Talking about leaving your spouse reminds me of my relationship with God right now and the trials God has me walking through. I recently shared with a good friend of mine that it seems like God has had me in the furnace, refining and testing me more recently than I ever remember. And like one of my favorite songs from singer/songwriter Greg Laswell, where my knees might bend and sway I will not fall.
It has made me though love my wife more and more. I mean, Mercy has handled this pregnancy with incredible strength and poise. God kept her from too much sickness earlier but even now as she is barely getting more than 4 hours of sleep a night, I still see so much joy and strength in her. It reminds me of the verse in Proverbs that there is no wife better than one that fears the Lord and I know mine does. I love her for that more than anything else, and her carrying my baby only makes her hotter to me!! (sorry I will keep it all PG!)
She and I have recently been talking about stepping back into ministry. Whether as a Student Pastor or an Associate Pastor of Discipleship/Teaching, we really have no idea. But it really has made us talk about what we are looking for in a church. And it has made me see the beauty in the variety of ways God meets us where we are. I mean have you taken a look at the Bride of Christ recently! I know for most of us who have been in the church for such a long time, we see all of her faults, her exclusiveness, her lack in meeting our personal needs, or being our type of lady. But I am reminded that its thru the same eyes that see me as a Righteous son of God that see the Church as His Bride. How her beauty is highlighted by the Blood of Christ, and for all of her quirks and her mind not focusing on her betroved, She is loved. She is desired! Whether she is having a day of intellectual thought, or expressive worship, or she has been caught up in her past, or even forgetful of the face of her husband to be, She is still the chosen of God! Praise God for that! That He looks past all the different ways we all think she should be, and loves Her still with the same passion and commitment.
That reminded me of my church home in Chapin, to switch thoughts real quick on you. I feel like I have kind of stood back from everything happening there and in doing so, have left some of my closest friends and family in Christ completely isolated from my love of them. I think about the people I worked with, like the ladies in the office who were such a joy to me. And an excuse to lolly-gag in the hallways checking on the state of their kids or the best teas. I think about the 8:30 crowd that I loved to get hugs from and all those kids whose journeys with God inspired me and helped push me to a greater fullness with God.
I continue to lift that family up in unity of passion and action, that they might be the most powerful revelation of the character and person of God. May that happen in all the churches in Chapin and all of Columbia, that the churches of God would come together under the Holy Spirit and speak words of truth to the hurting and lost, building up the body of Christ in knowledge and love. My heart is with you even if I am not.
No comments:
Post a Comment