weekend I had the opportunity to see incredible growth in our upperclassmen you have decided to give their lives away. This was displayed through their love for not only the Lord, but by their missional heart for their high school friends.

This weekend I had the privilege of seeing such student leadership from the upperclassman girls of Rustin Younglife. Before leaving for the weekend, many of these young women stated that they were truly excited about loving-on the underclassman at Winter Weekend and desired to be Godly examples of Christ for them to look up to.

The Lord used Winter Weekend to solidify and grow community at Rustin Younglife. Despite the enemy waging war through lies of inadequacy or lack of wisdom, the Lord’s gospel reigned true. He has lit a fire under these young men and women. And we cannot wait to see how He will use them. Pray for the fire to fan into flames, bringing such light to their high school.

Jackie T

[provchurchwc]

Bus Stops a guest post by Mike Weisman

A man sits on a bench on a Tuesday evening. It’s been a hot day, so he opens a bottle of water and takes a couple of gulps. The other folks at the bus stop exchange a glance or two. One reads a newspaper, another spies his watch. Each one is ready to get home after a long day’s work. The bus ambles up the hill. The evening commuters board the bus, and the coach putters away, leaving behind a thin cloud of black smoke. The bench is empty, and so is the bus stop. It’s normal. A few steps behind the bench is something that can only be referred to as a “place”. It doesn’t have a name anymore, but it did once.

They used to call it “Golgatha”, the place where the man named Jesus died for the sins of the world.

Have you ever been to a place that held such a deep history of pain? I’m sure some of you have. Often in movies, these places are depicted as being “over there”, or “away” from everything else. Maybe it’s a city leveled by war, a part of town that’s been abandoned, or even just a room in an old house that no one's entered in years. Either way, something happened there a long time ago that caused people to leave, and now no one talks about it anymore.

That’s how I always pictured the death place of Christ. I often imagined it as a large dramatic cliff side, away from it all, off in the distance. No green, no people, only rock and waste and sadness. But when a friend of mine returning from Israel told me that the man who saved the cosmos died a few short steps away from a bus stop, I raged inside. It’s too normal. How did we allow a place so sacred to be overshadowed by something so unimportant as a bus stop? How did we allow the world to forget what happened there?

But we forget it all the time, don’t we?

We keep God and what he did “over there”, as if that’s the right and respectful thing to do. But because we keep Him away from it all, we forget. Sure, somewhere off on some rocky desolate cliff side halfway around the world, we know full well that Christ died for the murderers, the thieves, the heathens, of course…that story somehow makes sense. But He surely couldn’t have died for the boring story of a man on a Tuesday sitting at the bus stop waiting for a ride home…

That’s too normal.

And because it’s too normal, it’s unimportant.

And because it’s unimportant, it’s not a good story.

How sad it would be if Christ only died for the drama of it, for the ones that “really needed” it. Sure, it makes a ‘better’ story, but only a small fraction of each life actually makes it into the “good story” category. What we forget is that Christ died for all the in-betweens, the mundanes, the normals. What a glorious thing that is. To see that every dull moment, every average minute is a gift - infused and breathed on by the one who not only died for us but lives for us - is a good story in and of itself. The true shame would be to stand at all the boring places of our lives waiting for something bigger, something better, to come along, when all we must do is to sit down and realize that something holy is happening no matter where we are.

I do it all the time. Looking at my life and others' lives, incessantly comparing them, deliberately and depressingly evaluating them against some impossible standard of being “interesting”, thinking that my story must be good for it to matter to anyone. That somehow, at the end of time, all that’s been done in each life will be judged based on whether or not it would have been at the top of the NY TImes best-seller list.

But most often, the beautiful happens in the normal. Sure there are those “mountain-top” moments. And they are a different kind of gift. (Not to mention the less-sought after gifts from the valleys). But do not be tempted to look at an afternoon spent in the grocery store with your wife as something other than miraculous. Don’t think for a moment that an evening cleaning out the garage is less then lovely. Try not to believe the lie that being woken by your crying toddler at 3 AM is in no way heavenly. If all these things were anything but glories graciously given, He would not have died for you and me.

