Willing To Go

Now the Lord said to Abram, “GO from your country, and your kindred, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”

You know I have read this passage many times and so many times I marveled at the magnitude of God’s request. He asks Abram to follow him to a land that He will show Him. In fact, the writer of Hebrews remembers this moment when He talks about the essence of biblical faith. He states that it was by FAITH that Abraham obeyed and went out not knowing where he was going.

It makes me pause and ask myself about my faith. I run through all the “what if scenarios” I can come up with. But something changed today as I came to the passage. In fact, this is the great wonder and joy of studying God’s word. It never gets old or stale. Its fresh bread everyday that we can feast on and be satisfied. He can take a passage that you and I have read a thousand times and the Holy Spirit of God can reveal something that has been there all along but today He wants you to see it new! Today was one of those days.

In Genesis 12 Abram was asked by God to GO. Now I have always marveled at His willingness to GO with no idea of where. I love adventure and love when I get the chance to experience something new but here is what I noticed today that for whatever reason has eluded me for years.

I knew God was specific in asking Abram to GO TO a place He would eventually show Him but God was also specific in asking Abram to GO FROM in order to follow Him. God asked Abraham specifically to GO FROM his friends, his family and all the comforts that he had learned to count on. This was just as big a step if not bigger than going to a land that He would one day show Him.

I realized today why for so long I have sensed a void in my relationship with God. It hasn’t been that He hasn’t REVEALED the UNKNOWN to me but rather my unwillingness to RECOGNIZE what I do know. A friend recently shared with me a great truth he had learned from someone concerning times of transition.

There are 4 stages that you must go through when starting something new:

Unconsciously incompetence – which is you’re unaware that you think you know but you don’t really know. Consciously incompetent – which is to now move to understanding that you know that you don’t know . Consciously Competent – which is the stage in which you know but you have to think through every aspect of it Unconsciously competent – which is the final stage in which you don’t even think about it because you know it. An example of this would be my 3 year old son Judah who always wants to get behind the wheel of the car. He thinks he wants to drive but he is totally unaware of any aspect of what it takes to drive a vehicle. Things like ignition, gas, brakes, drive, reverse mean nothing to him. All he knows is this is dads car and he wants to drive. He is unconsciously incompetent.

One day as he gets older he will slowly pick up things and get older and he might even take the keys behind dads back and start the car in an attempt to drive. But just like his dad did when he took his brothers keys when he was 10 he quickly realized he doesn’t know squat about driving.

Then there will be the day that his dad makes the decision to let his mother teach him to drive and she will share all the in’s and outs of driving and begin to let him drive with her in the car. As they do this for 3 months or so Judah will transition into a great place of knowing how to drive but he will have to think about every aspect of it from parking to stopping. All of this will lead to one day after several years of driving numerous miles and cars he will jump behind the wheel and not even have to think about it. He will just do it. This is where you and I want to be.

Today as I read this account of Abraham I couldn’t help but think of those different stages as it related to what God revealed to me in this passage. Rather than beat myself up for not doing this or doing that – I don’t get mad at Judah when he gets behind the wheel asking daddy to drive. I just laugh and tell him to go and he thinks he is driving but all the time I know he has no clue. Today I just recognized that I didn’t know certain things and that was okay.

You see, I am in a relationship with my Father and He is revealing to me what He wants me to see and know when He wants. I obeyed when He asked me to go. Even when I didn’t know it would be Atlantic City, NJ. But as I went, He has been showing me more about what I was GOING FROM than what I was going to. Reminding me of the cost of being obedient. Knowing that the void I felt in my life wasn’t God’s issue but mine. It came from my addiction. My addiction to my comfort and my unwillingness to change or transition. It would have rather stayed in that stage of not knowing anything than now knowing that was my issue. You see, I haven’t reached that final stage of simply be UNCONSCIOUSLY COMPETENT when it comes to counting the cost but I do know that I must.

And just like one day Judah will know how to drive but think about everything, I too need to do that when it comes to following God. I need to focus not just on the WHERE TO but the WHAT FROM so that I can follow Him wherever He leads. Holy Spirit – keep revealing to me what I don’t know and grant me the wisdom, faith, and courage to act when I do see and know. This is my prayer today.

