Faith Over Fear

I was a greeter at my church last weekend. Arrayed in my mask in keeping with CDC guidelines, as well as six-feet social distancing, I was game-on! I love being a greeter, from my own experience of being greeted by a friendly face. It’s heart-warming to notice being noticed. At my church, which holds 1,200 people, we are at 50% -- following all the rules with an empty pew between pews and at least six-feet apart in the pews. I’m still trying to get used to the masks – especially when my breath fogs up my glasses. 🤓

I amused myself in between greeting people to take a look at our weekend bulletin. The title on the front of it was “Faith Over Fear”. I stopped in my tracks. “Faith Over Fear” is the caption on my black face mask. I think: “God, you are doing your best to get us, ME, to get that message, aren’t You?”

Of course He is. Our Gospel reading that weekend, was about the storm – the winds and the waves -- that increased in hostility to the boat that was carrying the disciples to the other side of the sea. Jesus was exhausted after feeding the 5,000+, but He couldn’t help but notice them struggling from His peaceful place on the mountain. I have a clear visual of this scene because of my trip to Israel and on my favorite place -- the Sea of Galilee. It still amazes me that that relatively small body of water could blow up such a storm – but it did that day. Jesus walked to them on water and the disciples thought He was a ghost. But, like He said time and again – through the angels who said at His birth “Do not be afraid” and to His Mother when Gabriel appeared to tell her she would be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and bear a son, “Do not be afraid” and to us today and every day: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” -- Matthew 14:27

He is our same Lord and Savior today Who sees us -- right where we are and He knows our fears, concerns and anxieties. He speaks to us the same words of reassurance and hope that He spoke to His followers: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." May we rest in His promise that He is with us and will faithfully take us through the storms and to the other side.

Recognizing a Holy Moment

It’s the first Sunday of the month and I am a Greeter at my church. This particular Sunday I can’t stay for my full shift because I need to leave about ten minutes early for a meeting. I ask my fellow greeter who is posted at a less-traffic door if she’d switch with me today because the door I typically “man” is the front door where much more traffic comes through. I know it will be easier for me to slip away early at the less-traffic door.

As I make my way to that door and open it, I see a “dressed to the nines” with perfectly coiffed hair, older woman on her cell phone. She is holding fast to the handrail that supports those who need help coming up the slight incline. Her conversation on her phone ends and I watch her hold tightly to the railing as she makes her way to me. I’m cheering her on from my vantage point. She comes to my opened door, beaming. I say “You made it! You are a winner!” I reach my arms out to give her a hug and say “Welcome, beautiful lady! Just look at you all dressed up and looking so beautiful for the King!” She breaks into conversation: “Thank you for making me feel so good. I was talking to my daughter. She wants me to live with her and she doesn’t like it when I go out alone like this, but I have to! I have cancer. It’s terminal. I don’t know how much longer I have but I do know I don’t want to stay home and feel sorry for myself. I want to come to church where I can praise my Lord and be with people. It takes my mind off myself. It’s the best place to be!” This sweet woman is preaching a sermon and doesn't even realize it. I compliment her huge “Vera Bradley” tote bag and she says “Oh, my daughter bought this for me! She got tired of seeing me carrying so many things. Just look in here. It holds my medicine, shawl, and all my stuff!" She welcomes it when I ask if I can say a little prayer for her. I pray a few words of God's love and His perfect timing for her race to end but in the meantime, I pray for her comfort and lots more Holy Moments like today.

Like clockwork, another older woman is coming through the door who is carrying an adorable purse with a big pink bow on it. I exclaim “Good Morning, beautiful! I love your purse!” She replies “Oh, my daughter gave it to me!” And my other friend says “Me, too! My daughter gave me my purse!” The second woman asks “What are your names? My name is Delores!” “I’m Sonya” and I say “Donna”! We get into a group hug and are sharing in a Holy Moment – a divine set-up for all three of us – women who need connections and warm embraces! If I were at the other door, I might have missed this Holy Moment!

Holy Moments are really attractive. They differentiate us from the world. Holy Moments are those we set aside self-interest, what we feel like doing, and we have a little conversation with God and we say: “Alright God, what do you want me to do in this moment?” Then we do exactly what we feel God is calling us to do in that moment. That's a Holy Moment and Holy Moments tend to be filled with kindness, generosity, patience, courage, love and thoughtfulness, so, they're incredibly attractive.

Holy Moments help us grow in character; they help become a better-version-of-ourselves; they help us become the person God created us to be. And when we create enough of them, people will say: “Wow, she's got something I don't have”; “I want what he's got.” That's how the first Christians did it. That's how they spread across the world at a breakneck pace. They used the very powerful force of attraction -- not promotion. Let’s be attractive today. Someone needs just a little bit of our time that makes them feel worth living! Lord, please use us today!

Taking Safety Measures Against the Enemy

Yesterday afternoon, I and other greeters at my church attended a Mandatory Greeter Safety Environment Training. I wasn't sure what that meant until I heard the explanation by the City of Dallas' Police Department's Commander of Strategic Forces, who is a member of our church and is the Coordinator of our church's Safety Ministry. I never knew we had a "Safety Ministry" but I soon learned what that meant.

He spoke to us about the safety measures that the church has been taking for months now and is amping up the Safety Ministry another notch by equipping those of us who are greeters to play a significant role in being vigilant in our Greeters' Ministry to help keep our church and its members safe against enemies.

With compassion, He told us the Police Department receives over 800K "911" calls in a year from people who carry heavy burdens from society, relationships, family, schools, and workplaces. Figuratively, he said, "Everyone carries a backpack full of heavy bricks that represent their struggles and burdens and it is up to us to help lighten their loads. Those of you who are 'Greeters' can do some incredible things with a smile, a 'hello', a 'welcome'. Those simple expressions may be the best thing that has happened to them in a long time. We really do want everyone to be in the church where they will find healing and help,"

He went on to describe our new role, not only as burden-lifters in our warm and welcoming expressions of love to those who enter the church but also to be "assessors", not judging or profiling, but since mental illness has become such a critical public health issue, we need to keep our eyes open for questionable demeanor or someone who is displaying a deep sense of pain, depression or is very emotional.

Now we will be asked to carry a walkie-talkie and if we question someone's demeanor, wearing an out-of-season trench coat, has a disheveled appearance, has signs of mental illness or is carrying a bag or backpack, we should alert our "Safety Ministry" team members who will simply get sets of eyes on them to watch their behavior. We all need to have "situational awareness".

1 Peter 5:8 says: "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

Initially, I was taken back by the mere notion that anyone would come to a church and pose a threat of any kind to those who are innocently worshipping God, but then, I remembered the schools and churches where indescribable harm came to innocent people The enemy of our souls is a thief and he came to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10) and now, not only in the physical and natural realm do we need to be prepared and vigilant against his tactics, we need to continue to shore up any little chinks and holes in our armor. We need "Safety Ministry" teams in the physical realm and in the spirit realm. Perhaps we need to set up a "Safety Ministry" in our homes and pray these scriptures as our greatest shield of defense:

~ "The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?"
Psalm 27:1
~ "But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3
~ "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
~ "You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7
~ "In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8