Ending Strong

Today is September 29, 2014 and our September in Prayer is quickly coming to an end.  Our school has focused this month on prayer for our BBQ/Auction that is scheduled for October 17-18, 2014.  First, let me thank you for your prayer and support.  Second, let me encourage you to keep on praying.  God is not done with us yet, please keep taking our school before our God for strength, wisdom, and patience.

I was reading Luke 14: 28-33 and reflecting not only on our BBQ/Auction, but on our school as a whole.  This passage in Luke talks about "counting the cost" before you do anything.  Jesus is talking to a large crowd and asks if a tower maker considers the cost of materials before he embarks on building a tower, and then later (verse 31) asks if a king considers the strength of his opponent before he goes off to war?  Both situations will have dire consequences if there is no consideration of the cost.  In the example of the tower builder, if the builder runs out of materials before the tower is complete he will be ridiculed; and in the example of the king, his army could be slaughtered if he is greatly outnumbered.  Both scenarios could end in disaster - what does this mean to us?  For me this is a great passage to keep me focused on God and not on man.  Our Board of Trustees and  Administrative Team continually ask, "What does God want for CCS?"  Our Board and our Team filter our programs and policies through a Biblical worldview not a humanistic or constructivist one.  We know that whatever is accomplished will be done through His strength and not our own.  Asking the question - "What Would Jesus Do" or "How Can God Be Glorified Through Us" keeps our perspective right.

October is only 2 days away . . . how can God be glorified through you as we conclude September and begin October?

Psalm 5:3

Psalm 5:3 states, "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."  What does it look like to wait in expectation?

My pastor shared with me once long ago that children wait in expectation for Christmas morning or for their birthday.  They wait in expectation for the presents they hope are coming.  I can remember being that child that was so excited because I thought I might get what I asked for.  Do we, do I, have that same excitement as I wait on the Lord?  Psalm 5:3 gives me insight on how I can obtain the excitement of a child and wait expectantly on the Lord.  First, call out to God in the morning.  Psalm 121 tells us that God does not sleep nor slumber; while we may need sleep, God does not.  As verse 8 shares, He watches over our coming and our going both now and forevermore.  God loves us and takes care of us.  Second, after  calling out to God in the morning, lay your requests at His feet.  Philippians 4:4-7 tells us that when we lay our requests at His feet He will guard our hearts and minds in Christ.  The God who created everything is quite capable of taking care of me.  Knowing that God is always there and that He will guard our heart and mind should give us the joy to wait expectantly.

While we wait on Him, so that we do not grow weary, He always give us blessings.  We have been praying for the Auction, waiting expectantly for God to do something wonderful through His people.  I asked you to pray specifically for our solicitation efforts; here is what God has already done for us:

• God has placed it on the heart of a family to donate their car to the Auction.  We have a 2003 Honda Civic that will be auctioned off.
• God worked in the hearts of several families and businesses to donate meat for the auction.  The most recent businessman said he just wanted to do something nice for our school and reduced the price of a steer for us.   The story around that donation is incredible and too long to write; please ask me about it when you see me. God worked in the heart of that man!
• God has allowed us to work to try and restore a Harley Davidson Sprint motorcycle, given us a fur coat, provided us with furniture, and the list goes on.

Many people have been praying for many months for the BBQ/Auction - don't stop now.  God is going to do something very special this year . . . I cannot wait to see what He does.

What Are You Excited About?

What gets you excited?  There are so many things that are happening today that could excite the average individual: the high temperature in Lancaster, PA is supposed to be 78 degrees today, football is back and both the Eagles and Steelers won yesterday, we hosted 225 middle school students this past Friday for a TCS event (Tri-County Christian Schools), we are able to start each day with prayer, the list goes on and on ….  The question still remains, what gets YOU excited?

