Church of the Holy Apostles - Katy, TX
  • I'm New
  • About Us
    • What We Believe
    • The Episcopal Church
    • Sermons
    • Staff
    • Our Vestry
    • Contact Us
    • Community Partners
  • Family
    • Nursery
    • Kids
    • Students
  • Ministries
    • Connect >
      • New Member Class
      • Small Groups
      • Serving Teams
    • Adult Ministry
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Next Steps
    • myCOTHA
    • Parish Resources
    • Support Groups
  • Events
  • Give
  • I'm New
  • About Us
    • What We Believe
    • The Episcopal Church
    • Sermons
    • Staff
    • Our Vestry
    • Contact Us
    • Community Partners
  • Family
    • Nursery
    • Kids
    • Students
  • Ministries
    • Connect >
      • New Member Class
      • Small Groups
      • Serving Teams
    • Adult Ministry
    • Missions and Outreach
    • Next Steps
    • myCOTHA
    • Parish Resources
    • Support Groups
  • Events
  • Give

Loved Poured Out

5/16/2014

0 Comments

 
By Sean Nelson, Pastor of Discipleship




For the past month we have been walking through the sermon series “Recipes for Life” and it has been very potent and timely.  But if I’m honest, it’s not something that is a new topic for many others or me. The trouble with a topical theme, such as this, is that it may be repetitive which may encourage you to feel the need to disengage and relax. Fortunately, the Bible is living and breathing life into us every time we read, whether we want it to or not.
            Working on staff at a church usually offers more insight to systems, services, etc. and can come with dullness to the purpose of it all. It’s easy to get caught up in the preparation more than the purpose (give us your grace God!). Sort of like a mom/dad who spends time whipping up a meal for dinner but during the process has to taste and probe for flavor and readiness. This takes a toll on you and causes you to feel more like a waiter than a dinner guest. 
            The last couple of months have felt like this...joining the staff here at COTHA and leading ministry while trying to be led (I’ll save that for another blog).  Wanting to be productive but yet a participant is a hard balance. I was excited to see how the Recipes for Life series played out since I was behind the scenes and gave my 2 cents on sermon direction but little did I know on how God would bring it to my door step!
        In my last blog I posted how my wife became sick right before I left for Atlanta…this sickness carried on to the following week and led to a hospital visit and scare for my family.  It was a trying time full of tears, frustration, why me, why us, prayer, doubt, anxiety, support, what if’s – You name it, we thought it. I don’t have any family here in town so when situations like this arise we usually depend on her family for support and even that’s limited.
            What happened next for us felt like a marketing tool from heaven.  Our children’s hearts were heavy, we were in doubt but then the word of God came. Romans 5:  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. And Isaiah 43: 1-2 But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze. On Monday of last week I went through these scriptures with my family and we prayed for healing, strength, patience, and God to be glorified. We all had a different resolve about the situation. Adding to this was the loving support of the church family with meals and prayers, which allowed us to turn our focus to the goodness of God and teach our children “they will know you are my disciples by how you love one another.” My wife’s family was able to witness the love poured out and I know God will use these ingredients to move on their hearts as much as he did ours.
 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! In his presence and with his people!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    COTHA Blogs

    A place where we share our experiences and thoughts on ministry!

    Categories

    All
    COTHA Ministry Staff
    COTHA Reflections
    Devotional
    Mission: Africa
    Mission: Central America
    Mission: Local
    Mission: Mexico
    Mission: Sri Lanka
    Mission: Students
    Rector

    Archives

    October 2019
    October 2018
    March 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    September 2011
    August 2011
    June 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    August 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007

    RSS Feed

Church of the Holy Apostles
1225 West Grand Parkway South
Katy, TX 77494
info@cotha.org • 281-392-3310

​Service Times
Sundays 8:00 and 10:30

Office Hours
Monday – Thursday  9 A.M. - 5 P.M.