Month: June 2010

Thanks, Emily

On By MarkIn Thanks2 Comments

A few months ago I hired my first assistant.  Emily took on a new position and helped give it definition. She has been an amazing blessing to me and Grace. I’m very thankful to God that He sent her our way.

Seth and Emily were relatively new to Grace and she was looking for a part time job.  Just a couple of months into her new job Emily broke the news that they were moving back to the Show Low area where they both were raised. There she is taking on a new job at a local Christian school.

Last night we said good-bye. Though sad I’m loosing an excellent assistant, I have observed a few things during this time:

1. People do their best work when they’re using their talents for God and His purposes.

2. When we each do our part, we free up others to do their part as well. Kind of like a body.

3. It’s okay to take a risk when you’re trusting God.

Shortly after Emily announced they were moving I was asked if it was a mistake to hire someone I didn’t know that well. My immediate and confident response was “No. Look what I’ve learned in the process.”  And now I’d add, “Look at this wonderful family Laurie and I got to know.”

4. After some coaching and wise counsel from others in my profession, I learned the value of an assistant.  That was only confirmed once I took the leap and made the hire.

5. In a less dramatic fashion than Job’s experience, The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed is HIS name.  I gladly welcome my new assistant Nicole to the team.

Thanks, Emily.  Thanks for learning a new job that had little clarification on day one. Thanks for representing Jesus and His church so well. Thanks for assisting me in changing the world from Flagstaff.

Sunday to Sunday

On By MarkIn church, Preaching4 Comments

Wow. I loved Father’s Day at Grace.  I loved that we honored dads. I loved that we prayed for the many that were out at that very hour fighting the fire that shut down Sinagua. And I loved that we had a place to meet for church.  I’ve gotta tell you I was pretty energized having three services on a Sunday morning.  Our attendance was down considerably, but WE DIDN’T HAVE TO CANCEL!  Praise God we could fit over 200 people in the Ministry Center throughout the morning.

A big shout out to the team that served our body that morning.  Many came early and stayed through all three services.  I think the Worship Team, the Levites, the Tech Team, Aaron and Matt could each retell the sermon better than I could by the third time.

Thanks, Grace, for being so gracious. We need to be ready for whatever the Lord has for us.

On a personal note: I’m taking a few days of what is called a study break.  A few days this week and a few next allows me the opportunity to be away from the office and pray, read and meditate on how God is leading me and Grace.  I’ll be back Thursday for a couple of appointments and will stay through the weekend before taking a few days next week to do the same.  I want you to know so you can pray for me. I love what I do, and I take it seriously.

After these couple of partial weeks, I’m going to take Laurie away and go find a vacation spot to rest together. No apologies, we all need some time away.  Make plans, take care of your family!

All that said, I’m so thankful for the guests we’ll have at Grace.  This week, we’ll get to meet Paul Wegner. Check it out here, http://www.allaboutgrace.com/#/welcome/guest-speakers

Can’t wait to see all of you on Sunday.  I’m looking forward to hearing Paul and worshiping with our Grace family!

3 Services at Grace for Father’s Day

On By MarkIn church, Flagstaff, GRACELeave a comment

With the fire causing evacuations in the neighborhood, Grace will NOT be meeting at Sinagua. Instead, we will have 3 services at 9, 10 and 11 at the Grace Ministry Center (office) at 963 W. RT 66. If you’re a regular, maybe come to the 9 or 11 and give room for others at the regularly scheduled 10 a.m. service.
We’re praying for our firefighters and neighbors as we go through this difficult time.
Yet with all of that, we’re very excited we have a place to go for our time of worship and the teaching of the Word. Come expecting. Pray for what God may do in His creative ways.
And it is Father’s Day! I have something for the dads. If I were a dad, I’d be there. Just sayin!

Reminder: not sure about parking. I think we should be fine. If it’s too full, worse case is park over near Safeway lot and have a nice, short walk.  Looking forward to our time together.

God’s Reminders

On By MarkIn God's Glory, Memorial, ZacLeave a comment

I love how God leads us to remember. You know what I’m talking about. Sometimes it’s a verse of scripture. Sometimes an old song, or even a once familiar smell. And suddenly our minds go back in time to a different place.

Today, I got to thinking about Zac, my nephew who is with Jesus.

It’s Mandy’s birthday, and somehow that got me to click on the link to Zac’s blog that Mandy is keeping up.  I loved it. I love Mandy’s writing. I love that she is keeping his blog going b/c of all of his posts.  I love that under the ‘comment’ section I can learn more of Zac’s very wide influence through his story and his suffering.

I have great reminders today of a young man I loved and his desire to live it all for God, without hesitation and without apology.

Happy Birthday dear Amanda.

Psalm 151

On By MarkIn Bible, Psalm 1518 Comments

Okay, I know you didn’t fall for that. There is no Psalm 151.  There are only 150 recorded in the OT book of Psalms.

Yesterday at Grace I spoke from Jonah chapter two, you can listen here.  Sometime after Jonah enjoyed the flight from the belly of the Big Fish to the shore, he sat down and, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote out what had just happened.  Apparently during the three days and three nights in the big boy’s belly, he had time to reflect and process just how awesome it was that God delivered him. In what I called a potential 151st psalm, Jonah gave God praise for the great thing He had done for him.  Like many of the psalms, we read about the despair of Jonah’s sin, the consequences of his actions and the Lord’s hand in a remarkable delivery. God is faithful as our sovereign Lord of all.  For that we praise Him.

Jonah recalled what happened and how God was sovereign over every detail.  After Jonah disobeyed and ran the other way as fast as possible, God allowed him to be tossed overboard and soon delivered by the really large fish. In Jonah’s psalm he says it was God who threw him overboard and the waves and billows that were messing with him, were all God’s.  So after the bad day at sea, Jonah looked back and saw God at work the whole time.

How about writing your own Psalm 151 as a praise to God for how He has worked in your life.  Remember, He invites us to be a part of His story.  So, take a few minutes. Think back on a time when you were really going through something hard. It may have been running from God, like Jonah, or simply a difficult time, like the death of a loved one, or loss of job.  During that time you may not have noticed God’s grace in the details, but afterwards it was more obvious that God never left you. He is sovereign over the mess of our lives and all the while loving us and inviting us to be a part of His amazing story of grace.

Think and pray about it. Write it out.  Feel free to use the ‘comment’ section below for your “not real long” psalm of praise. Or if you’d rather, you can email it to: pmarksblog@gmail.com