Using Our Gifts

I hope this isn't stealing. I've copied this from Beth Moore's blog--via Laura Kluvo--and thought it was a good reminder for all of us at fall start-up. We ALL have unique gifts which we can choose to use or ignore. Using our gifts in the way they were intended is a real source of joy. Here's what Beth writes:

"Because of this I remind you to rekindle God's gift that you possess...For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control...PROTECT THAT GOOD THING entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us." 2 Timothy 1:6,7,14 New English Translation

]Two things:1. Don't let that precious gift God has given you lay dormant. Rekindle it in the power and passion of Christ Jesus! Use it at every God-given (as opposed to man-driven) opportunity. Gifts mature and increase with time and practice if we have a healthy, lively relationship with Christ through His Word.

2. Protect that gift (or those gifts) ferociously from shifting from the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit to the determination and grit or rote action of the flesh. (Galatians 3:3) I implore us all in the great and saving Name of Jesus to resist spiritual laziness and keep in step with the Spirit. It's easier to obey laws and keep our rituals than to be led of the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 Fiery fresh relationships with Jesus and boldness to ask Him to make Himself conspicuous through the gifts He has entrusted to us!

Here's the website for her ministry if you'd like to read more:

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/

Meals for the Bush Family

We're putting out an all call for people to rally in support of Marsha and her family by providing some meals. I know they will have a hectic schedule in the coming days and this may be a way we can help out. If you could provide food would you please call Jacque Surrett at
602-494-9747 to schedule a date? We still don't have information on services but we'll let you know as soon as we find out. Many thanks to Jacque for graciously offering her time to coordinate this ministry. I went through this with my sister two years ago and will always remember those who brought food and visited. It's very meaningful to have support in a time like this.

Chuck Bush Passed Away

I called the hospital tonight to talk to Marsha and found out that Chuck passed away peacefully at 8:20 pm. She was thankful that he seemed peaceful and was not suffering. I really don't have any other details at this time other than pray for Marsha and their two grown children. I will always remember Chuck at the Hotel Timisoara and more recently tooling around on his scooter. I think of Psalm 139, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." The lung transplant was not meant to be for Chuck as the Lord had other plans. Here's the home address if you'd like to send a card:

7029 N Via De Amor
Scottsdale, AZ 85258

A Little More on Scott's Surgery

To all,

I just wanted to let you know that Scott had his kidney transplant surgery on Wed, the 22nd. He is doing very well and the kidney is functioning great. Praise the Lord for His goodness in all of this!

The donor also did well and was discharged yesterday. She gave a wonderful gift to Scott. Scott should be discharged tomorrow (Saturday). Continue to pray for his recovery as well as strength for everyone. There is a meal list going around and if you can help, email me at mavisamano@kadatech.com Thanks everyone!

Mavis Amano

Scott M's Surgery

As of Wednesday evening, I heard Scott MacIntyre's kidney transplant surgery went well. I haven't received any updates so I'm assuming all is still well. His brother, Todd, is playing drums with us this Sunday so we'll find out more details then.

InviteInviteInvite

Looks like a big word, doesn't it? Fooled ya! This is the new rhetoric around here for "BRING SOME FRIENDS WITH YOU!!! We've been working very hard with Mike (consultant) and have Bruce Pearson on board for extra hours so we feel things are going to be GREAT this fall. Would you help in getting the word out? Bruce and I are working on recruitment and we decided that just plain ol' friendly, personal invites are the best advertisement. Will you each bring a friend?

Also, you should have received an evite for the Worship Renewal Dinner on Friday, Sept. 7th. Don't waste any time in replying because we're keeping the caterers at bay for a number. It's going to be a great dinner and evening in general. Not to get preachy (but come on, blogs are meant to be soapboxes, aren't they?), our attendance at the fall advance has been waning in the last few years. We want to spread the word that this isn't just an optional nicety we throw out if it fits into your schedule. NO-NO-NO. Don't tell anyone this comes from me (whisper-whisper) but we'd LIKE to say this year's worship renewal weekend is MANDATORY for all ministry partners. How do you like that? Pretty bold, huh? Anyway, we're not going public with this kind of talk but I'm counting on you bloggers to spread the word that this weekend deal is BIG and no one should miss. Don't let me down on this one!>

GOING SOLO with Daniel Pincu, Flute

Editor's Note: To say that Daniel is crazy about the flute is an understatement! In addition to SBC, he is a member of several performing groups including the Musician Enrichment Foundation Flute Ensemble; Alla Breve, the Arizona Flute Society's choir; and the Paradise Valley Community College flute choir. He recently was invited to to join Mesa Community College's flute ensemble as well.

For the past two summers he has studied in North Carolina with international flute star Goran Marcusson. Two weeks ago he attended the National Flute Association's annual convention in New Mexico.

The best part of all of this flute mania? "I get to meet so many people from all over the world and build lasting friendships with them" he says, "so that wherever we go and meet, we can greet each other with a smile of joy."

I’ve been in the SBC Orchestra for: 4 years. I joined right after the orchestra and choir returned from the mission trip to Romania.

My instrument is: flute

If I hadn’t chosen the flute, I probably would have played the: guitar

Most people have no idea that I: am the Vice President of the Arizona Flute Society

My favorite worship or praise song is: Alleluia, He is Risen

My perfect pizza is topped with: ham, pepperoni, and pineapple

My family consists of: Ramona (my wife), me (her husband), mom (my mother)

My life verse is: Psalm 50:1--The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.