Little Seeds

Funny how something that starts off so small can one day grow to something so big.

I am blessed to be the father of two boys who collectively started off less than 4lbs. Judah was 1lb and 12 oz and Jedidiah was 2lbs and 2 oz. Just last night I was remembering how tiny they were and how many tubes and wires they had on them as they literally fought to live. You wouldn’t know they had it so hard today if you saw them. They are normal 3 year old boys who have more energy than the energizer bunny. I say all of that to consider this contrasting and yet somewhat similar thought.

Where do things like murder, rape, wars and genocide begin? I would suggest that they begin as little seeds. Seeds of hate, lust, jealousy, greed, neglect and abuse. These seeds are planted and given different environments and opportunities they grow. They one day take a life of their own.

What may begin as a thought deep in the recesses of ones heart, one day finds words and then one day day leads to action. Now many of us will never let our actions or thoughts lead to such horrible acts but make no mistake as I read something today…that seed lies in each of us.

God warned Cain that sin was crouching at his door and he failed to heed that warning. I myself have sin crouching at my door and no matter what the seed is – I must starve it from anything that would allow it to grow or take root in my life. I have hated, lusted, been jealous & greedy. I have neglected things that ought not be neglected and abuse is not foreign to me. Today I am reminded of this powerful truth…

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:12-14)

I saw some amazing men and women in the NICU allow themselves to be instruments of God to foster life into my boys. I saw two boys being moved from apparent death to life and now the life and joy they bring to our family is amazing. God has done the same for me.

I moved from death to life on August 21, 1988. I made a decision to believe in Jesus and I received His grace. Now I pray that I am the instrument that He can use to foster that life and freedom that comes from knowing Him. I offer grace freely because that grace has been so freely given to me. I know those ugly seeds remain and stand ready to find root in my heart but I want to be diligent to empty myself daily to Him.

I want to plant seeds like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control in my life and the lives of others. So that one day those little seeds will grow into something bigger than myself. This is my prayer.

Year End Report From Cissy McNickle

I must admit that, so far, the experience of being a Church Plant Core Team member has been difficult but incredible!

The things I thought would be most challenging have proven to be easier, such as making connections with New Jersey natives, seeing where God is working, and finding ways to join Him, and yet, the things I thought to be easy have been more challenging– especially communal living! God is so good and the ways He has provided have been nothing short of miraculous!

I am most thankful for our amazing team. Before moving up here, God confirmed to me that he would provide a team, if I would just trust Him. As a result, I could not ask for a better team!

Since moving to New Jersey in May, I have found that I am most surprised at the ministry opportunities that are already opened to us.

Twice a week, we are tutoring at an after-school program. This responsibility has been wearisome, but a meaningful experience. We have 25 children on the roster and new students join us almost each week. The kids are warming up to us and have really embraced our structured program.

Most recently, I have been blown away by the positive reception we have received at the strip clubs we are reaching out to through our “Loves Way Out-AC” ministry. We hope to visit the employees of these clubs every 3 to 4 weeks.

You can join us in this exciting ministry by:

1. Joining the prayer team. You will receive emails from me with the prayer requests of the women and men we meet.

2. Financially contributing to the gifts and baked goods we take into the clubs.

These gifts have proven to be crucial in breaking the ice. To get involved, email me at cissyloveschris@hotmail.com

Year End Report From Shelby Moreland

I never could have imagined that the way that God had refined me over the years would be one of the biggest reasons for coming here to serve. I am constantly surprised by how the Lord works in and through me. God has molded me to do the work that I am involved in at Grace Falls. He has made me with a desire to love on young women, to help the homeless and to teach children.

Before I moved to AC, I was serving at a homeless ministry every Thursday night. As God allowed me to fall in love with serving in that environment, He was shaping me to volunteer at Sister Jean’s Soup Kitchen, here in Atlantic County.

During my time here I have also learned that many times I put God in a box and doubt what He can really do. Time and time again, when I’m doubting God he comes through in a simple way and says “See, I Am bigger than you think.”

