Havent I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 Sometimes, the scariest place we venture to in a given week is church. When my husband was away for his first deployment, I hated being in our churchs service alone. Thats because I knew thats when all of the emotions Id tried ignoring in the days before would bubble up and trickle out, usually in big snotty tears - the not so easy to miss that shes crying kind, even when I did manage to have a tissue in my purse. God has a way of opening things youve tried keeping closed when youre standing in His presence with nothing else to distract you. You may not be alone this morning as you contemplate getting up, and getting the kids out the door looking halfway decent - but you may feel alone with the weight of what youre carrying. The stuff youve dealt with. The hurts youre holding that make you just want to roll over and go back to sleep so you dont have to think about it, at least for a few more hours. And you know, that in church, youll probably be constantly thinking about it. Can I tell you, remind you this morning, my friend, that the safest and best most wonderful place we can be today is in church? In Gods presence, with other believers, worshipping and focusing if just for an hour or two or three of our day today on the One who has created all of our days? Hearing His Word? Looking and listening for what He wants us to know? Laying before Him our hurts, our struggles and our stresses, saying God, what do I do with these? What will You do with these? I know what you might be thinking - and youre right - church doesnt always feel safe. Because other people are in church - people who are as human as we are, and who make mistakes, who seem like they refuse to speak to you, or who laugh at your stories when you dont necessarily want them to, or who cry and get upset about things you dont always think are really that bad in the bigger picture of things. Its hurtful some days, frustrating sometimes. Exasperating to put up with imperfect people like ourselves. But they need Gods presence in their lives too. Be strong this morning. Be courageous. Because church can only be a place where you find love and understanding for broken and hurting people when broken and hurting people commit to be there to offer love and understanding and a finger pointed to where we all can find love and understanding. Jesus. For its His strength, His courage, His love for imperfect and difficult people, thats the example for us all.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 13:14:17 +0000
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