I Wonder--June 17

Yesterday in worship the focal point of the message was the concept of 'home.' 

I began by stating that 'home' is not always as safe as we would like, and it does not always contain memories that we cherish. We both know that. Nevertheless, in 2 Corinthians 5 Paul speak to the church at Corinth, a church that he cares deeply for, about 'being at home with the Lord.' I believe that Paul does this for two reasons. 

First, it is his ultimate goal to go home to heaven where he will be with Christ again. Paul has known this for some time and he has spoken about it in other places in the Epistles that he wrote. 

Second, this is also his source of hope while he serves the Lord. For when the world presses down upon Paul (or us today), we hope to find our refuge in Christ.

Being at home with Christ is where we feel the love of God at work in our hearts and, in response to that love, we go out into the mission field and we share what God has taught us.  

So with that in mind, I opened my devotional and I found the following words that I feel link nicely to the concept of home with Christ: 

"Oh, how much energy is wasted! How much time is lost by not letting down the wings of our spirit and getting very quiet (still) before Him! Oh the calm, the rest, the peace which comes as we wait in His presence until we hear from Him!"

When we are still before the Lord, and as we realize that this is part of the invitation to come home to the Lord, something profound and intimate happens to our hearts. All that is around us, and all that presses down upon us, can fade away and our relationship with God grows and matures. 

So as you think about the idea of this week, I wonder where God might place opportunities for you to be still with Him? I wonder what these moments will open up in your heart and who you can share them with. . . 

I Wonder--June 13

It has been some time since I last posted, but that does not mean that I have not been thinking or wondering... so it is time to share that wondering with you. 

Today we are getting ready to care for our community. Bags are packed. The canopy is setup and the tables have been moved into position in the parking lot. Soon members of our local community will come to the church and we will care for them. 

I feel blessed by this opportunity. 

Yet a question has been in my mind for days. A wondering. I wonder what stops the Body of Christ from being faithful? I wonder what hinders you and I from practicing our faith consistently with others? 

A few days ago, I was sitting and reading when my iPhone chirped on the table next to me. It was a text message from a member of the church. The message was short but it nearly caused me to jump out of the chair as I read it. The message asked me about our food program and it stated that most of the local food ministries around us were unable to provide food this summer for one reason or another. 

So this person wondered when was our next food distribution scheduled?

There was no judgment in the message and no condemnation because we had not scheduled one. Yet I felt the Holy Spirit sit down in the chair next to me and wonder with me about what impedes the church from her ministry? 

We state that we are busy. We state that our schedules are too full for one more thing. While these are true statements, at times, is it not also true that the Body of Christ is better when we work together serving the local community with the gifts that God has given us? 

Perhaps there is something in your day that is holding you back from caring for your community or your neighbors. 

What would it look like if you followed the lead of the Holy Spirit and began again to care for the people of God? Maybe the Holy Spirit is inviting you to wonder about how to actively care this summer for someone else. Perhaps this conversation is a good way to begin again with the Lord.