The Banquet

God works in wonderful and incredible ways sometimes putting things together years ago that would come full circle at a later date.  This is one of those stories. 

The young college age woman walked into the middle school in the center of town accompanied by two men.  The meeting had been set up by one of the teachers to introduce a very special program to the principal.   As the teacher approached the trio, her eye immediately traveled to the young college student.  She knew that face.   As if in a time warp, her memories searched back to find this student, and now the circle was completed. 

Just a week earlier, it was a warm Saturday morning in Yuma, and a group of people were getting ready to paint the house of someone in need.  As two women chatted, the subject came up about the next days banquet that the small group had been invited to attend the previous week.   Feeling like the banquet was on a Sunday night, and they had a lot to get ready for on Monday including small group, the first women told her friend, that they had decided and to stay home and not go to the banquet.  The second woman would not let her out of the commitment.  “We want you there!”, encouraging her to go as if this was bigger than a commitment, it was a small group commitment!  Not excited about the event, the woman agreed they would go. 

At the banquet, the woman and her husband had a marvelous time.  But sometime during the festivities, this woman was struck by the Holy Spirit that she needed to bring this organization into her middle school.  So she spoke with the Area Director and they scheduled a time to meet the principal.  This was now that meeting time, and as she was approaching the young woman and two men.  Her memories shot back to eight year prior.  The girl that stood before her now, was the young girl that she had taught so many years ago.  Not only had the woman been her teacher, but the young girl had been the woman’s student in home room and was on the same soccer team that this teacher had also coached.  This was one of those most special students you hope you never loose contact with, but she had.  Now she stood in front of her, eight years later, and the relationship had been reconnected.  

Had it not been for the encouragement of one of this ladies small group members, she would have never gone to the banquet, felt the Holy Spirit move inside of her, scheduled a meeting with the area director, and became reacquainted with with the young woman she adored.  

The banquet?   Young Life of Yuma, a christian based national organization that works to reach middle and high school kids for Christ.  Certainly a divine appointment!

In the Hot Seat 1

When it comes to prayer time in a small group, you never know what kinds of requests will come. Sometimes the group just senses the intense emotion of the request -- this is not just another ordinary request, it is one of concern, pain, stress, worry. In other words, a burden only Jesus can carry. It is at one of these moments that a leader might decide to put that person(s) in the hot seat. I’ve seen it take place many times. Here is just one: 

An ordinary night as the small group was finishing up, it was time for prayer requests.  As it came time for this one man to speak, his burden was heavy and his stress level was high as he shared his need. This man is a business owner.  He is very laid back and takes much of life in stride, so people rarely know what is really going on. Tonight was not one of those nights.  

 This man’s business was struggling so the group had prayed that God would expand his territory. God did. What a blessing! The expansion was taking place, but no income yet been seen.  Now his bills were due: business vendors were seeking their money as well as creditors in his personal life. All he could say was, “We don’t have any money.”  This was a cause for pain and strife which came out in his prayer request. His wife shared the same burden.  

“Can we put you in the hot seat?”, the leader asked. With a little hesitation they agreed.  Two chairs were set up; the husband and wife sat down. The rest of the group gathered around them, gently placing their hands on the couples’ shoulders and knees. Prayer for this couple began -- each person speaking as the Spirit led them. 

“The sermon the week before had been “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread” so we asked God for just that: Peace for today; enough bread to get him through today; enough trust in the Almighty . . . for today.  Amen.”

The next day the group received this text: “Just thought I would share this with you all . . . after our prayer last night, my stress level went way down. Thank you. Today we  only got one thing in the mail -- a check for the balance of a job that’s not even finished yet. God is faithful. I am weak, but He is strong. . . .”  The check wasn’t enormous, but was enough to get them into a place where they could breathe a little and keep moving forward. The mail carrier rarely comes into this man’s office to deliver the mail.  This day -- as if he knew it held a blessing -- he did, saying, “I just thought I would shake things up a little bit”.  A prayer answered. 

Lord, give us this day our daily bread.

