Light the Darkness

Blind Faith

I can't remember a time I've received more stories about God's generous provision. Here is another.

 

My name is Marianne Friedli. I was raised in a Christian home, attended church camp in my earlier years and have drifted away from and re-given my life to Christ more times than I can remember. I’ve attended Indian Creek a handful of times since I moved here in 2003. I’m a single mom of two. [Recently I] decided to have my 6 month old son dedicated. I said a prayer asking for forgiveness and ask God to use me daily in His purposes and to guide me down the path He planned.

 

I got online and saw the “Single Moms” group. I knew that is where I was supposed to be. I met a group of women who shared the same struggles as a single mom that I was experiencing and I was grateful that God led me to them.

 

One Sunday morning the message was about blind faith, trusting God’s path even if it doesn’t make sense. It just so happened that earlier that week, I had an issue with my apartment and I owed rent the following week or I would be evicted from my home. My bank account was low and I had one $20 bill in my wallet. With tears in my eyes, I tithed that $20, praying that God would somehow give it back to me. “Ok God,” I thought, “Let’s try this blind faith thing. I trust you.”

 

The following Wednesday at my Single Moms group my heart was heavy with worry. I needed to come up with this money somehow in a few days and I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it. I shared my concern with my group and felt much better after I did. Over the period of the next week God would show me just how good He is and that putting my trust in Him was the right thing to do. The moms from my group, along with members from the church pooled together the money for my rent. I was able to hand over my rent on the final day before eviction and go to bed with a peaceful and grateful heart that night.

 

I know I will not be able to pay anyone back financially any time soon, but I pray that God will show me a way to pay it forward to someone in need. The goodness of His love is alive and well and I completely trust that His path for me is good. Thank you Indian Creek for your help. And [thanks] for opening your arms to my family, and welcoming us into your church. We feel very much at home here.

 

Gary Kendall

Be Still and Know

Jon DeWitt is a good friend and former neighbor of mine. He does two things are are innovative and helpful, well, I"m sure there are more than two but you know what I'm saying :)  He put together a bookmark that has favorite Bible scriptures alphabetized by subjects. You can look up anxious or courage or sleepless and find verses that will help. I'm sure he would be glad to tell you where you could pick up one if you contact him at Dewittj@live.com.

The second thing he does is publish a daily devotional. He wants you to know he doesn't write them all, he just passes them on to encourage people. I especially enjoyed today's on Psalm 46:10. If you want to sign up for the daily devo just write him. Even more importantly, press into God daily. Be still before Him and know He is God.

Hi friends, Attached are some encouraging devotionals that talk to "MARRIAGES".  Due to the demographics of people who are seeking HIS truth daily, I want to get these out but don't want to discourage those who are singles, divorced, teens etc.  If you are married, I pray with all my heart that you "READ THEM" if you know married friends etc, forward this to them, if you are NEITHER, they will come in handy for you some day as well.  Love to all who read this today.  IN HIS GRACE............Jon!

“Be still, and know that I am God.”   Psalm 46:10

Former CBS anchor, Dan Rather, found himself unprepared for a television interview with Mother Teresa.  Ron Mehl described the encounter this way: "All of Dan's standard approaches were inadequate.  And the little nun from Calcutta didn't seem inclined to make his task easier.  "When you pray," asked Dan, "what do you say to God?"  "I don't say anything," she replied.  "I listen."  Dan tried another tack.  "Well, okay… when God speaks to you, then, what does He say?"  "He doesn't say anything. He listens."  Dan looked bewildered.  For an instant, he didn't know what to say.  "And if you don't understand that," Mother Teresa added, "I can't explain it to you."

 

It's in the place of silence that the Holy Spirit boils the truth we receive from Scripture down to its essence, reveals specific insights that are pertinent, and then applies them to our most perplexing problems and our most stubborn misconceptions.  As He transforms our heart to beat in harmony with His, our decisions begin to accomplish His will and we begin to reflect His character.

