We enjoyed a very good Mother’s Day as God continues to move in powerful ways in our church. As for the musings …

-A big thank you shout out goes to the great group who provided a delicious and generous breakfast buffet for the ladies of our church. The place looked great with special decorations. The ladies were served instead of going through the line. There was a good number who came and enjoyed the fellowship. The best part of the breakfast was the sounds of conversation and laughter.

-Even though the weather was dreary we had good attendance once again.

-There was good energy in the whole worship service and a good percentage of the people were very engaged.

-We showed a special and fun Mother’s Day countdown with many Mother’s Day facts from around the world.

-We had a good number of children in attendance once again. This is one of the most encouraging things happening in our church.

-I began a new message series on relationships entitled “Ouch … Healing Relational Pain”. Each week we will examine one area of relational pain and apply biblical principles for healing. Also, each week will have concrete action steps to take toward healing. The response yesterday was very good and I am really looking forward to seeing, and hearing ways in which many people’s relationships improve.

-We did not have our small group since most of the group was involved with some special Mother’s Day activities.

– On Saturday evening my wife and I attended another’s church’s Saturday evening worship service. We rarely get to attend a worship service in which we have no responsibilities. Then we went out to eat in honor of Mother’s Day since Sundays are rather busy for us.

-I participated in a funeral service for a great guy on Friday. He and his wife are regulars in our church and he loved Jesus. He was in church last Sunday morning for the first time in 3 or 4 weeks because of not feeling well. He gave a strong testimony when I spoke with him on Sunday. Then on Monday morning he was gone. His wife was in worship yesterday and my heart ached for her in her first worship service without her husband of 54 years. There is always a lot more happening in a worship service than most people are aware. I can guarantee that your pastor has a lot more on his/her mind than just the words of their message. Please remember that this week as you pray for your Pastor.

Here’s hoping you find someone to encourage this week. Here’s hoping that you notice the fingerprints of God in your life this week.

Dennis

Yesterday was a very good day. We had 3 of our grandkids with us for the whole weekend and they were in church with us as well. I love having my grandkids around and I always sleep very soundly after they leave. Evidently yesterday was such a good day that I wanted to repeat it. I normally get up between 4:15 and 4:30 am on Sundays and 6:15 to 6:30 most other days. This morning I rolled over and looked at the clock which read 4:16. I sat up and started the process of putting on some sweats and a t-shirt wondering why my alarm did not go off yet. As I stood up I realized that it was Monday morning and not Sunday morning. So I grabbed my pillow and headed to the living room couch. Where I was awakened at 6:15 by my alarm. So I guess yesterday was an outstanding day since I tried to relive it. Now for the real musings …

-My wife is awesome. Not only does she lead worship for our church, but she got 3 grandkids, ages 3, 5, and 8 ready and at church by 8:00 am.

-There was a lot of energy in the building yesterday and it continued throughout our worship.

-There were several great conversations regarding the challenge on vision after the worship service. I love seeing and hearing people engage and commit to make a difference in their community.

-The congregation was really singing out during worship. I love hearing people sing the praises of God.

-We had a lot of children in attendance yesterday, I am so encouraged by what is taking place in our children’s ministries and by the number of adults who are stepping up and serving.

-People seemed very engaged during the sermon. As we looked at a large vision for impacting our area in the next 5 years people seemed to embrace the challenge. After all, all we need to do is the next right thing and leave the results up to God.

-Our attendance was very good.

-We had a very small small group last night. We still had a good time with the ones who were present and it is so great to see and hear what they are applying about following Christ.

-It was in the mid-80’s yesterday, which was somewhat shocking given that it had been 40 just 3 or 4 days earlier.

-Many urgent and significant prayer needs this morning. I am thankful that God knows, cares, listens and will continue to lead. Praying that I will follow closely.

Here’s hoping you have a significant conversation today. Here’s hoping you find someone to encourage today.

Dennis

Yesterday was a sampling of many parts of pastoring all rolled up into one day. Off to the musings …

-We enjoyed a powerful time of the spirit moving during the music part of our worship yesterday. It was one of those special times when everyone knew God was speaking as we sang. Wow, I really needed that myself.

