BAD TIMING?

The last three days I've shared posts from some of the blogs I regularly read. Today, Shawn Lovejoy, the pastor of Mountain Lake Church in Cumming, Georgia shared a great post on "timing" and opportunity.

I've thought about this a lot lately, as a2 prepares for a "build out" on our retail space and attempts to raise approximately $100,000.00 for start up equipment...

Someone recently looked at me and said, "Chris, it's a real bad time to be attempting to raise money..." As if perhaps we should "cash in", "cash out" or forget about the whole deal because it's going to be really, really hard to raise funds in these uncertain and difficult economic times...

I'm certain this friend's remark was well intentioned and only meant to provide perspective, but this kind of attitude is prevalent...

Sort of reminds me of the mentality of the "lazy person" in Proverbs 26.

Proverbs 26:13-14 (MSG), The lazy person is full of excuses, saying, “I can’t go outside because there might be a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!” 14 As a door turns back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.

There will always be a reason to "wait". Some of them are good. Some are even reasonable. Some are just excuses.

Sometimes you just have to take a step of faith.

Shawn's post from this morning on "bad timing" spoke volumes to me as we attempt to pursue what we believe to be God's purpose and plan for a2, in the face of a "downturn" in the economy and several other challenges.

HERE is Shawn's post.


BAD TIMING?
Shawn Lovejoy

Alot of people I talk to in the rest of our community and country can not BELIEVE that our church is moving forward in a LARGE building program in the middle of of an uncertain economy! To be honest with you, there have been moments when I've asked the same question! Our church is being affected by this uncertain and unstable economy like everyone else! We have seen our giving take a hit because people are LOSING THEIR JOBS, and struggling to make ends meet! At times, all of this has caused me to scratch my head and ask:"God, what are you up to? This is bad timing for all of this!" Ever been there?

However, several months ago, God led my mind back to a time in the life if the Israelites when it seemed like God was calling them to move forward in the midst of what had to seem like the worst timing possible. The story is found in Joshua 3. God tells the Israelites that after 40 years of wandering, it's FINALLY time to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. He tells them to get up the next morning, get dressed, and prepare to cross the Jordan.

Then I saw it: Joshua 3:15 (NLT) says: "Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks." Are you kidding me? God has waited for 40 years for the "right time" to allow the Israelites to cross the Jordan, but then He leads the Israelites to cross the Jordan when it was at its highest flood levels of the season? What?! Wouldn't it have made more LOGICAL SENSE to have the Israelites cross the Jordan after they had a drought? When the rocks of the stream were showing, and people could jump across on the rocks? I assure you many Israelites had to ask: "Now? Why now? This is the worst timing possible to cross the Jordan!"

But look what happened:"...But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water began piling up at a town upstream called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho (v.15b-16)". God did the miracle. The people crossed the Jordan and entered the Promised Land just like God has "promised". Here are some of the things God reminded me from this passage:

What seems like a flood to us, is not even a mud puddle to God!

What seems like the worst timing is usually God's timing.

The greater the flood, the greater the potential miracle.

Faith is moving forward in the face of the flood!

So at MLC, even though we are in the middle of the flood, we will NOT shrink back from what God has promised! We will trust God! We will trust Him when things add up, and when they don't! We will be faithful to serve, love, and give in obedience to God, even when the numbers don't add up! We will get up, every day, put our clothes on, and prepare for the miracle. We will move forward in the face of the flood! We will be the church! Now is God's timing for us to shine! Now is a great time to watch God do a miracle! And when it's all over, we won't be able to take any credit for anything except being faithful!