thank you Jeff

I have looked back through my life from time to time, sort of like a mental-timeline, and have seen where God has done some amazing things in my life; to mold me and shape me into who I am today and what I am doing today. He has placed events and people all along this timeline to detour me, encourage me, and influence me. This week, I was reminded of the influence of one such individual. This week I attended the funeral service of a dear friend; Jeff Horton.

I first met Jeff over 20 years ago. He and his wife taught a Sunday School class for married couples, and I taught their two daughters in a Youth Group. Jeff demonstrated a servant's heart in everything he did; on his job as a home builder; in his class as a teacher and encourager; his involvement in church activities; on mission trips as a leader; and, in his friendship to me. When Karen and I considered building our home, Jeff was the obvious choice. His friendship and devotion to the Lord inspired me in my walk, but I wasn't paying attention to what all God was doing through Jeff for me. 

I remember conversations we had over the years (we actually referred to most of them as "having church", whether we were in a building or standing out in a parking lot), but one which is still very clear in my mind was the time I told Jeff, and his wife Meredith, how I felt God was leading me to do more with my life; to go beyond singing in a choir, and to possibly lead worship one day. I can still see the look on his face; that look of "What has taken you so long to figure this out?!" Jeff's words of encouragement and assurance that God had been grooming me, preparing me for service outside of where I thought my limits were.

At his funeral service, a video was played of his testimony he had given in church just a month before his passing. In that video, Jeff recalled a Bible study he had been a part of on a few occasions; Experiencing God. I remember taking that course with him. I also remember the section of the study where, as follower of Christ, we are to be actively looking for where God is moving...and go there; to be with God; to serve Him; to worship Him. Not long after my conversation with Jeff about how I felt God leading me to do more with my life...Ray Johnson the lead pastor of High Rock Community Church called and asked if I would consider being a worship leader for this new church plant. Was God moving there? Was God moving me there? Yes, and yes. Is God still moving? Yes...He is.

It wasn't until the funeral; watching and listening to him speak again in a video, and getting the chance to speak again to Meredith, did I realize that Jeff's answer to my thoughts of God leading me was not limited to leading worship. His answer was to the realization that God was, and still is leading me. I told Jeff thank you then....and the other day, I said thank you again.

storms

This past weekend I had the opportunity to teach from Mark 4:35-41; Jesus calming a storm, and as I prepared for the message, I would try and think of storms I could use as illustrations to help people listening get a better understanding of what Jesus was capable of in their life. I tried not to name any specific storms which individuals may be currently going through themselves, so as not to have someone think I was speaking directly to them; to make the storms more generic.

However, God had other plans. Even though I wanted to focus more on "storms" in a general way, and not select a specific one to teach on, God introduced me to three storms people in the church were facing this weekend. These were specific storms shaking their lives; storms they did not see coming; storms which have gripped them in fear; storms they didn't feel they could handle on their own.

Knowing people are sitting in the seats, listening to what I am saying, and knowing they are actually in a storm at that very moment, played with my mind. Do I make a connection emotionally, joining with them in their storm, feeling the fear and the anxiety they're facing?....Or, do I place my trust and faith in Jesus; the calmer of the storm. I want them to know about the love Jesus has for them; how he gave His life for them because of that love; how He can calm them in the storm they are facing. Sometimes, it's not the storm "out there" that needs to be calmed, but the storm "inside" we need calmed. This is the type of storm most people face; the one no one else sees.

I choose to teach with the confidence I have in Jesus and in knowing how He has been with me through storms in my life. I share with them this confidence and faith I have in the One who has calmed my storms. I pray with them because I know God will respond to the cries of His children for help, and that He will comfort them and calm their storm.

I bring them into the boat I am in...the boat where Jesus showed me His peace in my storm.