|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| A strange, but necessary time is beginning to unfold. I am taking a break from writing the weekly devotionals I had been doing. It had started as helping a friend with a ministry he was doing, a daily devotional, and then it changed to weekdays for him and Mondays for me. Now, however, the ministry has in some regards "run its course." I am thankful that despite both of us going to different churches now (his family felt led to another congregation, mine to another city) we have kept communication open. I am also thankful that both of us are comfortable enough with the other to be honest about this rather than prolonging a situation by both of us feeling like we were in some way helping the other. I've had a rough few months ministerially, emotionally, and ultimately spiritually. Rather than having a good place to regroup and strengthen in times of hardship our current location seems to have us (Sabrina and myself) somewhat lacking a consistent network. Part of this I will claim as our own fault. We've hurt more deeply recently than we ever had before, with two miscarriages and added stresses of strange housing circumstances and financial strain (we'd done the financial thing before- and I'm not bragging about that- but this time it was only an undertone to the much more prevalent other issues). In our hurt we've done a very natural thing, we've become ghosts- people think they can see us, but we're not fully there. This doesn't help the whole network of support thing at all. With my focus being more toward college group and young adult ministry, and with most of my college group completely gone for the summer or most of it, I'm on a bit of a hiatus to regroup, and to hopefully strengthen both my relationship with God and with friends who will help keep me close to Him. This will require an intentional focus, but is very important to me. I'm not positive what the future will hold in regards to devotional writings and whatnot- it seems they are a part of what God has called me to, since some-way, somehow I always end up writing some (at least over the past 10+ years that has been the case, which should be a good indicator). Thanks to all who have read here and on facebook. Your support has been a true blessing. | | |
| Stewardship- all that we have was given to us by God, what we do with it shows how we love God.
So, when you look around and assess things, what has God given you? What are you doing with it? What does this say about your relationship with God? | | |
| "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:32
Is your heart longing for Christ? If He had not been missed, been mourned, been the one they feared they'd see no more I wonder what their heart condition would have been- probably less responsive and more callous. Are you desperate for the presence of God in your life? (Not just a warm fuzzy, but to know He is with you, to know He will guide you and joyfully sees you as a faithful child.) Does your heart burn when you are in the presence of the Way, the Truth, the Light?
This passage has led me to reflect on a few things I'll share with you:
- When I read scripture does my heart long for a relationship ever being restored?
- When He speaks to me and my heart burns do I run to tell others?
- How often am I blind to the real presence of Christ in the midst of the conversation?
- Will I walk with Him? Will I invite Him in when He acts as though He'll go on?
- Do I know Him by His blessings? | | |
| "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth." 2 Timothy 4:16-17
It is a terrible thing to be left alone, to feel forsaken. When we face our greatest trials, whether we have the sense to admit it or not, being alone is not preferable. It is contemptible to desert someone in need. Paul proclaims the goodness of God, and truly God is there, but God calls us as a people to be responsive to need. To stand with Paul in his first trial would have been a very dangerous thing. To be associated with Paul in such times could earn all who took the stand at the cost of their own lives. Paul wasn't asking for someone to perfectly defend him and free him from his coming execution, he longed for someone to stand with him- he longed for presence.
For a counseling class I once read a passage that talked about how long someone should be allowed to grieve. The conclusion was as follows- we cannot determine the right amount of time for someone to grieve. That is so hard, and can often reflect our most generous and noble feelings for their good. Yet it isn't for us to increase damage by telling someone to, in effect, "Get over it." By doing such we further isolate them, and our presence becomes a curse rather than a blessing. Rather, our best gift is gracious, humble presence and prayer. If someone is to find comfort in a hard time it will come from God, and to encourage them and draw them close to God is the best we can offer. It is not for us to heal (that is a gift of the Spirit and controlled by no man), but we are continually called to love- to love with the fullness of God flowing out of us; for God is love.
Lord, may we be righteous (act rightly) in the presence of others on your behalf. May we extend your love. May we be courageous when all others abandon those in need to stand our ground for them and by Your power. Let us not be afraid, but stand in the face of adversity with others. We are called to be a part of a body, may we no longer be worthless, severed limbs. Amen. | | |
| "No, I will not abandon you as orphans – I will come to you." John 14:18 NLT
Ever just been hung out to dry? Left blowing in the wind unsheltered? You know what I'm talking about, it's that moment when you really had thought, "Man, together we're going to win this thing!" only to turn around and find that your buddy had run off leaving you to take a beating on your own. That may not be the exact experience, but all of us understand that moment of abandonment where, betrayed, we face in solitude a beating like we've never faced. Even Christ knows this, and relates deeply to our pain. (He even told the disciples of it only two chapters later in John when He says, "But the time is coming – in fact, it is already here – when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me." v.32.) Yet this passage isn't about that feeling, but rather about the opposite of it- the one true, and FAITHFUL friend. The One who doesn't abandon.
You don't have to look far to hear about the floor falling out from under someone. It seems EVERYONE I know right now has something that is crumbling, a pillar of their life collapsing. I haven't been able to escape such things on my own. These are moments when faith is severly tried. When deception is thrust toward our hearts, just as it was the disciples. In a few days Christ would be dead. Not just having run away from a fight, not just having backed out of a deal. Dead. He was gone, the one they'd left everything to follow was gone. They were scattered. Hearts were broken. A trap seemed perfectly baited. Now is the time for the enemy to come in, to break each one, to allow the lies to root deep within the heart and break it beyond repair. Abandon all hope, ye who enter here*... their lives were pointless, dashed, ruined and over, just as His had seemed to become with the horror of the cross!
And yet, a promise, and another... "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26 NIV This Counselor (advocate, helper, aid) would bring forth the strength needed, for the Counselor- Holy Spirit- would bring back the Truth to their hearts! Can you hear the Spirit speak? "I will not abandon you." "I will not abandon YOU." "I will NOT ABANDON YOU." "I WILL NOT ABANDON YOU!" I spoke to some young men on Saturday evening about how a significant thing in prayer is awareness, allowing ourselves to be silent, to be focused, to listen to the voice of God we all too often allow to grow quite dim in our lives... let Him speak to you, let Him fill you with His promises, let His voice grow stronger in your soul, and may it resound mightly above the din of the chaos of life!
I WILL NOT ABANDON YOU! ~thus saith the LORD
*To borrow from Dante, not scripture, in this instance. | | |
|