In the new year, I really look forward to developing relationships with the girls through “Loves Ways Out,” to continue to get more grounded here, to get to know my neighbors better, to continue to love on and be an influence to the kids we tutor in the Pleasantville community. I look forward to growing in Christ and experiencing His love on a deeper level, and I also look forward to growing closer with my team.

While I have been here, I have made a point to look back every couple of weeks and recognize how much I have changed and how my relationship with the Lord has grown. I get excited when I look to the future and think about the changes that God will be making as I continue to grow.

Year End Report From Tami Webb

Privileged!

That is how I would describe myself these days. I am so honored to be a part of the start of this church plant. For many years I loved being a part of the history of Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church. I am aware of the sacrifices made by those who started that church in a small neighborhood. Now I have the honor to witness the history in the making of Grace Falls from the very inception!

In an effort to develop a ministry purpose and plan, our core team read and studied the book, “Barefoot Church - Serving the Least in a Consumer Culture” by Brandon Hatmaker.

I must confess that I struggled through most of it. Not because I disagreed, but because I was so ill prepared to participate in any sort of relational ministry. For years, I have sat in the church office and I have forgotten the value of personal relationships. That is part of what motivated me to join this ministry effort. As a result, God has led me into places I would have never imagined.

While I still have the honor to support the ministry of Idlewild, as well as the administrative needs of Grace Falls, I am excited to get out from behind the desk and participate in ministry!

Twice a week I get to encourage children who need someone to help them finish their homework. Each Friday we gather with a small group of believers as we “Experience God,” not only through the workbook, but also as we see how He is transforming our perspective for eternity. But, most challenging of all has been to participate in the “Loves Way Out” ministry.

As the mother of two young men, I have struggled to connect with young women, yet on the very first night of ministry at the clubs, we met a dancer who reminded me of a girl who had been in my 6th grade Bible Fellowship class many years ago. It was her first night at work and she looked scared. That was how God taught me the value of why are here - to bring Light to the darkness.

Yes, it has been hard to leave our family, our house, a job that I have loved and served at for 33 years, but I pray that as I learn to engage in a new way that someone else might be challenged to step out also.

Jim and I cannot begin to express how much we appreciate the generous support you have shown to us and we look forward to sharing more in the new year!

Merry Christmas From Atlantic County!

There is a worship song that I love and although it isn’t one that finds its way in our Christmas playlist – it should! The song is called One Thing Remains and the lyrics are very powerful:

Your love never fails, it never gives up and never runs out on me Your Love, On and on it comes, Yes it overwhelms and it satisfies my soul, And I never ever have to be afraid Because this one thing remains… Your love never fails, it never gives up And never runs out on me.

Isn’t this the essence of what Christmas is all about? Christmas marks the event when God’s love came down and revealed itself in the form of a baby. This was no ordinary child and it sure wasn’t an ordinary birth. This was God keeping His word by giving us the WORD. Listen to what the apostle John says in John 1:14, as translated in The Message…

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”

When Christ came to us, He came not only demonstrating the Love of the Father, but to also declare His love for you and for me. His love is a love that never fails…it is a love that never gives up or runs out. Christmas is a time that helps each of us slow down, to reflect, to remember and it is a time we gather with those we love.

We don’t just take the time, we MAKE the time to be with the ones we love. We go to great lengths to express that love in various ways. We want each of those family and friends to know the difference they make in our lives. This is why we love Christmas. It affords each of us to value the things that matter.

Your love and support has been a clear reflection of God’s love. It has been a love that has been with us every step of this journey. It has helped us not give up, but to press on. It’s helped us when it’s been tough, scary and lonely. It has encouraged us to know that we aren’t alone and that God is with us.

Your prayers, your encouragement, your gifts, and even presence here have been a HUGE BLESSING to US! We hope you know that:

❄ We love you and thank GOD for you! ❅ You are our family and you are a part of every aspect of what God is doing here. ❆ We couldn’t accomplish what we have seen so far without your support. ❄ We won’t be able to see it through without you’re continued prayer and support. ❅ Miles may separate but it is God’s love that UNITES. ❆ May you and your family have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!