 

Go ahead, try it.  Open the Word of God in a peaceful place and sit in quietness before Him.  In time, the Holy Spirit will illuminate a passage and it will come to life in your mind.  Before you know it, the knotty situation that drove you to distraction will unravel.  As you learn to "be still" in God's presence, your greatest problems will suddenly become more manageable.  He will reveal Himself to you.  He will calm your emotions and relieve your mind.  You'll discover new direction, freedom from worry, and a fresh sense of peace.

 

“I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.”  Proverbs 24:32-33 

 

Gary Kendall

Odd and Even

When I attend Alpha class at Indian Creek I sit at a different table every week to get to know the participants. A few weeks ago I heard a woman telling about how God revealed Himself to her. It was a great story. It had a very unusual start--she was in a conversation with her son about divorce. She said everyone has a father and a mother they just don't always have both of them living with them.

The son, who was about ten, said, that's not true.

She said yes it was, and they went back and forth a time or two. Finally she said, who are you thinking about.

He said, you know, Odd and Even, the first humans!

She said, Odd and Even, who are you talking about, do you mean Adam and Eve?

Oh, yeah, that's who I mean, he said, rather embarrassed. She said, I've got to get my kids back in church--and that's how the journey started. I love it, no matter how it happens!

Gary Kendall

Change Your Prayer

Several weeks ago I was praying for friends to find their way back to God and I prayed the prayer i've prayed so often, Lord, please draw them to you. I heard a quick response in my spirit, that went something like this--that's the wrong prayer. Pray, Lord, use me to help my friends find their way back to God. I immediately changed my prayer and the opportunities since then have been many! I won't use any of the real names but the stories are real. There are some I won't share because the stories are still in process. I'll work backwards through the last several days.

There is a friend who I've been inviting for over a year and one-half who came to Indian Creek for the first time this last Sunday. I saw her again today and she didn't see me walking up so I got to hear her tell a friend, I went to church this weekend and it was great! She said, the music was great, it was very casual and relaxed and I could understand it! Just then I walked up. She said her middle school aged son who came with her really liked it and said he wanted to keep coming with her. She took one of the Bibles home and said she loved it.  She even introduced me to her friend and invited her. I told her that if she was feeling those kind of feelings then that was because God loves her and wants to reveal Himself to her. There is a story growing here!

On Sunday afternoon I was invited to go to the Oxford House, a halfway house, for lunch. Of course I jumped at that chance. There I met a guy who I see almost weekly at a local dry cleaners. He told me he has been coming for several weeks. He recognized me from church and was very gracious in what he had to say about the church and about me. It is a good thing I've always been kind to him :)

During the time I was there I talked to two young ladies, one of which said, I'm a believer but my friend is not. Her friend smiled and nodded in agreement as if to say, she's right. The friend started right in with me by saying, I came to your church today. I didn't know that! She said she liked it. Then she said, I don't believe because I have so many questions. Okay, I said, what are your questions. That led to a 45 minute discussion that was wide ranging. It was an engaging talk where I didn't try to convince her in one day but hopefully left her wanting more. Please pray that she opens her heart to Him and that I get more opportunities to share. I pray she opens her heart to Jesus.

On Thursday I went to Panara to do some work on one of the talks I had to give this week (ten talks in eight days). I was working outside when my battery got low. I went inside and ran into a friend who I led to Christ several years ago. He looked really discouraged. I sat down at his table and he was shocked to see me. It was one of those, what are you doing here, looks. We talked about life for an hour. His wife showed up and we ended up sitting in Panara praying together. He said to his wife, when he saw me coming he knew God had something to say to him. I was glad to be there at that moment and I know God was speaking. I could tell you three more stories similar to these but the time isn't right.

What do you suppose could happen with your friends if you changed your prayers?

Gary Kendall

What Game are You Playing?

I enjoy talking to Dr. Paul Fitzgerald, the Executive Director of Heartconnexion Counseling Center.  Dr. Paul leads the Breakthrough process Belinda and I attended in 2001.  We've benefited from his counsel many times.  Last week I asked him to speak to the CMA (Church Multiplication Assoc) planters on the conference call I lead.  Here is the question he asked, what game(s) are you playing?

For example, let's say a woman who is an executive wants to do a good job and be esteemed as a leader also wants the approval of her employees.  She's playing two games at once. Those games are going to compete against each other at some point in time.  The question is, which game is the most important or most necessary.