-During the message it was much more difficult. I was really struggling, I just couldn’t tell if people were engaged or not. As a result I felt as if I was trying to pull people along. That is not a good thing for communication. But those days do happen, thankfully they have been few and far between recently.

-There was a lot of energy in the building yesterday as we had a lot of children in attendance. I love their energy, now if more of the adults could just take some cues from the kids.

-Yesterday was a very late arriving crowd. That is difficult on me. Those who know me well are aware that I struggle mightily when things are running behind.

-After the morning service my wife and I headed to a nearby town for a funeral visitation. It was a very difficult one, as it was for a 22 year old who died in an accident. There are no magic words at a time like that, just the ministry of presence. I was especially burdened for the family and the parents as they stood beside the casket of their child. Many prayers going up on their behalf and they will need more prayers and listening hearts in the days, months and years ahead.

-After returning home from that visit I went through some emails and thought a little about our small group and the lesson for the evening. Then laid down and fell asleep as I watched a little baseball and basketball. Then the phone rang …

-Then I was off to the hospital with another man in my church as we had gotten word that one of the guys from our church was in emergency surgery in an out of town hospital. As a result our small group did not meet last evening.

-We arrived at the hospital just as the surgeon was speaking with the family. The surgery went well and they are expecting significant healing in the next few days. Got to spend some time talking with his wife and some of the family. Had prayer with everyone and then headed back home.

-After recapping the visit with my wife I then ate some dinner.

-I love what I do and I loved yesterday. It was just interesting to realize how many different directions I was headed in yesterday.

-I love what God is doing in our church. There are some great times coming our way.

-I love being a part of a team. There are so many people who are really serving and sharing in our fellowship.

Here’s hoping you are able to see God’s hand at work today.

Dennis

We enjoyed a powerful and humbling day yesterday. After a weekend of motivation, encouragement and conviction at our annual District Assembly God continued working on, and in, me as we gathered on Sunday. Some musings from yesterday …

-God is still God and he is alive and working. I had so many reminders of this on Sunday and all weekend. What great assurance to realize that God is still God no matter what we are facing or where we are located.

-Several people came to the altar at the conclusion of the worship service yesterday. Making commitments, confessing and repenting and answering God’s call on their lives. It was thrilling to experience and to imagine the impact this will have on our community.

-3 people who visited for the first time on Easter Sunday returned yesterday and we had another brand new visitor. Our people are really starting to get serious about reaching out and about inviting people to Christ and the church.

-God was really working on me all weekend. I didn’t enjoy being worked on but I am rejoicing in all that he continues to refine in me. One of the results of this was a change in the message I had prepared for yesterday. I always preach to myself whenever I preach as well as to the congregation, but yesterday was simply me telling everyone what God was teaching me and evidently it applied to many others.

-It is not a coincidence that we had such a powerful service yesterday. There were 11 of our ladies away for a mini-retreat on Friday night and Saturday and there were 5 of us at our District Assembly on Friday night and Saturday. All of us were prepared and expecting great things as we entered to worship yesterday. The preparation for and expectation of great things in worship always boosts our time of corporate worship. If more of us would take the time to prepare and expect as we gather to worship we would experience outstanding times of worship regularly.

-Our attendance was down a bit, but was still 9 above what we had the week after Easter last year.

-Our small group was very small in size but we still enjoyed a great time of looking in the Word and discussion of God’s love.

-For the 15 months that I have been here I have been saying that God is up to something good in Canton. I am more convinced than ever that God is truly ready to do some awesome things in our community. I am excited and challenged by what I sense God is desiring to do through us and in us in the next 5 years. Wow!

-My wife and I experienced a tremendous blessing yesterday and it is one that we had been praying about for over 5 months. I am almost speechless as I reflect on the blessing. Those who know me are aware that I am rarely speechless but once again God took my breath away.

Here’s hoping that you see God at work this week. I am praying that you have some “take your breath away” moments. Here’s hoping that you start preparing and expecting great things for this week. Look for someone to encourage today.

