This week we will be doing kingdom experiments based upon the Beatitude "blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted." We had a great conversation on this beatitude. We were reminded that our tears will compel us to see and experience the comfort we long for. Happy are those that grieve. Oxymoronic. A paradox. We are blessed when we have tears. Our tears come from our awareness of the distance between us and justice. We are blessed because the presence of the kingdom opens us up to have our tears move us loving and compassionate mission into our communities. Kingdom Experiments (Blessed are those who mourn) Decembered Grief. Harold Ivan Smith’s book A Decembered Grief is a guide for those grieving the loss of loved ones. Get a copy. Read it so you can be sensitive to those who are mourning. Going. Going. Gone. Worship pastor Mike Crawford sings these words: “Blessed when plans that you so carefully laid end up in the junkyard with all the trash you made.” Consider yourself and those you know who mourn the loss of a future that will never be realized. Spend a week considering how God redeems the dreams and futures of those he loves. A panoramic view. Entire nations can lose their identity through war, exile, genocide, or poverty. Piled on top of personal loss is the loss of cultural and corporate identity. Go to tinyurl/cxljo8. View the University of Heidelberg’s Global Conflict Panorama. Choose one of those areas to learn more about. Pray for those who are mourning in that situation. An internal war. Those who enlist in our country’s armed forces are at a high risk of depression and suicide. Provide comfort to them by sending letters, packages, or cards. Gift shop and cafeteria. (Or you could look at it this way: shopping and fine dining.) Attend a hospital visitation with your pastor. Feeling extra grown-up? Attend one by yourself. Remember life before singing animation and e-cards? Handwrite a letter to someone in your life who is struggling with a hopeless or depressing event. Sinners and saints. Consider influential Christian leaders who are in the national spotlight because of their sin and have risked the faith of those they have taught. Spend a week praying for these leaders and for those whose faith has been threatened. I just saw Abe Lincoln crying in the corner. Ask three people what sins they feel are the most prevalent in our country. Then spend your quiet time this week interceding for our nation regarding these things.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 21:07:21 +0000
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