Just in Time

It was just supposed to a be a normal follow up call.  I had received a request card from a man who was looking for some marriage counseling.  I didn't have a chance to get back to the man as quickly as I would have liked.  I had received the card during our busiest time of small group sign up and time was tight.  So after life had slowed down a little and I was following up on past due items I called this man. 

Me:  Hello, Mr. Doe?  This is Pastor Scott.  The reason I called was that I was just following up on a request for marriage counseling.  I apologize for not getting to you sooner.  How can I help you? 

Him:  Honestly sir, I don't think we need it right now.

Me: (Instantly my mind went to the worst case scenario, and my heart sank)  Is everything OK?

Him:  Oh yes!  You see, we joined a small group recently and since then my wife and I  have started reading a devotional and praying together and we are doing great!  We may need something later on, but for right now we are doing well. 

Me:  That is awesome.  Praise God!  God Bless you my friend and call us back if you need us. 

The conversation ended. 

I hung up the phone, my heart light and my head in the clouds.   I may some day have to meet with this couple, but because of their openness about their marriage, it is more likely they will find encouragement, discipleship and support through their small group where they share life.  AMEN!

Man's Best Friend

We call them "man's best friend", a title earned everyday, except for the day they die, and then we are at a loss as to what to do.  They are joyous to see us, sad when we leave, easily forgive, and never judge.  They are not upset when you lose your patience, but rarely loose theirs.  They never fail to love even when they have been ignored.

I cried great big tears of grief as my wife and son and I laid our dog of sixteen to rest.  The memory of that day still produces a gnawing emptiness in the pit of my stomach.  It is a day I will never forget.

It will be a day he will never forget either.  A group of men gather together to share a time of sharing, connection, bonding. They enjoyed a meal, some prayer, and fellowship. They are a small group.  The man,  the host whose house they met at,  looked over to see his four legged friend collapse and die. Not a pleasant sight.  But this group of men gathered around him, consoled him and then they all grabbed shovels and helped him bury his dog. 

There are many bonding times a man can have - BBQ's, hunting, fishing, biking, running building cars and on and on.   Few will compare to the bondering experience these men shared on  this night.   Brothers helping a fellow brother say goodbye to his best friend.  That's what small groups do. Share. Everything.  

Proverbs 18:24

Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. MSG

Of Thee I Sing....

Small Groups are known for a lot of things, but their power of prayer is significant and powerful.  It is a time we approach the God of the universe on his thrown and humbly ask for his guidance, provision, forgiveness and love at the same time offering up our praises.   I've seen, heard and experienced God's movement not only in the groups I've attended, but also from the stories that leaders have told me of nothing short of miraculous movements that can only be explained as being super natural, without explanation, miraculous ... everything that is normal for God. 

On this one particular evening, a small group gathered.  The evening had gone as expected with no surprises.  It had come to the point in the evening when prayers would be offered up.  The group spoke about where they were asking for God's intervention and provision and then bowed their heads and closed their eyes.  One by one they laid their petitions on the alter of God.  Then it came the turn of one of the female members of the group.  It was quiet as a small voice that was heard.  Words accompanied by a melodious sound.  A song of praise, a cry of need, a request of intervention, all  accompanied by a sweet, flowing voice.  This person was singing their prayer.  Some people are intimidated by praying out loud, much less singing.  This person found connection with God through her sonnet of love. 

Of thee I sing...

May we have a heart that sing our prayers to God. 

Why?

I gratefully accepted this job as associate pastor over small groups almost a year ago now.   I knew how important small groups were to the the foundation of being a believer in Jesus.  I knew some of the fun, amazing, humorous and yes sometimes even sad stories that have come out of my group alone.  Over the year I have continue to hear the same kind of stories come of the groups that I get to help pastor.  I thought it was important to share some of those stories as they come.  I have chosen to write stories that will encourage and challenge, edify and maybe even confirm our faith in the living God.   I choose not to include names of the people involved or the groups that they are involved in because the stories could be any one of us at any time.   I will write when I hear a story.  At times it might be every day, at times it might be once a week.  I hope I will always have a story to share and I hope that you will enjoy and be moved by life that takes place in living rooms every week.   So let' get started.