Understanding

Wow. I don't know what else to say. I awoke a little disappointed this morning because I couldn't sing. I've just gotten my voice back after last weekend in Pigeon Forge. After our service this at Calvary this morning, I was grateful for my lack of singing voice.

Had I been able to sing today, I'm almost certain I would have missed truly experiencing God's presence this morning. I've never experienced anything like the service this morning. I saw a side of my pastor that I feel doesn't come out very often.

Open. Raw. Unashamed. Transparent. Passionate.

A reminder that pastors are human just like the rest of us. Gary's love for us, his brothers and sisters in Christ, was abundantly clear this morning. He was truly burdened for us this morning. He listened to the Spirit's leading and shared a sermon that I'm sure stepped on all of our toes. I know it did mine.

The title of the sermon was "What are you hiding?" The focus scripture was Joshua 7. I won't repeat the entire sermon, because I'm sure I could never recreate the sermon to it's fullest potential. The main key points were:

• Your sin affects others. (v 1-12)
• Your sin has an allure. (v 21)
• Your sin will be uncovered. (v 13-19)
• Your sins will have consequences. (v 25-26)

ALL blessings come from God and God alone. When we fail and refuse to repent, God will remove those blessings little by little until there is none left. We then face the same choice we had at the beginning--Repent and follow God's call or refuse and lose everything forever. When we repent and turn back to God's love and grace, he will turn the Valley of Trouble into a Door of Hope. The only thing left to do then, is to accept and walk through that door.  (Gary Graves, 2013)

Had I been able to sing this morning, I would have been distracted from what was to follow that message. An invitation that was so full, people couldn't get all the way to the alter. One young lady followed God's call and chose to publicly proclaim her salvation through baptism. Another family joined our church. So many people chose to answer God's call on their lives and walk through the Door of Hope before it was eternally too late.

Revival truly came to Calvary Baptist Church today. God's presence was everywhere and very evident. I can only pray that I don't let that feeling die during this week and that it will be seen by everyone I encounter.


I thank You, Lord, for Your ever present grace and mercy. I'm am most unworthy of Your love, yet You chose me. You loved me enough to allow Your only Son to come and suffer agony and die in the cruelest way possible just so that I would have would have access to Your presence. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't miraculous. It wasn't on the front page of every newspaper or magazine or television. You were mocked. Spit on. Beaten. Stabbed. Humiliated. Nailed to a cross and left to die. All so I could know the mercy and unconditional love that only You provide. I come humbly to Your throne.

I thank You for the little things in life that allow me to move out of the way and let Your presence truly enter my heart, mind, and soul. I thank You for chance after chance after chance that You grant so that I can ask Your forgiveness for my failures. I fail every day. Sometimes small failures. Sometimes extremely large failures. Thank You for not pouring out Your wrath and anger on me after just one shortcoming.

Lord, I commit my life back into You hands...the beautiful hands that made me and knew me before I was formed in my mother's womb. (Jeremiah 1:5) You know the plans that You have for my life. I pray that you would take myself out of the equation and let Your glory shine through me each and every day that I'm on this earth. Guide my footsteps so that I may live to Your perfect will. Take me as Your own and mold me into all that You would have me to be.

Amen.