This morning I set out with my Bible and my music toward my "new" special outdoors place - City Hall. (I will post a picture) City hall has the most wonderful courtyard with indigenous trees, roses, a water fountain, and benches. Wow!
I sat and opened my Bible to the Psalms not knowing quite where else to go. Psalm 116 to be exact. I read the text from verse 1 to verse 7 twice. then i considered the words that were jumping out at me. REST, BOUNTIFULLY, AND MERCIFUL.
I read the passage again. Then I began to prayerfully reflect on what those words were saying or meaning to me. When we allow the words to touch our heart we are opening ourselves for change. i can be as our society develops one who is rarely pleased with my position in life. There always seems to be something else out there that I need. A car that gets better gas mileage, Zion with loads of kids, seniors and everything in between all appreciating everyone else' worship preference, the perfect house in the right neighborhood, perfect family without any issues - there is always something to strive toward. In many respects to rest is to fall behind in my book.
SO WHAT ARE THOSE WORDS SAYING TO ME AS I LET THEM TOUCH MY HEART?
The lord Jesus has been incredibly bountiful to me and merciful. I truly have a wonderful and supportive wife who is willing to be a single parent for two weeks so that I can draw nearer to God - she also understands that my growth will be her growth we are a team. the Lord Jesus has blessed me in calling me to an amazing spirit filled congregation. One that reaches out to others, one that enjoys being together, a congregation that is quietly drawing nearer to the heart of Jesus and encourages me to lead in that - WoW! The Lord has bountifully blessed me with Co-pastors in Christ that in a whole weeks time have not called me once - they are confident and capable. THANK YOU SCOTT, BETH, GLENN, JENN, AND INTERN NATE. And they love Jesus and want nothing more than to see the Kingdom of God being built at Zion. I could go on from recognizing a board that cares for me and the congregation, friends that love me for who I am to the fact that I own a car that gets 34 miles per gallon of gas and a very nice house in a sweet neighborhood. The Lord is bountiful and merciful to me.
that is where the rest comes in. In the midst of the bounty - the mercy lies in rest - it is ok to enjoy the bounty we have and be happy. Certainly we want desperately to draw nearer to God, but sometimes that demands nothing more than resting in the bounty that we have.
Life is good and it is a spiritual discipline to realize that.
Hunter
1 comment:
Hunter,
We trust this finds you well. We must report we sat behind, Grace, Livvie and Aiden in church this morning. Best entertainment this side of the Mississippi. And the kids didn't even share their snack w/ me. We think Scott preached this morning! Just kidding! The kids were great, and Grace, too. We enjoy reading your blogs. We trust you find the classes/assigments challenging and rewarding. We look forward to having you share your experiences with us at Zion. However, we hope there aren't any homework assignments for us. Again, just kidding! I'll have to share w/ you sometime how I survived a couple of years of banking school in Oklahoma w/o the girls and Joyce. Praying your week will go well. You'll be home before you know it. And back into the "routine" again, which is good and then sometimes challenging. Take care.
Ron and Joyce
Post a Comment