David's Bucket

As we shared in worship this weekend, we sent 1200 “God is Big Enough” wristbands to our sister church, First United Methodist Church in Grapevine, as a sign of our love and prayers for them as they deal with the sudden loss of their Senior Pastor, Rev. Ken Deihm. It was a very small way that we felt like our congregation could share our support in a very difficult time.

This morning we received this word of thanks from a member of that church family.

Dear FUMC Mansfield,

As you can imagine, the sudden passing of our pastor and friend this week has been quite difficult.  It was nice to see some spots in the news about him (although I think it might have embarrassed him, he was always about Christ), as well as to see the church was being mentioned in the media in a positive light.  A couple of nights later, I saw on the news about your bracelets.  At the time I had two thoughts.  The first was, boy I could sure use one of those this week.  And second was, wow, a second topic on the news this week about the good things Christians are trying to do in the name of Christ.  This morning, when I walked in church and saw the baskets full of bracelets, you can only imagine my delight.  As the morning went on, I saw more and more people wearing them.  It made me feel good inside to be reminded of just one more group of people who were praying for us and loving us, not because you know us, but because of Christ.  After we got home, I sat my kids (3 and 5 years old) down and used the bracelets as one more opportunity to teach them about the love of Christ.

Thank you for making another difficult day so very special.

Tanya

FUMC Grapevine member

This morning I’m excited to be heading to Muskogee, Oklahoma to spend the week with our High School students during their annual mission trip. Over the next five days, these students will be working in groups of 6-8 students and 2 adults on small construction projects for many families who find themselves in need in the Muskogee area. I’m honored to be going as the “camp pastor” for the week.

When I worked with HS students full time, I always reminded parents that Mission Trip was the most important event of the year for our youth ministry. What I discovered was that I could preach something 40 times to my students, but when they had the opportunity to provide a tangible blessing to someone else in need, it was a transforming moment in their lives.

No other opportunity led to more profound change in my student’s life than mission trip.

So I hope you will join with me this week in praying for these kids. It’s going to be a hard week of work, but it’s an amazing opportunity for God’s spirit to work in their lives. Specifically, would you pray for these five things.

• Pray for Safety! Power tools will be involved! Our kids will be traveling in fifteen passenger vans. There are lots of “moving parts” to the week. Pray for safety throughout the trip for our students.
• Pray for our Adults! The work week is hard on our teenagers and even more so on the adults who are serving as sponsors for these trips. They will be richly rewarded to share this time with our students, but it will be a physically demanding week for them!
• Pray for Muskogee! You can only imagine the impact that a group like ours has on a community. Pray that as our students seek to complete their construction projects, God would use that work to continue reconstructing lives and all those who live in this area.
• Pray for our Kids! We want God’s spirit to move in their lives! Pray for God to reveal himself to these young people in an amazing way this week. For some, it may be the first time they say, “God I want to serve you with my life.” For others, this week may be another step in deepening their relationship with God!
• Pray for me! I’m really thrilled to have the chance to speak to our kids each night. I’ll be talking to them each night about how God “redefines” us. Would you pray for God to lead me as I share with them?

Thank you so much for lifting up our kids in prayer this week.

During my reading of Ephesians last week, I was really blown away by the request Paul shares with the church at Ephesus near the end of his letter. In the sixth chapter, Paul writes this.

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20

Paul asked Ephesus to pray that he would have courage… From prison, Paul prays for courage. It’s helpful for me to remember that Paul was a human being like me. I sometimes forget that in the midst of the passion and boldness in which he writes to the churches he so dearly loved. It helps keep me focused on the idea that Paul was a pastor at heart, just like me, who loved his people and desperately wanted them to discover and dwell in “the Truth.”

I wonder if it would be too much for me to ask you to pray Ephesians 6:19 for me and our pastors?

God, whenever [name] open [his/her] mouth, I pray that words may be given [him/her] so that [he/she] will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel.

Today, Kyle and Sheley will commit their lives to one another.

Family and friends will gather with them to witness their vows, celebrate this holy moment, and pray that God will bless the shared journey that they will now begin. Rings will be exchanged and a great party will follow, but most importantly, God will be honored as two individuals whom God loves and has shaped in extraordinary ways will unite their lives and dreams together.

They are two wonderful friends, and I will be honored to officiate their service and share this prayer before announcing to all their union.

O God, you have so consecrated the covenant of Christian marriage that in it is represented the covenant between Christ and his Church. Send therefore your blessing upon Kyle and Sheley, that they may surely keep their marriage covenant, and so grow in love and godliness together that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.