God Can Use What You Have

God can use what you have! I confess my own guilt of looking at how God has gifted or resourced others and thinking that if I had what they had then God could use me or do a great or greater work.

The major issue with this that God has brought me to is that I have become the focus every time this occurs. What I have to give is viewed greater than what God possesses in Himself. My power to make things happen and do His work supersede in my heart and mind the power of God that is unlimited.

But even more that all this, when I compare myself against another with the silent hope and dream of having what God has given to them, I despise the unique way God crafted me and the ways He has chosen to gift and resource me. I do not trust that God, in His great wisdom and according to His perfect will, has placed me in His mission to accomplish what He has planned for me rather than someone else.

He can use what I have. He can use what you have.

A young shepherd on the hills of Bethlehem learned that God could use what he possessed rather than what others had or tried to give him. David came into Israel's base camp and was immediately offended by a giant named Goliath who mocked God and the people of God. So he offered to go and fight.

He didn't have a sword. He possessed no coat of arms or shield. No spear stocked his arsenal. David could have looked at the giant and said, "God cannot use me to do that work because I don't have what the soldiers possess." They had training, experience, and weaponry.

What's interesting to note is that David perceptively saw that God too had given him training, experience, and weapons, though very different from the soldiers.

David had been trained while watching sheep. His greatest training included how God shaped David's heart to follow Him and live for God's glory.

He had experience that came when a lion and bear both came to kill one of his sheep. He fought both not with a sword or spear, but with his own hands and won.

David had weaponry very different from the soldiers. He had a slingshot and 5 smooth stones. It is doubtful any of us, especially me, would even dare take on a giant and the army backing him with such a weapon. Even the soldiers and king Saul thought it was crazy so they tried to give David armor and a sword.

It just wouldn't work.

But isn't that why this story is so fascinating for us? Isn't this why the story impresses us so deeply? A young man allowed God to use what He had. In doing so, as ridiculous as it seemed, it meant David was completely unable to take credit for what God did by His power through David.

I don't have a slingshot and stones. I don't have a sword or spear. I don't have Moses' staff or Paul's intellectual acumen. But I do have what God has given me. I do have the place God has entrusted to me. And God can use what I have right where I am. What about you?

Take a Daniel moment:
1.  Thank God for His power, wisdom, and perfect will.
2.  Ask God to show you what He has specifically given to you that He can and wants to use.
3.  Pray for Christ to make Himself known through you.
4.  Trust Christ to use you to fulfill His purpose where you are and with what you have.

Now Introducing

This morning Sarah and I welcomed into the world and into our family our fifth son. I am pleased to introduce you to our son, Titus Harrison Buchanan.

Titus was born at 9:10 AM weighing in at 8 lbs. 10 oz. and measuring 22 inches. Mom (especially), baby (too), Dad, and big brothers are all doing well. Big brothers have already made their trip to the hospital and have each taken a turn holding and loving on him.

Thank you for praying for us today and we look forward to you meeting Titus soon.

Three Tents

Yesterday was a different day! Our worship time at Refuge Church looked very different. While that may not always be the case and may not be common, I pray what is not rare is the power of God's presence like we experienced yesterday.

In Matthew 17 Jesus took Peter, James and John upon the mountain where Jesus was transfigured before their eyes. His face was brilliant like the sun and His clothes glowed with the glory of God. Then, they saw Elijah and Moses appear and speak with Jesus. At this Peter offered to make three tents or dwelling places for Jesus, Elijah, and Moses to dwell. In short, what Peter saw was so powerful he just didn't want to ever leave. 

I felt some of that yesterday. I didn't want to leave. I want it to be common for God's presence to be almost tangible and uncommon when it is not. I want to expect when we gather to see Him at work in great ways and not expect He might show up on occasion. I don't want to live in yesterday, but I want the presence of God from yesterday to be here today…and tomorrow…and the day after that.

Take a Daniel moment:

1.  Praise God for what He did yesterday at Refuge and in our hearts.

2.  Ask God to make His presence known just as great if not greater in your life today.

3.  Pray for God to show you where He is at work around you.

4.  Confess your struggles, every one of them, to Him and ask for His strength and grace.

5.  Lift Refuge to Him and ask for Him to do even greater things.

6.  Surrender control. That was a common theme from a number of us yesterday. Let God work.

The Latest Update from Home

Yesterday Sarah and I traveled back home with our youngest son. Today began the first day of Buchanan life with four (five if you ask Sarah) boys in the house!  The newest and littlest Buchanan boy is doing well and had his first visit to the pediatrician this morning. The doctor gave a great report on him.

The big brothers--Isaac, Ethan, and Micah--are all doing well. They each have requested to hold their brother multiple times. Last night as they were going to bed, each one had to tell him good night and give him a kiss. As I was walking out of their room holding him, Ethan said, "Good night, bro."

Sarah and I look forward to sharing with you pictures and information as soon as possible.  There are a few things that still need to happen before we do this.

Please continue to pray.  You faithfully prayed and we hope to share countless God moments that can only be attributed to His work and your prayers.  Even last night, as we read the Scriptures as a family, we were reading in the last chapter of Mark how the disciples went out to declare the good news of Jesus Christ.  Mark writes how the Lord "worked with them." Your prayers have been the means by which God has worked with us in this.

Here's some requests for prayer today:

• Financial provision - We are to make the financial payment for the adoption today.
• Continued health - He is healthy and we continue to pray for his well-being.
• Family transition - A baby changes everything (not in a bad way).
• Birth parents - We met the birth mom and dad who deeply love this boy and chose what they thought best for him because of that love. Pray for their peace and that they would come to trust in the good news of Jesus, knowing they matter much to God.
• Sarah's sanity - I'm sure she'll be great. But when you consider she has four sons, me, wife of a pastor/church planter, home-schools, and is expecting our fifth child, well...you get what I'm saying. She will do great. Just pray specifically for her.

Thank you friends and family for all the notes and encouragement. Thank you to those who have financially given toward the financial need.  I hope to be posting more updates with pictures in the near future.

A Growing Refuge

Churches are meant to grow.  Unfortunately, some churches have come to accept the lack of growth or have become complacent with the growth of days gone by.

The Book of Acts chronicles the birth of the church and its life, ministry and growth. The Spirit empowered believers, who faithfully displayed and declared the good news of Christ's kingdom to individuals near and far, and the Father brought thousands to faith in Jesus Christ.

This isn't just a historical story to be read, but a promise to be claimed. God desires and can do the same today.  At Refuge Church, we are expecting and trusting Him to do just that. More than expanding numbers, the desire to see lives transformed is our passionate expectation.

Even so, we celebrate the growth at Refuge and the small taste of what we believe God can and will do.

Over the last several weeks in our Early Childhood group, we've averaged 23 children and adults and hit a record high of 25 just a week ago.  This growth leads to our first ever expansion.  This Sunday, May 26, we will add our second Early Childhood room.  I expect this is the first change/expansion of many to come.  Lord, this I pray!

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine we give glory."