Here is another illustration, do you play a game you know you can win?  Do you pick a game where the risk is low, where you know you can't loose? And if you do are you bored?  Do you find yourself unfulfilled and dis-satisfied?  Those choices go together.  If you are unhappy with your life consider if you've chosen the wrong game.

Or do you choose the game where you are challenged to be your very best?  If you choose that game then one of the requirements is, that it must be possible to lose.  If there isn't the possibility that you could fail it won't have the adventure that will tax you to the max.  So which game do you want to play?

Even more importantly which game(s) are you playing?  Why?  And is that the game(s) you want to play?

Gary Kendall

Healing Sunday

It is always great to see peoplee you've been praying for up and walking around.  You know there is a living God and He loves His children.

Mary Beth Blackwell

Mary Beth had brain surgery on the stem about 18 days ago.  Life was painful and uncertain for her and prayer went up from all over.  I can't even describe the feeling, but you know it if you pray for people, that you have when you see someone up, walking around at church, that has been prayed through.  She is on the road to recovery.  She's feeling a little weak and still has some pain but she's making progress and it looks promising.  Praise God and thank you for your prayers.

Lucy McMillan

Little three year old Lucy looks like she has a mitten on one hand.  It was severly burned when she tripped while running near a camp fire.  She fell into the fire and received third degree burns.  We prayed all week that she would not have to have a skin graph.  But by Friday it still looked like surgery was inevitable. John, Lisa and Jack went to the hospital still praying.  The doctors took Lucy back and then brought her back to Lisa saying, when we took the bandage off there was enough healing that we decided that we didn't have to do surgery. Praise God! Olathe campus Pastor Jim Davey was with them and they all went out to celebrate at First Watch.

I'm stoked that we serve a loving God who is able and willing to both hear our prayers and heal.

Gary Kendall

We Get to Do This!

Last Wednesday night I got to hang out with some friends from western Kansas.  At the end of the evening we gathered to pray for Parker who was going to Europe on a choir trip.  Our primary purpose was to pray for his protection and that he would experience God's presence and leading throughout the trip.  But just before we prayed his grandmother said, would you pray for his shoulder.  He hurt it wrestling and it was a constant pain.  She was concerned that the challenges of the trip would exacerbate the problem and delay the healing.

It was one of those times where even as she made the request I felt confident that God wanted to heal him.  I appreciated the Spirit's presence and the words flowed easily.  I love those times when family and friends gather to seek God together.  The next morning he left for the airport at 4 a.m. And he reported that for the first time in a long time his shoulder didn't hurt.  Isn't God good!  Just think, we get to do this!  We are a part of what God is doing on the earth!  How cool is that?

Last night we got to go visit a young couple who just had a new baby.  We sent pizza to their house for supper and then dropped by later in the evening to take them a gift.  Some in Indian Creek Community Church knew that the hospital stay was longer than anticipated after the birth of their child.  They also knew that the bills were greater than expected so they took action.  They passed on a substantial gift. And we got to deliver it!  We are so privileged to do what we get to do!

Today there is a Cancer Walk at Indian Creek.  Two people very dear to us have recently been declared cancer free.  They have  miles to go in their journey to heal but we get to walk with them, support them, and share their journey.  They are heroes of our faith!  We've prayed with them, cried with them, contributed to their financial need and now today we get to walk with them another lap to health.  Their faith is inspiring.  We get to do this!  Really?  God, thanks for sharing your redeeming love and for giving us a chance to get in the game! There is nothing better!

Gary Kendall

Deal with Your Stuff

The things we go through in life leave a lasting impression.  Some of them are by our choosing and some of them come from someone else's choice but they impact us nevertheless.  For instance, I was thinking this week about the awful tragedy that took place in Bethlehem after Herod went searching for baby Jesus.  He had every boy baby killed that was two years of age and younger.  That is horrific!  I find it interesting that in the 30+ years that follow Bethlehem never comes up in the gospels except in reference to Jesus birth.  Nothing of significance happened that we know of--no miracles, no teaching took place there, from all I can tell Jesus never even traveled there (only there is no doubt he did because it was right on the main road to Jerusalem).  It is significant by its absence in the New Testament.

