It was great to be back with Nags Head Church after last week away. So many offered their congratulations and assured me of their prayers for Tricia, Gwyneth and Nathan.
I struggled to keep my emotions in check all morning. That's probably why I'm so tired now. A couple of different offers for lunch were turned down. I knew I just needed to get home and rest.
Attendance was super. I know there were some there as a result of hearing about Tricia and Gwyneth and they wanted to be with us. I asked "How many of you prayed last week like you've never prayed before?", and the hands were up all over. "And how many of you discovered blogging?". Just as many hands.
My talk today was about The Things We Value Most as a church. Next week I'll share some thoughts about why life is so important to God, then the following week I'll wrap up this series as the church covenants together to be taithful to Christ and to each other.
Again, thanks to an extraordinary fellowship for your prayers and encouragement.
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13 comments:
Both services were fantastic. The plus in serving on the worship team is we get to worship in music and then do it all over again in the next service.
Rick,
I hope you have a day of rest, emotionally spent I'm sure. You are in our prayers as well as your kids!
Scott
Your tremendous service has already traveled to VA. Annette, Mike and Callum (although he slept through the service) were there. I have spoken to Nett by phone today and she gave me the update. We continue to lift up your family!
I just read your "how pro life are you" blog...
I taught Tricia biology in high school and we talked at length about these things when we talked about abortion. I require them to write papers on abortion, euthanasia, etc. I wish I had Tricia's paper she wrote back then. I know she grappled in theory even then with this issue and came down on the side of life. She impacted many of her classmates even then as we all knew it was not theoretical for her.
She continues to touch many of her former classmates lives and the lives of my current students as we pray for her much in these days. She was an amazing young woman when I first knew her years ago and she is even more amazing now!
You are all on our hearts and in our prayers. Thanks for the camera-it is speaking louder than words!
Kathie Donaldson
I have a question, Pastor Rick.
This is something I have struggled with but really don't have anyone I can ask.
God knew us before we were knit in our mother's wombs. We know this because the Bible tells us. I believe He has a perfect plan for our lives and I also understnad that we have free will so we can change the course of our lvies through decisions we make. However, some thigns are out of our control. Like CF. And premature birth. So if we pray for God's will to be done (and I happen to think thast is the HARDEST prayer to pray)and His will has an outcome we may not favor, then do all these thousands and thousands of prayers being sent up from all over the world have an impact on God? Can we change God's mind? I often wonder about that when miracles happen. Have we changed God's mind or WAS His will done? How about those who pray and pray and pray for miracels that don't get them? For example, 911?
Understand, I am a believer. I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. This is just one of those theological questions that tugs at my mind and I wonder what your understanding of scripture is on this matter. I pray regularly and lately, unceasingly! Your thoughts would be so appreciated!
Bless you for sharing your faith so evidently and passionately.
A Believer in the Midwest.
I'll try to be brief in my answer.
Disease, disaster (9-11) aren't God's will. They're the result of Adam's choice to choose self and sin over God. As a result, we live in a world of imperfection, which includes diseases like the CF Tricia has.
Yet, God can turn evil into good, which is what He's doing here.
I don't believe we can change God's mind. He's sovereign. So why pray? Prayer expresses our dependence on Him, and so it's as much for our benefit as it is for anything else.
Here's how we're praying here: Certainly we hope and ask for Tricia and Gwyneth to come out of this picture perfect, but more importantly, we're praying for God's will to be done. If His will is painful for us to bear, we also know He'll bear that pain for us.
Miracles are God's "surprises". Loving fathers take great joy in surprising their children with things that bring them joy. I believe that's what we're seeing here.
Even as I was typing that question I was hearing God whisper to my heart that He is sovereign. I know His will is perfect and even out of tragedy can come beautiful and miraculous things. I still struggle with why some don't get the "surprises". Your answer made sense to me...competely. I am going to pray for God's guidance as well in this matter of the "head" so that He might bring to light even more wisdom so that my heart and mind can marry.
Glad it made sense to you! Sometimes I'm as clear as mud.
In your first comment you said, "This is something I have struggled with but really don't have anyone I can ask."
Obviously you're a believer, so I hope you're connected with a Bible teaching church. And I hope you have someone there you can go to with questions about faith.
While I'm happy to attempt at helping you sort that question out, I'm a poor substitute for a local church pastor.
And if you don't have a church, I'd love to help you find one!
Actually we do have one. Unfortunately it is a very sick church....my husband is visiting new churches to find a new home that is biblically sound, teaches the truth and has a doctrine in line with the Will of God. Our church has gotten..ummm...I guess too liberal for our liking. When God is referred to in the non gender way, it is time to move on. Our pastor actually said from the pulpit He/She in reference to God. So at the moment whenI am grappling with things theological,. I don't really feel like I have a good source to go to. Another way God is using Tricia and Nate? I would not have stumbled across your blog otherwise. But thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. Thank God I have a husband who takes the spiritual leadership role of our family seriously and is looking hard for a new home. Thank you, Pastor Rick!
Not that I was eavesdropping...Do you know of a great church in Charlotte? My son moved there this weekend. We will visit him next weekend, and my mission is to take us all to this not yet found church in Charlotte. He was raised at Thomas Road, went to VA Tech and came home with no desire to go to church anywhere. I can't do anything about all the mistakes I made raising him, but I would love to add to my prayers a small motherly nudge. You have raised your sons so well. I trust your advice. Any ideas?
Rick,
I certainly enjoyed the service today at NHC. I know you don't see my face as much as you and I need to see, but it was a special day for me. You see.....you have in the past helped me overcome fear, helplessness, and sorrow for situations in my life. I did not do anyting special today....but I was there for you, for Nate, Tricia, and your Granddaughter. I could tell that the pride was great with you, the joy of the new family you are sharing. I pray with all my heart that God's will be done, and that you are comforted in this special time of your life. I pray for Nate and his new family....that all their needs are met, that they are strenghted, lifted up, and blessed in everyway.
Hi Karen,
I sent you an email about Next Level Church.
We've never met but some friends and I were talking about everything that has gone on and we are hoping someday to get down to Nags Head and meet you guys! We are all so encouraged by the love that is being shown so powerfully in your midst.
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