He died at a normal place. He lives in normal hearts. And how lovely it is to know that since He rose again, you and I can sit at a bus stop, and love every minute of it.

[provchurchwc]

Prayer of Consecration

Providence Church 1.15.17

Father God, my Creator, I present my body to You, and to Your Son, My Savior, and to Your Holy Spirit, My Helper.

Every part of me was made by You, is redeemed through You and exists for fellowship with You.

I confess to You that I have used My body in ways that refused You and abused myself and others.

I want all that You made me for to become an increasing reality every day that I live.

Forgive me. Heal me. I am Yours.

I align my thoughts with Your thoughts.

I yield my affections to Your affections.

I offer my skills for Your purposes.

I offer my weaknesses for Your empowerment.

I bring my relationships under the authority of Your Kingdom.

Let my eyes and ears learn to see and hear as You do.

Let my hands and feet take me to places that I will serve as You serve.

And for all of the resources You have given me, I pray that You would release my hold; that every good gift, coming from You, would be a tool in Your loving and wise hands and not my own.

Let my soul find rest in You,

And my spirit soar in Your presence.

"And I will meditate on Your wonderful works." Ps. 145:6  

/jc

[provchurchwc]

Why I’m Waging War on Self-Pity Guest Post by Hannah Clark

I don’t know about you, but I chase freedom the way a kid runs through a sunflower field into warm summer sun. With all of the fervor and grace. It’s because my heart is a little restless; just a taste of freedom and I want the whole thing.

Maybe that’s why I love Ephesians 2 so much, it speaks of open-field-freedom when we are made alive in Christ!

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved . . .

As a general rule, any verse that would make a cute wood burning or lock screen is immediately preceded by a less pinterest-y verse. And this is no exception; right before we were made alive in Christ, Paul talks about our sin. The Message puts it this way: You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. [Eph. 2]

Frame that verse!  

Unforgiveness, entitlement, anger, anxiety, pride, bitterness, discontent. They’ll suck the life right out of your beating heart and make you settle for a lesser freedom: enslavement. And there is nothing that will evaporate your joy with as much ease as sin.

There are a million things that tell me I’m worthless and useless, but if there’s one huge freedom-thief in my heart, its name is self-pity.

Self-pity seeps its way in when I lay in bed too long, pries my insecurities from their hidden places just enough to make hold them up for consideration once more. And it keeps me up at night, telling me the boy doesn’t love me because I’m not worth it and the thing I wasn’t invited to measures my value. And it isn’t polite when it comes, it takes up residence, unwelcome, for hours and then days, driving me to apathy. Self-pity dominates conversations, stamps “meaningless,” on top of my stack of big dreams, and all the while plucks away my remaining dignity. Alive in Christ feels like more empty words on a page.

I don’t want to give self-pity another second of my freedom. And not in a gentle, “please leave me alone,” way; I want to destroy it. I don’t want this poison to stay another unwelcome day. Your lease is up; there are far more beautiful thoughts to fill my mind.

When I engage in self-pity, I inhale polluted disbelief. In that moment, I’m refusing to believe that God sings over me with his love [Zeph. 3:17], that He gives me a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind [2 Tim. 1:7], that He would give up the whole world for me [Isaiah 43:3],  that He is fiercely jealous for me [James 4:5], that He will never forsake me [Hebrews 13:5], and that He will fight for me [Exodus 14:14]. I’m trading my identity for a lie when I choose to reduce my value to how I feel upon first glance around my empty room. Self-pity takes the best parts of me and crushes them until they are scared to come out of hiding.   

Self-pity, you are not welcome here. You are a thief of life.

“The Lord your God is with you,

the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17