Certainly what took place there was not the fault of the residents of Bethlehem.  And certainly it was as tragic as any story we can find in the scriptures.  I'm guessing the city never recovered emotionally.  Since I know what it is like to lose a child I can understand why.  I also know grief is compounded when there is multiple grief.  But here is what I also know.  You have to face it and deal with it or you get stuck.  

Getting stuck is the natural thing, working through grief is the difficult thing.  There are many reasons to stay stuck, we take a victim role, we get depressed, it is so dark so long, people say stupid things, there are tons of triggers, we have an active enemy who works against us, it feels so sad, we don't want to go on without our loved one, etc.  But you can't live there.  It is no way to live.  

Yes it is bad, wrong and painful but you have to push through to a new normal.  It is your reality and you must embrace it for what it is to heal and move forward.  It is better to have loved and lost than not to love at all.  Bitterness, resentment, jealousy, anger, and living in the past drag you into the depths and they steal your future.  It is bad enough that you have to deal with your loss, it is even worse if you let it ruin your life.  You can press into God and He will sustain and comfort you.  You can ask for help from others.  You can believe that out of the worst pain God can bring something good--for instance you can comfort other with the comfort you receive.

I'm not sure what happened in Bethlehem over those next few years but my guess is they were stuck--tied to the past.  Somehow we know they missed the Savior when He ministered even though He was born in their city.  I wonder, what are you missing when you hold on to your stuff?

Gary Kendall

Believe You Can Do It

I went to see the new Star Trek movie.  They did a good job of going back to the beginning before the original crew was in place.  In other words they showed how they reached their positions as the crew of the USS Enterprise.  It was fun to watch.  It got me thinking about destiny.  In the movie young Kirk goes through all kinds of difficulty but he never quit battling and he never quit believing he would be captain. 

I know it is just a movie but it got me thinking about destiny and about never quitting.  I don't believe in the kind of destiny that is going to happen no matter what as if things were predestined.  But I do believe God has a plan for each of us that is activated by our faith.  I have faith you and I can do what God calls us to do because of who He is.  He can get us where He wants us to go because of His divine nature.  What He needs from us is our cooperation and obedience.  Another way to say it is, don't quit believing in God and don't quit believing you can do what He calls you to do. 

The scriptures are full of stories of people who have feet of clay but who get where God wants them to go.  Peter sank, Thomas doubted, James and John wanted to call fire from heaven on the Samaritans, Paul got into an argument with Barnabas over John Mark and so the story goes.  But in the end Peter took the gospel to the Gentiles, Thomas went as a missionary to India, John wrote fourbooks in the New Testament, James was considered the father of the church in Jerusalem, Paul became the most prolific writer in terms of number of books in the Bible.  They didn't quit.  Don't you quit either.  If you give God your obedience today and you are faithful to get up and keep going again and again, God will get you where He wants you to go too.  Reread Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13.

Gary Kendall

Getting Alone with God

Tuesday I took some time off in the afternoon to go sit at a shelter house at Heritage Park and read my Bible.  When I drove up memories came flooding into my mind of other times I’ve sat in the same place.  The first memory was very positive. On that bench I had a conversation with a man who was contemplating a job change.  We prayed together at the end of the lunch and a new business was born out of that talk.

The next memory was more painful.  Belinda and I went there to attempt to talk through a complicated problem.  We didn’t make much progress that day although we did work it out later.  Another time I was there for a going away party for a small group member.

Anyway, what happened is that the memories reminded me of God’s faithfulness.  So before I even opened my Bible to seek direction I was encouraged.  On top of that I’m so amazed at how often my daily Bible readings hit the mark.  I was seeking leadership from God about what to do in a certain subject and my reading plan called for me to read Romans 4.

Romans 4 is all about faith and how Abraham was considered righteous by God not by his actions but by his faith.  I was really encouraged.  Here are a couple of examples:  “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith” (vs 3) and “Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing” (vs 17) and “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise.  In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.” (vs 20).

I just never get tired of God’s word.  It is a living word! And I love the way the Holy Spirit applies it to just the right place in my heart.  Make room for God to speak to you today.  It is life changing!

Gary Kendall