| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Are You Ready For Your Appointment?"
January 20, 2009
On Monday afternoon I was standing on the platform when I had this
crazy thought. I was right where I was supposed to be. We were
celebrating the witness and faith of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a
service at Evans Memorial. The congregation had just sung "We Shall
Overcome" and I was about to offer the prayer. Funny thing is that I hadn't
even planned to be there.
I woke up early that morning. I checked my palm pilot. I had two
scheduled meetings in the morning, some time laid out to work in the office
in the afternoon and a church event in the evening. That was the day I had
planned.
That's why I had to chuckle to myself when at 2:40 p.m. I began my
prayer with the words, "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice
and be glad in it." I suddenly realized that my day had turned out just the
way God had planned it. I didn't know it when I woke up but God had
made this appointment for me.
Now don't get me wrong. I didn't do much. Rabbi Charles Arian did the
preaching. The Choir got us on our feet singing praises to God. Rev. Greg
Perry and Dr. Barbara White led the service. I was just along for the ride,
one of many who had a small part in what happened that afternoon.
The truth is that sometimes God calls us to do something or be some place
that we didn't have in our plans. That's how it was with me. Several times
throughout the weekend I kept thinking about the service. I didn't know
when or where it was being held. But on Monday afternoon, I felt
compelled to find out. The rest is history.
That's how it works with God. As God is working out His plans, God
invites us to join Him. He doesn't force us to come. He simply makes an
appointment for us and then hopes that we will show up. The key for us is
to be open to the leading of God. We need to be ready to say "Yes" to God
when He calls and to show up where He needs us.
Here's the good news. When you do that you will always walk into a
blessing. I left that service on Monday feeling great because I knew that I
had been with the Lord. So the next time you feel a gentle nudge to be
someplace or do something, check it out. It would be a shame to miss your
appointment.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
January 20, 2009
On Monday afternoon I was standing on the platform when I had this
crazy thought. I was right where I was supposed to be. We were
celebrating the witness and faith of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a
service at Evans Memorial. The congregation had just sung "We Shall
Overcome" and I was about to offer the prayer. Funny thing is that I hadn't
even planned to be there.
I woke up early that morning. I checked my palm pilot. I had two
scheduled meetings in the morning, some time laid out to work in the office
in the afternoon and a church event in the evening. That was the day I had
planned.
That's why I had to chuckle to myself when at 2:40 p.m. I began my
prayer with the words, "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice
and be glad in it." I suddenly realized that my day had turned out just the
way God had planned it. I didn't know it when I woke up but God had
made this appointment for me.
Now don't get me wrong. I didn't do much. Rabbi Charles Arian did the
preaching. The Choir got us on our feet singing praises to God. Rev. Greg
Perry and Dr. Barbara White led the service. I was just along for the ride,
one of many who had a small part in what happened that afternoon.
The truth is that sometimes God calls us to do something or be some place
that we didn't have in our plans. That's how it was with me. Several times
throughout the weekend I kept thinking about the service. I didn't know
when or where it was being held. But on Monday afternoon, I felt
compelled to find out. The rest is history.
That's how it works with God. As God is working out His plans, God
invites us to join Him. He doesn't force us to come. He simply makes an
appointment for us and then hopes that we will show up. The key for us is
to be open to the leading of God. We need to be ready to say "Yes" to God
when He calls and to show up where He needs us.
Here's the good news. When you do that you will always walk into a
blessing. I left that service on Monday feeling great because I knew that I
had been with the Lord. So the next time you feel a gentle nudge to be
someplace or do something, check it out. It would be a shame to miss your
appointment.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |