May 2023 News - National Association of Church Facilities Managers

Don't miss the opportunity for fellowship and professional growth at the 2023 NACFM National Conference. We have family and spouse activities, so bring the family!

When Life and Work are Overwhelming

MESSAGE FROM NACFM PRESIDENT HOMER CLARK

May is a month famous for having beautiful flowers. We've all heard the old saying, "April showers bring May flowers." April showers this year, however, have brought much destruction and many challenges to people and property across the country. Suburban neighborhoods, city businesses, and rural homes have been devastated by floods, tornados, and other severe weather. We've seen loss of life in several areas of our country and entire communities wiped out. Please pray for the people and families affected by these events as they struggle to recover.

How are you doing this May? Are you working hard to prepare for VBS season? How’s your crew? Are you under unusual pressure and feel overwhelmed?

In this season of change it's so easy to experience struggles and challenges that seem impossible to overcome. This can happen in your personal life as well as your business responsibilities. There are various reasons why we feel overwhelmed, stressed out, and, maybe, a bit hopeless. Possibly we feel that we're just stretched too thin, required to do too much. The days seem packed to overflowing, and it feels difficult to know where to begin.

The Bible gives us some very good direction when it comes to knowing how to approach those overwhelming days and seemingly hopeless situations. Let's look at seven verses that give us strong encouragement from the Lord when the walls are closing in and we feel like life is a mess.

Psalm 61:2 - “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” This verse is an excerpt from one of David’s many psalms. When he says, “From the end of the earth,” it gives us the impression that he was in a situation that was beyond his human understanding. While we don’t know exactly what David was going through when writing this, we can discover what David believed about God amidst his overwhelming circumstances. David was fully confident that he could turn to God in prayer, no matter what! While we know we should turn to God first, sometimes we wait until we have no other option.

Psalm 102:1 - “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to You.”
This is an anonymous psalm written as a prayer from an overwhelmed heart. The actual title that precedes this psalm in some Bibles is, “A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord.” This title alone gives us much to consider and practice. The instruction is clear that when our hearts are overwhelmed, we are to pour out our anxiety in prayer to God. This is why the psalmist's words resound with the heart-felt plea, “Hear my prayer.”

There will always be events and circumstances in life that will rock our world, knock us off our feet, or overwhelm our souls in a way we don’t know how to handle. But God’s Word gives us the hope and help we need when we don’t know what to do. You don’t have to keep wrestling with the attacks of those overwhelming moments, days, or even seasons. Cry out to the Lord and ask Him to give you peace!

Here are a few more verses you can lean on when you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed out.

Luke 10:41-42 – “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’”

Philippians 4:6 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Matthew 6:33 - “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

I certainly hope that these verses are a help to you as they have been to me. We're all learning in this crazy world to lean upon the Lord, taking comfort in and experiencing peace through His word.

And, finally, a couple of news notes:
After months of trials and testing, long debates, and a lot of old fashion hard work from Marshall Still (our talented graphics guru) our new logo has been born! Also, we've developed a new media look for events, conferences, and other needs. We hope you like this new branding style!

Lastly, we are totally excited about our National Conference next month in Sevierville, TN. It's not too late to pull the trigger and register to attend. We can promise rich learning experiences, spiritual enrichment, some outstanding fellowship, and a boat load of fun! See you all in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Blessings to you all,
Homer Clark
NACFM President

Featured Member: Jeff Holiday
Oak Ridge Church, Salisbury, MD

When asked about some points that would allow others to know him better, Jeff Holiday stated the following: "Trekkie, comic book nerd, movie buff, 'short, nondescript man with no middle name.'” He also mentioned that his favorite movie is Legends of the Fall (and that we should not judge him 😁). And just to add to his unique personal profile, Jeff enjoys calligraphy (a visual art related to writing...lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument).

3 Tips for a Safer Playground

How safe is your church playground? While it’s expected that kids may scrape their knee or get a few bumps playing outdoors, a poorly maintained playground can cause serious injuries.

Use these tips to help ensure that your playground remains a safe space for your youngest members.