Mission Monday point #1
As I continue to pray to God for direction and guidance in our trek to the mission field, it is a little of a shock to me each time an old lesson I thought I had learned, needs to be learned again!
"What?" I am sure is the question rambling through the mind of my faithful reader(s?), so let me try to explain.
When we sold our home in June '06 (wow! does that sound so long ago now!) I knew the Lord had carried me through some hard lessons I needed to learn. I wasn't the proverbial pack-rat, as my ability to keep things well organized made it look so nice! But the fact that I was neat about my stuff-obsession didn't change the fact that I needed to learn to let it all go.
Just as the verse that talks about a man cleansed of an evil spirit needs to fill with something good or he will be worse off than at the first, so I have learned that I can easily be worse off in my "stuff acquiring" if I am not careful! Now what do I replace "bad" tangible stuff with, that will benefit me and not overload my house, garage and basement?
Godly wisdom.
Proverbs 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
1Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
In seeking the Bible for how to daily get hold of the truths He wants me to know, I have had much less temptation. And that is what it is! Recognize the vices of the wicked one who seeks to rob and kill and destroy! We are the enemy of all who are against God. Just knowing that not getting caught up in possessions is a step towards Final Victory is enough to compel me on!
Mission Monday point #2
In this life there are all kinds of ways to feel fulfilled, some Godly, others not so much.
One sure fire Godly way for me to truly enjoy my Christian walk is to surround myself with people and friends who encourage and edify me. People who "live out loud" their love of our Saviour, and who inspire me to walk by faith and not by sight. People who have given up worldly gain and possessions to wholly pursue God and his righteousness.
The only problem is, I have learned that not only "stuff", but people fall in the category of my MM point #1.
God is continually asking me to give them up, too.
Not in the same way, of course! Not one of my friends has been dropped off at the local Salvation Army in a box labeled "donate"- I promise you that!
But... I have said good-bye to more people than I would choose to! If tears for those we miss are stored up as well, I have a few gallons in heaven. It is a wonderful thing to have the Godly blessing of heaven-sent friendship, but it is so much more difficult to deal with that separation anxiety than for an old vase, to be sure. I am so thankful for internet, IM, and cell phones. You gotta know technology is a direct blessing from God for those in full time ministry away from family and loved ones!
Not that I look forward to the day that I will be the one leaving, but I cannot wait until we go. (Figure that statement out, and write me a comment on how you did it!) Obedience to God at any cost is the ultimate accomplishment for any Christian. In the midst of it all, though, it feels like the human heart cannot handle all that goes with it. One thing I have learned, am currently learning, and I am sure I will need to learn again...
at the end of the day ...GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT and in the morning HIS MERCIES ARE NEW AND TENDER AND GREAT!
Praise be to God!
6 comments:
"Not that I look forward to the day that I will be the one leaving, but I cannot wait until we go. (Figure that statement out, and write me a comment on how you did it!)"
I think I get this: I like to be the one leaving, because it means I'm off to new adventures and experiences, and all that newness means I don't miss what I've left behind all that much. Being the one left behind means everything else is still the same, but there's a gaping hole left when someone leaves.
So, though you may not necessarily want to be the one leaving, and you'll miss those you leave behind, you're still excited to go, because you know there are new and exciting (and even hard) things ahead…and these are things the Lord is leading you to.
Also, there is a difference in using the word "go" and the word "leave".
Going is positive: you're looking ahead to what's coming. Leaving is more negative, as you're looking back to what's behind.
Though what's behind is not necessarily sinful (Lot's wife), we are still cautioned to consider not the former things and look for God to do a new thing.
So, when your time comes, GO in the strength of the Lord God, sister! (Psalm 71:16)
though I will miss you muchly…
You don't want to go because you will miss everyone you leave behind...but you do want to go because you know this is what God is asking you to do and you want to be obedient to Him. That is how I have always viewed it.
~orange girl
I'm not as technical - I get it, because it's how I think, too! I've been there (not to your extreme) and I get it!
Praying as you say (a temporal) good-bye to another friend.
Whenever it comes time to leave... I often remember the words of CS Lewis, "Christians need not say goodbye, but only - I will see you later!"
see ya later, Kevo!
Hey friends!
I liked what you said about technology:) It's funny...some would say that this world was a better place with out it...But that's just the thing! God can make Anything good :-) I know this Savannah will be thankful to God for it ;)! I also appreciated the comment about learning something and then probably learning it again...lol...I’ll be pulling out the “Jalowiec coffee mug" and reminding myself... “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths...Proverbs 3:5&6- THAT is something to be thankful for...His ideas are ALWAYS the BEST:-) No matter how much we don’t understand them at that very moment...His paths ALWAYS lead BETTER than we Dreamed anyway!!
Love and Miss you all...
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