Making Room

When Building B, the old Sanctuary building at Pine Valley United Methodist Church, was closed off, the PVUMC staff took three Sunday school classes to make offices.  As more people began gathering at the church in person, we knew it was time to make room for worship and discipleship to meet.  The church got a great deal on leasing an office suite in the office complex next to the Christian Life Center. (Signage is being worked on.) This space allows the administrative staff a place to work.  As Mark Edquid, PVUMC’s Executive Director of Operations said, some administrative staff has already moved six to seven times.  Business and communications have a nice, quiet office space to settle into.  Now, more classes can meet in the CLC.  Last Sunday, there were 99 people in person for Sunday school!  What a wonderful “problem” space is!  Let’s fill up every room!   

The week before we moved to the office suites, Pastor Tim took the staff on a “field trip” to pray over them.  With the uncertainty of the Methodist church, PVUMC has been delayed in finding a solution for replacing that building, so we started our field trip by praying over Building B.  We thanked God for how it had been used and that it will continue to bring Him glory in whatever way He reveals to us.  Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”  Since we had to walk by the Sanctuary, we prayed over it.  It only made sense to pray over the fellowship hall as we walked by it.  We continued praying over the CLC, the new office suites, and the Mercy house.  While at our new office space, Pastor Barry anointed the door frames with oil.  That is symbolic of the Holy Spirit protecting and enabling us to do His work.  It also protects from the enemy coming in.  You have to do this in faith, believing this to receive it.  Matthew 21:22, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”  Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” 

Easter is a great time to be thinking about making room.  Not only will we be making room for visitors and new members, we always need to be making room for Christ in our life.  Matthew 5:43-45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  It seems our hearts are too small for this, yet it is big enough for Jesus to live in.  When we come to Jesus Christ, He transforms us. Our past is forgiven. He gives us a power to love, a love beyond our own ability.   

Luke 2:7, “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”  There was no room in the inn.  They did not know who would be born.  If they had, people would have opened their homes and provided the very best.  We do know who He is.  Do we have room?  Are we making more room for Jesus in our life?  It seems we get too busy for Jesus.  We get caught up in work, family, friends, hobbies, and even church work that we do not have time left for God.  Some do not make room for Jesus because they do not feel worthy.  They have done too many bad things.  But Jesus wants you just where you are.  Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”  I think about the shepherds.  They heard about Jesus, and they abandoned their post, temporarily, to rush and see what had been revealed.  After they see Jesus, they spread the good news.  They give back by worshiping and praising Him.  As we prepare for Easter, let every heart prepare Him room!   

During this Easter season, let’s make room in our hearts for Jesus, in our pews (chairs) for others, and let’s get our house in order because “He will come again!”