The Calendar Is Open!

[Editor's Note: This article was originally published 2011/06/02.]

Hey Ya’ll!

Things are really moving along and THE CALENDAR IS NOW OPEN! That’s right, you can now ALL sign up to volunteer at a disaster relief base camp in Birmingham, Alabama the Beautiful! Organize your group’s week now! EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! Sorry, just gettin a little excited….

Soooo, WMC wanted to meet with the Open Door Church in AL, so a board member who happens to be a pilot volunteered his Cessna, time, and fuel to take 4 of us to Birmingham this past Monday (Memorial Day). That was pretty cool as we got to see the tornado paths from the air; definitely gives you a different perspective on things. As I looked down from a mile and a half above the earth and saw all the houses and businesses and “goings on” below, I thought about 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

Click HERE for pictures.

God knows where to find every one of us! If we’re committed to HIM, He strengthens us! It doesn’t say “if we’re perfect little angels” he’ll strengthen us. It says “committed to Him” which means we keep coming back when we hit a snag, bump, or wall. “Committed to Him” means we keep taking the “Next Step” with faith in HIM though we don’t know the outcome.

Then the headset crackles and I hear an air traffic controller tell us to divert from our flight plan because of some military operations. I started to think about all that was involved in flight travel. Federal Aviation Administration, air traffic controllers, airports worldwide, NASA, military…..What would Orville and Wilbur think if they could see all that has evolved from their life paths? What about other famous people and Bible characters? Jonah was just an ordinary human like you and me; a bit obstinate but still human. His storm happened and then he got swallowed by a big fish, which you would think would make him pause and think “this is an event of Biblical proportions. Perhaps I should mind my P’s and Q’s!” Do you think Jonah would have responded or acted differently had he known his story would be told over and over again thousands of years later?

Think about this! (Sorry to keep jumping around on ya, but I just thought about something.) We can make ripples, just like Jonah did, for years to come. And they could be good or bad. But God WILL have the glory! Reflect over the scriptures for a minute. Is there anything, good or bad, that happened that doesn’t eventually lead to God’s glory? ANYTHING? that skunks God and leaves Him smelling like a fish? We may surprise Him sometimes (Jeremiah 19:5), but we’re not gonna make Him look bad in the end! Why not do the “good” in the right spirit and that way we all come out smellin’ like a rose? I don’t know why I do what I do sometimes, but maybe if I start thinking more about others watching me and making waves for generations to come…..……. and if I ever choke a fish and he regurgitates me on land, I’m gonna know something’s up! Thanks to Jonah!

The trip to Birmingham was a success as we met some more of our family there! You’re gonna love them! We’re excited to get started! Did I tell you the calendar’s open?!! Call now to reserve your spot! Is that cheesy or what?!

Ask the Lord to prepare the way before us in this endeavor; that His Holy Spirit go ahead and prepare the appointments for us. May His will be done and no other name but HIS be praised! May many come to call on the name of Jesus, and depend on HIM to reconstruct their lives through this partnership with Open Door. Bless the good folks at Open Door many times over for their graciousness and hospitality- pressed down, shaken together, and running over! Ask that the Lord fill the camp and projects with His Spirit and bind the enemy in the name of JESUS!

May God make His face shine upon you like the Birmingham sun!

Monte, Kim, and the kids