This is not just a theological blog today...it's more of a pastoral one.
I awoke this morning with a "heavy" sense of needs out there among people in our fellowship, and with friends.
Kim's surgery is still to occur today...let's pray all goes well there.
Rick has surgery coming up that will be much more major than before...and Oh Lord, please let this be the last one he needs.
Harley is a long ways away fighting for our country and needs angels to watch over and his heart to be for God in all that he does. Pray for Doug and Heather too.
Courtney is well on her journey...Ireland still I think...and Rob and Sue are at home...let's keep praying
Linda Fischer's dad and his recovery needs...
Keith Gundlach is still in the hospital...
Wally's sister's needs, and Wally's own physical needs.
Scott and Lona in a major building project while trying to keep crops alive and growing in drought...anybody know how to say "stress"?
A stranger on a street passed out...bloody...and Betty being a "neighbor" as Jesus described it.
And I can't tell you of others who didn't speak up but could have...including myself!
We're a small church fellowship, how can there be so many needs among so few????
Let's read this and think: Romans 8:18-30 (NIV)
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Words from Paul leap out of the page:
Sufferings...
Frustration...
liberated from it's bondage to decay...
creation groaning...
we ourselves...groan inwardly
The Spirit helps us in our weakness...
We don't know what we ought to pray for...
The Spirit intercedes for the saints (that's us)...
We KNOW that in all things God works for the good...
God foreknew
He Predestined for us to be conformed to the likeness of his Son
He called
He justified
He will glorify.
It's always been a comfort to me to know that this life is not the end....all those he foreknows end up glorified! Think about that.
One more thing: I also awoke with a great sense of awareness of what our friends Dave and Karen are doing in terms of ministry. We had the privilege of listening to Karen yesterday as she shared in our fellowship, what God has been leading them to do. I hope you heard her heart as she shared, "We feel a deep connection to you all."
I have known these two for over twenty years. I have seen the journey God has led them on. When I first met with Dave in the early '90's, he was a student in Dairy Science. Karen was a Vet student. They were young believers, newly married, and zealous to want to learn and grow. I watched Dave go through graduation, take a job at a major Ag company, and gradually recognize that his future lay in serving God in ministry.
Now 22 years later, a couple with a lot of experience, a Dairy Science background, and the opportunity to work among a people who have largely only known of Christians in a negative way. It's a match made in heaven!
PRAYER...this is how we work for God...we do it together as a people who carry the needs and burdens of people for the sake of God's Kingdom.
Peace
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