Robert Morgan states in his book, The Red Sea Rules, that when you are confronted with life’s perplexities, you should trust God to deliver in His own unique way.  When the Israelites were caught between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army, God had Moses step into the Sea, hold out his staff, and then God held back the water so that the Israelites could walk across on dry land.  (Exodus 14:21-22)  Now THAT’S exciting!  I am sure scared people were in the crowd, and people cursed Moses for bringing them out to die, but at least one person was looking for God to do something miraculous.  Are you looking for God to do something miraculous today?  If you are and He does – how exciting would that be?  God doesn’t have to part waters to show His miraculous right hand; just keeping my family safe in a sin-filled world is miracle enough for me.  How about you?

Finally, as we continue to pray for the BBQ/Auction, will you praise God for the blessings He pours out on our school?  God moved in a family’s heart, and they are donating a 2003 Honda Civic to the Auction.  Yes, God once again has provided a car for this year’s Auction . . . thank you, Lord!  Please keep praying, one car will not net us the $65,000 we need to raise at the BBQ/Auction.  Ask the Lord where He is leading you and what you might be able to contribute to this year’s Auction.  Have a great day and keep looking around for things to get excited about!

Praises

Where do you find praises throughout your day?  We have started a "September of Prayer" for our BBQ/Auction happening in October, and I was reading about praises this morning in Psalm 18.  Have you had the opportunity to read Psalm 18 lately?  If not, I recommend reading it today.  David writes Psalm 18 as a victory psalm and shares the praises he has found in the Lord.  In verse 16 David says that the Lord reached down from on high and took hold of him and drew him out of deep waters; are you in deep waters today?  In verses 31-35 David shares that God is his rock, that God arms him with strength, enables him to stand, trains him for battle, and gives him His shield of victory; is God your shield of victory?  In verse 46 David declares that the Lord lives and that He should be exalted as our Savior!  Do you have the confidence that God is your Savior?  If God is your Savior, has given you His shield of victory, and you are in deep waters today - you have reason for praise!  Romans 8:31 asks us, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"  Live in that power today and you WILL find praises throughout your day.

Please pray to day for our BBQ/Auction coming up on October 17-18; pray that God will be seen in a mighty way and that our community will come together for two days of excitement and encouragement as we celebrate with family and friends.

CCS Auction

Conestoga's annual BBQ/Auction is quickly approaching.  I hope everyone has October 17-18, 2014, circled on their calendar and plans to be here at CCS celebrating with us.  The BBQ/Auction is important in the life of the school for many reasons, but let me share two:

1. First, the BBQ/Auction is one of the school's largest fundraisers.  I say one of the largest because our efforts and prayers in EITC/OSTC are being blessed (if you do not know what EITC/OSTC stand for, please email me and I will tell you).  At the BBQ/Auction our school is trying to raise $65,000 - an amount that can only be done through God's powerful hand; we rest in the promise of Matthew 19:26, "...but with God all things are possible."
2. Second, the BBQ/Auction provide an opportunity for past and present families as well as grandparents and community partners to come together on our campus.  The BBQ/Auction has something for everyone: there is food (great food!), games for children, fellowship, laughter, and of course good-natured bidding on our auction items.

Please plan on joining us at this year's BBQ/Auction; and just as important as joining us, will you please pray for us?  Please pray for the BBQ/Auction committee members below:

• Auction Chair – Heather Schreier
• Advertising and Public Relations – Michelle Parris
• Art Solicitation – Ken Thompson
• Apple Dumplings – Tina Martin
• Auction Floor – Robyn Vannoy
• BBQ Drive Thru – Katrina Myers
• BBQ Kitchen – Mindy Italiano and Nelah DiAddezio
• Chicken Cooking – Mike Tumolo
• Children’s Area – Marilyn Beam
• Class Baskets – Cindy Carter 
• Clerk Coordinator – Kimberly Blest
• Computer Services – Bryan Denlinger 
• Solicitation – Keith Morris
• Food Tent – Sharon Valentino
• Gift Certificate Store – Heather Colón
• Meat Packages – Bryan and Luanne Hahn
• Parking and Shuttles – Don Nafziger
• Ticket Sales – Pat Collins
• Quilts – Katrina Myers and Cammy Brantzeg
• Volunteer Recruitment – Cinda Dagar

There are still a few spots to fill, but please pray for these volunteers.  Pray that God will strengthen them these next two months and that His grace will shine down on them.