I’ve lived in AZ for: 20 years

I was born in: the city of Resita, Romania

I drink my coffee: with milk and sugar; tea with sugar and lemon

My favorite kind of music: classical

I almost gave up playing the flute when: never; I play it every day.

My profession: Information Technology

An unfulfilled dream of mine is to: play Gabriel’s Oboe on flute (yeah, make that Gabriel’s Flute!)

Editor's Note: Daniel bumped into former SBC flutist Maria Harman at the national flute convention--she is now pursuing her doctorate in flute performance after completing her master's this past year. You may recall that she also is an accomplished violist!

Dave Dorsett

Well, you can tell I'm out of the loop. I just found out Dave Dorsett is moving to Tennessee on August 29th. This Sunday, the 19th, will be his last day at church. I'm going to miss Dave who showed up ridiculously early each and every rehearsal and Sunday morning. I've never in my life been that early for any event. All I can say is that he was such a big help on so many occasions for those frantic "last minute" tasks. He's moved many a table and plant for us in addition to passing fresh bulletins out to everyone and cheerfully greeting all of us groggy musicians.

And even though he'll be missed, I guess we'll consent to letting him go because it's for a good cause. Two years ago his daughter moved to TN and took on the challenge of building a girl's ranch for troubled girls. Dave and his wife are moving there to assist her in this mission. If you see Dave before he goes, wish him well! If you want to check out the project, you can click on the link below:

http://blessedassuranceranch.com/

We'll miss you, Dave!

Phoenix Rescue Mission Outreach

Sorry for the long delay in posting this week. I've been up to my eyeballs in cardboard boxes and packing tape getting ready for a move soon. However, I did take a bit of a break tonight and joined a small contingent of us choir-types for an evening of outreach at the Phoenix Rescue Mission.

Neville Verster, who I am now convinced is a latent powerful preacher, put together an excellent program for their Sunday chapel service. We sang quite a few of those wonderful old hymns born in the 19th century by Fanny Crosby, Harriet Beecher Stowe, etc. Neville told the stories behind the hymns and encourged the men in the congregation by having them read verses. I think the Holy Spirit was busy in that room.

It was really great to reconnect with friends in service. When the opportunity arises to do this again, I would highly recommend it.

DID YOU GET THE MESSAGE?

The south A.M. choir and orchestra will have their first rehearsal on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th, 7:00-9:00 p.m.; NOT August 22 as previously announced. This is due to some scheduling conflicts as well as the desire to begin the season after the Labor Day weekend. Thanks for understanding.

If you know of someone who operates without e-mail or perhaps is on vacation and will have too much e-mail to weed through upon return, give them a family friendly call and let them know about the update.

I for one am looking forward to seeing everyone again!

Obedient Adoration

Greetings everyone. Here is installment Number Two on the Life of Worship series. Obviously, I still haven't figured out how to do the second page link, but at least it's going up (hopefully in correct order sequence. We'll all know for sure once I hit the "posted" button.) Hopefully Tammy won't fire me for lack of technical skills when she gets back. So, if you keep scrolling down, you should see the entire devotional. Again, hope you enjoy...

Read 1 Samuel 15:10-35

God loves obedience. In fact, He has commanded obedience; however, even though God commands and expects obedience, He still delights in the obedient action of one of His own, accepting it as an act of worship. Obedience is, perhaps, the ultimate expression of worship because it says that we love what is important to the Lord. Worship through obedience is a very serious charge and challenge for an anointed one of God. It is not something to be ignored, done half way or tailored to fit a whim or circumstance.
The Lord, through King Saul, teaches us quite a few things about worship through obedience. First, worshipping obedience causes plans to succeed, both ours and God’s. Saul chose not to offer God his complete obedience and consequently, his future plans for his reign were cut short and the Lord’s plans for the Amalakites were momentarily delayed. When we are worshipfully obedient to God, we are successful, others around us can become successful and God is glorified.
Worship through obedience always reflects God’s truth. Saul was caught in his disobedience and chose to lie, make excuses and blame others. Perhaps the biggest deceit was to himself in thinking God did not know his heart’s intent. When we offer obedient worship to God, we will seek the truth and embrace it fully, no matter what the cost to us.
Adoring obedience is a personal heart resource, not something that can be garnered from someone else’s resources or abundance. Saul thought he could make up for cutting corners on God’s command by offering up the resources of the Amalakites. However, God makes it clear that personal heart obedience is more important, more delightful, to Him than any sacrifice made in the name of worship.

Obedient Adoration Con't

Worshipping obedience always completes the assigned task. God does not consider partial obedience to be any obedience at all. Saul obviously did not understand this concept. He thought that by fulfilling the main portion of God’s command, he was being obedient. God is nothing if not consistent. Just as it takes complete commitment to Jesus to receive salvation, so it takes immediate and fully compliant obedience to His designated command for Him to consider us fully obedient to His word.
Finally, worshiping obedience is necessary to maintain our holy appointment and calling. Saul probably never considered that his one act of disobedience, which he probably considered minor, would cost him his crown. God will not use someone who is not fully committed to Him, His methods and His plan.
The challenge is great for each one of us to live in continuous, holy, worshipful obedience. But the joy and reward of knowing that we have furthered God’s plans, embraced His truth and touched His heart by our chosen obedience will turn our challenge into our coronation.

Food for Thought:

1. According to Exodus 19:5-6, why do you think it is so important to God that His anointed children worship Him through obedience?
2. Take time to reflect on what God may be calling you to do right now. Write out how the five aspects of worshiping obedience will affect the accomplishment of your calling.

Copyright © 2001 Kimberly Hannay Shoup
All Rights Reserved