I did not write this post...As many of you know, our church, Clearwater Community is preparing to build our first facilities. on a new piece of land that has been chosen for us by God. Our "steering team" - 26 co-laborers who are giving leadership to every aspect of this capital initiative...will ensure the vision is financially feasible...so someone else...someone from this team...someone who has a clear vision for the event that will allow us to gather and commit our gifts as one...to do something we could never do alone sent this to me...and I share it with you tonight...truth be told...I couldn't have said it better:
May 4th...
Driving out to the property, your mind is full of ideas and excitement about the events the day has to offer. You have been waiting for such a long time for this day. The vision has become a reality! You take your familiy to the property and drop them off. You want to stay, but you have been instructed to proceed to Chelsea High School, where you will park your car. A shuttle bus picks you up, and you are taken back to the property. As soon as you get off the bus you are immediately greeted by smiling Event Staff. As you walk up a slight incline, you see a small crowd gathering. You are overwhelmed by the beauty of the natural amphitheater, and subsequently take a deep breath in order to pause and capture this moment. It amazes you, as it has so many times before, that Your Awesome God has created all this. Not only that, but you are overcome with the knowledge that He has planned for your presence on this very mountain, and has been expecting to see this smile on your face for many, many, many years. As you're taking it all in, you notice that there is no tent, no chairs, only an obvious and natural place for which to worship together. Could it be that our Lord designed this special place just for you? Yes, it is so! No tent is needed, no chairs to clutter your view. Only the openness of the land is here. You spread a blanket down for your family. But as soon as the music starts, you are on your feet. "Savior, He can move a mountain...my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save..." And as you sing, you believe in your heart that He can move a mountain...that He WILL! And you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Your church is in the perfect, complete and unquestionable will of the Father. How incredible to know that lives will be changed, souls will be saved, and Jesus will be glorified on the very place where you stand today!
The music is amazing, the people are jubilant, and as you approach the platform to speak the words you have planned for so long, you stand there speechless...unable to put into words what is in your heart at this very moment. The Holy Spirit breaks your silence, and as you begin to voice honor and adoration to your loving God, the people join you in praise. For on this day, as the land is dedicated and the ground is broken, Clearwater Community has become Clearwater Community Church.
As you sit on your blanket to share a meal with your family, you look around. Several families have gathered here, some you've known since the beginning, some of the faces new. But all of them family. Your Clearwater family.
"Blessed be Your name,
In the land that is plentiful,
Where the streams of abundance flow,
Blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name,
When I'm found in the desert place,
Though I walk through the wilderness,
Blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name,
When the sun's shining down on me,
When the world's all as it should be,
Blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name,
On the road marked with suffering,
Though there's pain in the offering,
Blessed be Your name.
Every blessing You pour out I turn back to praise,
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name.
You give and take away,
You give and take away,
My heart will choose to say,
Lord, Blessed be Your name!"