Dennis

Easter Sundays are always good and yesterday was very good. This morning has been busy so these musings are in the afternoon. Here we go …

-My son, oldest grandson, oldest daughter, son in law and youngest granddaughter were all in worship with us yesterday. That means that no matter what else happened it was going to be a very good Easter. Our son is a missionary in Kenya and he was back to check out some colleges with our oldest grandson. It has been 15 years since we were in worship together on Easter. Our daughter and family live in Michigan and it has been several years since we worshiped together on Easter. It wasn’t the whole family but it was great. When you are in ministry and your kids are in ministry or are active in their church where they live you don’t get the joy of worshiping together even on special Sundays.

-We were able to experience 3 people accept Christ as their personal Savior and many other followers of Christ commit to sharing Christ with others more often.

-We had a great attendance, it was right at 50% higher than our attendance last Easter. The best news was that all but 8 of them are from our area. We also had at least one person who was looking for a church home, heard about our church and came. He said that he will be back this coming Sunday.

-It was especially fun to see the faces of many of our core families who were smiling from ear to ear as they saw so many in attendance and heard of those who came to Christ.

-It was obvious that our regulars had been inviting people to attend. That will only produce good things for the church and the kingdom in the future.

-We had a good group of children in attendance and several of them participated in leading the congregation in a special song. Things always go well when the kids lead us.

-Our Easter breakfast was outstanding and we had a large attendance for the breakfast. I loved seeing and hearing the people talking with each other and seeing them introduce themselves to people they did not know.

-We had a Good Friday service where we shared communion as part of the service. There was a great spirit in the service and a good attendance for this time of worship.

-We are seeing many great things taking place in, and around, our church.

-My mind is a bit foggy today. After the push toward Easter and doing some extra time as hospital chaplain I am finding it a bit hard to focus today. That is the main reason why this post came out in the afternoon instead of the morning.

-I was also excited this morning to hear that someone I have been praying for their salvation for several years accepted Christ yesterday.

Here’s hoping that you are still celebrating today. Here’s hoping that you will be encouraged by the truth that Christ has risen and is alive today. Here’s hoping that you find someone to encourage today.

Dennis

Yesterday was another good day and very good springboard into Easter weekend. Now for my musings …

-It was cold, windy and rainy yesterday morning. Surely spring is coming sometime, isn’t it?

-Very fun and encouraging to see the children walking around waving palm branches as we sang yesterday. It was also good to see many more children this year than on Palm Sunday a year ago.

-There was great energy in the whole worship service and a great spirit as well.

-There were a few who came to the altar at the end of the service.

-There were several who raised a hand and indicated they were seeking a change in their life.

-I shared a short children’s message with our elementary age children during the service. I love interacting with them because they will actually respond. Adults are not quite as comfortable answering out loud.

-I was very encouraged by the fact that we had a good number go to Winter Jam, a special night of concert with 10 bands that was in an arena about 45 minutes away. There were a couple more teens who went this year than went a year ago. Slow progress with teens, but it is still progress.

-It was great to observe that many people hung around a long time after the worship service talking with each other. I always think that is a good sign of real community and fellowship.

-I opened the sermon yesterday with this question and statement. “Have you ever felt conflicted by the praise you were feeling and the tears from burdens you were carrying? If so, you are in good company because Jesus himself was in this position on Palm Sunday. While we don’t want to stop praising Jesus for who he is and all he has done sometimes we find ourselves praising him through our tears.”

-Jesus knows. He knows you and knows your past. He also knows what you are facing and feeling. He knows the plans he has for you. He knows that he loves you and he knows your tears.

-Because of Winter Jam our small group did not meet last evening and we are not planning on meeting next week either. I miss when we don’t get together.

-Our son and oldest grandson will be arriving at our place late Thursday night. They are serving as missionaries in Kenya so this is a very special visit. Also, our oldest daughter, son in law and youngest grandchild will arrive that same evening. They will all be with us for Easter Sunday. It has been at least 15 years since my son was with us on Easter since he has been in ministry that long. I am not sure the last time our daughter was with us for Easter, but it has been a while. A fact that most people don’t consider is that ministry families are rarely able to be with their family on special days because we are serving on those days. This will be a very special Easter for a lot of reasons. Our grandson is coming to the states to visit some colleges in anticipation of graduating high school next year. Wow, how can that be?

Here’s hoping you have a week of God moments where you are reminded that you are loved and that God is with you no matter what you are facing or feeling.

Dennis