Hey all. I have not been a huge blogg/facebook/twitter user but I thought it may be interesting to try and get something going where we could just have an open forum for thoughts, ideas, questions, prayers etc. I really wanted to invite all of you in so that we could potentially have a sweet place just to be real. I know that I have lots of random thoughts runnin through my mind about Jesus and don't always get a chance to meet with people because of schedules and such. Not to mention some people like to travel and are not really around to get coffee with.
So with that said, I hope that this could potentially be a cool place to just have some Jesus talk.
-Brett
First question to throw out and would love to get thoughts from whoever.
What do we do when we can't find answers? What does this do to our relationship with God? What do we hold on to in our relationship with God when we just don't understand what he is doing in our lives?
One thing that I have learned is that God loves desperate people and He wants us to realize our absolute need for Him and come before Him acknowledging that He is everything. We are totally dependant on Him whether we are willing to acknowledge it or not. Sometimes when we dont have the answers as to what is happening in our lives and what the purpose is, that is when we are most reminded that we are totally desperate. I think that these situations often create doubt and frustration, but I think that they should rather create desperation and appreciation.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best things to do in these situations (and all situations for that matter) is to get down on our knees before God. It is also important to never forget where He has brought us from and where He has brought us to. The Israelites when they were in the Sinai were too focused on their current situation and forgot about what God had done for them by bringing them out of Egypt and it created problems for them. We need to remind ourselves of what He has done and show our gratitude, especially when we are unsure of what He is currently doing.
I'm SO glad about this idea! I would love love to see our communities thoughts on real issues... And what a lovely purple background with free birds! A Great way to stay connected too.
ReplyDeleteSome random thoughts:
David, love "they should rather create desperation and appreciation" --- I've really struggled with feeling so much doubt and frustration here in Europe, partly because I've been stripped bare of everything I'm comfortable with... which has been really needed actually. What do I do in a place where I'm not at all known by anyone but Dad? Is he enough?
So what have I done Brett? In response to your questions, I've honestly responded in some holy and not so holy ways. I believe He gives me the decisions to make day to day decisions, and I forget what exactly Jesus pulled me out of to be honest, I forget the life I left behind not so long ago. But His pursuit is RELENTLESS... wow wow you guys. But to echo David, remembering my DESPERATION for Papa has completely and totally changed my attitude, my perspective, my day to day decisions specifically here in France. He still pulls me out of the bloody messes I make, and just asks me to love Him. Sometimes I can't bear to peak too far ahead into the future (I get scared!), but step by step commitments will ultimately alter my destiny...
As Brett knows and some of you don't, this has been the question of my heart for the past few weeks. So many people around me have been in some serious pain and brokenness. I feel like I have needed to have the answers--in almost every situation, I have no answer but to weep, and kind of hide because I am so confused on what to do..
ReplyDeleteThis past weekend at snow camp of the head leaders, Eric Leist, spoke some sweet wisdom into this exact situation without me even asking--the Spirit is good. Always knowing what we need.
He opened up Luke 7 and started talking about the encounter between the centurion and Jesus. In the end Jesus heals the Centurion's slave because of his faith. The story accounts for a crowd of people with him. He said, imagine what that crowd was like--full of life, joy, amazement, and love for Jesus.. He reminds us that no one talks about the subsequent verses and stories.. What happens after the Centurion account is important. This crowd of joyful, fully alive people collide with a funeral procession in the town of Nain (meaning beautiful). imagine the collision of these two groups. The joy and life and one end, colliding with the pain and grief of the widow, and the people with her. Eric said.. Don't ever be surprised when you find yourself at the intersection of life and death. Jesus was there all the time, at the very core of those places. As someone in ministry, as a follower of Jesus you will often find yourself at the painful intersection of life and death.
Scripture says that "When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said 'Don't cry.'" Jesus didn't give the answers, or give explanations. Instead, his heart went out to her and her had only compassion and love for this woman. When WE are at the intersection of life and death, and feel like we must have the answers, or we are there to have the answers, the reality is that we have it all wrong. We are not there to give answers. We are there to offer the healing love and compassion of Jesus Christ himself!!!!!
I think this is really powerful, or at least it is for me and the painful places I am at with many of the relationships around me. I feel pressure to have the answers, and when I don't I feel like I've failed, and I wonder where God is in all of the hurting mess of the world. What a beautiful thing to remember that "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1: 17). Jesus has gone before me when intersecting life and death. He has done it.. He did it. He is doing it WITH ME! And he isn't in those places to give answers, but instead, to offer a deep deep love and compassion.
Sooooo, to answer your question.. What do we do when we don't have the answers? We first remember that Jesus has been at this painful and hurtful place before. We then remember that having all of the answers is never what Jesus calls us to, nor is it always what Jesus did. We cling to love and compassion, and to the truth of Christ..
Hi Friends,
ReplyDeleteWow the Father holds me in the palm of His hand. Is 49:16 I have written YOUR NAME on the palms of my hands. I find rest in this that in the midst of my running He picks me up and holds onto me even when my legs are still trying to run a hundred miles an hour. Even today I feel this. Going from meeting to meeting with people I am reminded of how much He loves me and has placed people like you in my life.
I love what you said with regards to the Israelites David. I am in the midst of remembering where I can see The Father intervene in my life. The truth is He has always held onto me and constantly intervenes in my life although I don't always recognize it. I love stoping and reflecting on my life with Christ.
As I drove home today I was struck with God's love for me and just felt this warm presence in the midst of the below freezing temperatures because I don't have enough common since to put the windows on my jeep....I do have the doors on....I guess I'm half way there.
I just reflect on how the Lord has blessed me with so many people in my life and how they....you have helped mold me into the person I am today. I am so blessed to have you in my life wether the next room over to the other side of the world.
With all my rambling about my life I think that I truly struggle with the idea of not knowing the answers and Satan uses this against me in my stubbornness that I do have all the answers. I think that this is one of my biggest struggles and this has been great for me to slow down and reflect that I don't always have the answers and that I am wrong.....most of the time.
I find myself now writing this out of my own brokenness and getting to a place where I need to stop and truly reflect and stare into the face of My Maker. I confess that all of my stubbornness leads me to a place to try to live life on my own strength and that is a life of death where satan is glorified.
I write this because it all leads back to how I don't know the answers.
That all I can do is fall to my knees at the foot of the cross...the visual that we can see the LOVE that our creator has for us.
I am awe struck at the sacrifice that Jesus made and that as He pleaded with the Father that there could be another way but if there isn't I will continue with your plan, Matt 26:39. The pain that He endured I will never come to relate to while I live on this earth.
I believe in our weakness and brokenness of not knowing the answers but sitting at the foot of the cross is where our relationship with the Father is most glorified in His eyes and thru this we are in complete submission with the Father.
My struggle is understanding that The Lord is in the midst of my life and even if I don't understand what His plans are in the moment I have to admit that they are infinitely greater than any plan I could imagine for myself and this is proof when I reflect on my life and see where the Lord has picked me up out of the mud, washed me clean and continues to mold me into the man He created me to be.
God Bless