Standing on Holy Ground
Rev. Zach Stiefel, Senior Pastor
Community of Hope UMC
North District
Matthew 5:14-16:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
There are times in our lives and ministries when we unexpectedly find ourselves standing on a holy ground. These are those special moments where God steps into the ordinary and radically changes our perspective on something.
I experienced one of these moments in September of 2018. My wife and I were down in Austin, awaiting the arrival of our newest nephew. That day, we picked up food and took lunch to our brother-in-law. The three of us were sitting there in the waiting room of the Labor and Delivery unit of that hospital enjoying some good food and having a conversation in our best ‘inside voices.’ These are typically pretty awkward places to be. In my experience, mind you that experience is limited, you will be able to see a couple of things in these waiting rooms. You will see a few family clusters who have rearranged the chairs to accommodate how many people they have. More likely than not, they have put them into a circle, so they can put their heads together and not be too loud for the other families in the waiting room. That means you have a few clusters of families, each trying to have a conversation without bothering anybody else.
As the three of us sat there, following the unwritten rules of the waiting room, someone sprang into action. One family, sitting on the other side of the room, was having their quiet conversation when one woman–apparently a new grandmother–jumped out of her chair, triumphantly thrust her fist into the air, and excitedly yelled, “He’s here! He’s delivered!” That kind of enthusiasm could not be ignored.
This moment was a holy ground moment. You could feel the Holy Spirit moving in that place as a collective cheer filled the room. Evangelism and her witness came alive in that labor and delivery room. All it took was one person. She was moved to share her life changing experience, and in turn the rest of the people in the room participated in her story.
Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to share the way you transform our lives. Let us constantly pursue those Holy Ground moments, and recognize you doing radical things in the ordinary. Amen.
February 19th, 2021 – Waco, TX – 9:00-3:30
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