Hot and Cold

Cille Litchfield

Hot and Cold

Once again, it is here, “Carols Week”.  The more of these we do (this is 32 for me), the faster they seem to come.  The preparation is coming together and we have already had a series of rehearsals over the weekend that prepped various aspects of the program prior to joining the full choir tonight and then orchestra tomorrow night. It is a really fun week and can have, as well, some extreme elements of “S T R E S S”!

On the “not so amusing” side of this, Satan is operating at full tilt.  Do this long enough and you know that Satan has special means for inhabiting (inhibiting?) electronic equipment. This past weekend, for example the light panel died, the organ died, a specific light focused on the organ pipe work went out, microphones during Sunday worship went nuts.  Whooboy. Stuff that we use in worship every week!

Folks have been sick/are sick. Seems to be a special set of afflictions causing vertigo, sending grandkids to the hospital, and back problems.   All of these – the electronic issues and the health issues, we are bathing in prayer and will continue to do so.

I personally believe that God has something really special in store for us and for those we will share the story of Amazing Love with this weekend. Satan is way too busy for that not to be the case. And knowing that, we must be ready. Very ready. Totally “Committed to the Call”.  As Lavon shared yesterday, our prayers and spiritual preparation must be such that every time any of us and certainly when our guests enter here this weekend that it is evident from the moment we walk through the door that God’s hedge is securely in place because we have prayed and are prepared to share His Gospel to many.

One other thing, in our preparation, it would be good to look at the Lord’s words to the Church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22).  The most compelling verses in this passage are 15 and 16 where the Church is warned about been being lukewarm: 

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.”
Wow. Nothing amazing about that. For certain nothing amazing about our being cold for Christ because that accomplishes nothing for Him. But for God to prefer we are cold rather than lukewarm (a term that can also be a cover for being half-hearted in our commitment, compromising in our beliefs, failing to stand firm, not being prepared musically or spiritually) is a direct hit to the heart. His Heart.
 

This scene from the Crucifixion is part of Carols 2012. While at no time in the program is this scene superimposed over the manager, it struck me last night during rehearsal that this photo captures it all. That was nothing lukewarm about Mary and her commitment or Joseph and his as God used them to set the stage for His Son to come down to earth.  And there was certainly nothing lukewarm about Jesus’ commitment as He was nailed to that tree.

Amazing Love – His love for me.


Still choosing joy!

Cille