God loves the Polish people. He has uniquely created them for specific purposes in His eternal kingdom. Their determination and ability to survive has equipped them with many skills and talents that have been hidden from view. The Historical and Economical challenges that these precious people have endured are preparing them for a special ministry of healing and hope in God’s family. Yet, I am convinced that God, in His faithfulness will dust away the past so that His glorious creativity will shine through.
God is Perfect and Holy! He never makes mistakes.
Though the hurts and disappointments of life appear to be either God is absent and uninterested or He Himself is the initiator of those problems. The Truth is God is Always present with us. God is constantly calling, drawing, and wooing us to Himself so that we might experience His faithful love and care in the midst of the injustice of this life.
The reality of God’s presence is seen in every act of love, kindness, encouragement, care, service & beauty.
Pray that the Polish People would personally experience God’s loving, care & presence in their everyday life.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Starting New in Jesus
When someone accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior all of heaven rejoices. Yet, I think that when that person decides to take the step of obedience to be baptized there is a different kind of joy. Something that is deeper in a way because it is a physical at of walking out their new faith and standing before others and saying “Yes” Lord.
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to see to young women step into this new place of obedience and to experience the washing away of their old life of sin.
It is funny how sometimes we are forced to do things differently. This was the case for this baptism. NO POOL. Ok, we used the lake. NO WHITE ROBES. This is a tradition in many protestant churches in Central and Eastern Europe. NO TRANSPORTATION/DRIVERS. Ok, I’ll shuttle the church (300 kilometers/190 miles).
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to see to young women step into this new place of obedience and to experience the washing away of their old life of sin.
It is funny how sometimes we are forced to do things differently. This was the case for this baptism. NO POOL. Ok, we used the lake. NO WHITE ROBES. This is a tradition in many protestant churches in Central and Eastern Europe. NO TRANSPORTATION/DRIVERS. Ok, I’ll shuttle the church (300 kilometers/190 miles).
Praise God for the death of His Son who washed away all our sins that we may have new life.
The Fellowship of the believers:
Joshua: Lesson in discipline and love
Sometimes I find that I do what I don’t want to do and don’t do what I want. The worst thing is when I do that I someone else shines the light of the Lord on it. My reaction (on the inside) is to recoil and just give up. Or to run and hide somewhere anywhere. I find the discussions in my head go from doubt, hurt, blame, and disbelief to defeat. Then I have to force myself to look at the nature of God and his desires for the best in my life.
Joshua reminds me that we all make mistakes no matter how “spiritual” or what our role is. But God is faithful to correct us for our own good and the good of others.
However, when I’m corrected my normal response is to withdraw and to want to give up. There is something within me that says, “fine”! You do it! I quit! I’m just too imperfect to do this task or to serve the Lord.
Yet the Lord desires to correct AND restore me, you all of us. To tell you the truth the correction is sometimes so painful, at the same time I know that it is necessary for me to really learn, change and grow. It is like exercising without the pain in my muscles there is no change in the strength and endurance of my muscles. The discipline is necessary for our equipping and healing.
Often after I have received the discipline of the Lord my confidence is shaken a bit. I’m sure that Joshua had some of those same feelings. I have the sense that I don’t really know what or how to take the next step. Yet, God in his love and faithfulness encourages us to get back on the horse and try again. Sometimes it is so hard because everything within me wants to say “Forget it”! I don’t know how he does it, but just keeps drawing me to try it again and all the while he is inviting me to trust him.
The reality is that I’m usually sitting on the ground because I have tried to “ride the horse” in my own strength instead of trusting him.
Joshua reminds me that we all make mistakes no matter how “spiritual” or what our role is. But God is faithful to correct us for our own good and the good of others.
However, when I’m corrected my normal response is to withdraw and to want to give up. There is something within me that says, “fine”! You do it! I quit! I’m just too imperfect to do this task or to serve the Lord.
Yet the Lord desires to correct AND restore me, you all of us. To tell you the truth the correction is sometimes so painful, at the same time I know that it is necessary for me to really learn, change and grow. It is like exercising without the pain in my muscles there is no change in the strength and endurance of my muscles. The discipline is necessary for our equipping and healing.
Often after I have received the discipline of the Lord my confidence is shaken a bit. I’m sure that Joshua had some of those same feelings. I have the sense that I don’t really know what or how to take the next step. Yet, God in his love and faithfulness encourages us to get back on the horse and try again. Sometimes it is so hard because everything within me wants to say “Forget it”! I don’t know how he does it, but just keeps drawing me to try it again and all the while he is inviting me to trust him.
The reality is that I’m usually sitting on the ground because I have tried to “ride the horse” in my own strength instead of trusting him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
