“LORD, my heart
is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great
matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted
my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul
within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD From this time forth and forever.”
(Psalm 131:1-3 NKJ)
is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great
matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted
my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul
within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD From this time forth and forever.”
(Psalm 131:1-3 NKJ)
It’s no longer front
page news. We seem to be tiring of recurring political sound bites. Perhaps we
have become desensitized to government shenanigans. In any case, public alarm
has calmed or concern has shifted and news moguls have shuffled you-know-what
to quieter levels of reporting. Perhaps we have realized that “great
matters” are “too profound” for us.
page news. We seem to be tiring of recurring political sound bites. Perhaps we
have become desensitized to government shenanigans. In any case, public alarm
has calmed or concern has shifted and news moguls have shuffled you-know-what
to quieter levels of reporting. Perhaps we have realized that “great
matters” are “too profound” for us.
Although, here at
the basic level of society, home and family, we are dealing with youth
kidnappings, murders and suicides, lost income, drug addictions, and disrupted
Head Start programs. It is amazing how concerned we are over national and world
issues — all of which are important — but forget that families involved in
front page news are dealing with sorrows at the deepest level. While the larger
disasters may occur far or near, many people are concerned with their own,
private disasters.
the basic level of society, home and family, we are dealing with youth
kidnappings, murders and suicides, lost income, drug addictions, and disrupted
Head Start programs. It is amazing how concerned we are over national and world
issues — all of which are important — but forget that families involved in
front page news are dealing with sorrows at the deepest level. While the larger
disasters may occur far or near, many people are concerned with their own,
private disasters.
It is these
“closer-to-home” sorrows that should concern us and our churches.
Like the Black-capped Chickadee, the Church (flesh & blood Christians) must
sound the alarm of danger in the air. There is a predator nearby whose only
goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. And he hasn’t shutdown his operations, and
he uses national debt issues to create panic and chaos!
“closer-to-home” sorrows that should concern us and our churches.
Like the Black-capped Chickadee, the Church (flesh & blood Christians) must
sound the alarm of danger in the air. There is a predator nearby whose only
goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. And he hasn’t shutdown his operations, and
he uses national debt issues to create panic and chaos!
According
to various studies, Chickadees are bold in their warnings towards potential
dangers such as small owls or hawks, and will loudly proclaim the predator’s
presence and position. A similar level of concern from the Church might serve
our communities well.
to various studies, Chickadees are bold in their warnings towards potential
dangers such as small owls or hawks, and will loudly proclaim the predator’s
presence and position. A similar level of concern from the Church might serve
our communities well.
Don’t
worry, I am not proposing “fire-and-brimstone” proclamations, except
where the Holy Spirit initiates them, but the fields are ripe all ready to
harvest. So with the Spirit’s help and guidance, we can minister to family and
community concerns.
worry, I am not proposing “fire-and-brimstone” proclamations, except
where the Holy Spirit initiates them, but the fields are ripe all ready to
harvest. So with the Spirit’s help and guidance, we can minister to family and
community concerns.
But we
must calm our souls and access the peace of God that is beyond human
understanding. Our churches, the families around us, and our communities need
somebody to be cool, calm and collected. Our world needs Christian leaders who,
like Paul, can stand and say, “I am God’s servant. I belong to him and his
angel stands by me. Don’t be afraid! God’s will must be achieved” (Acts
27:23-25 my paraphrase).
must calm our souls and access the peace of God that is beyond human
understanding. Our churches, the families around us, and our communities need
somebody to be cool, calm and collected. Our world needs Christian leaders who,
like Paul, can stand and say, “I am God’s servant. I belong to him and his
angel stands by me. Don’t be afraid! God’s will must be achieved” (Acts
27:23-25 my paraphrase).
We can be like a weaned toddler who is comforted in
mother’s arms. Our God controls all and nothing occurs anywhere in the universe
without his permission. We may not comprehend his permissions, but our hope is
in him from this time forth and forever! He is our shepherd and we shall not
lack anything (Psalm 23). He has promised that we will not be tempted
beyond what we are able, but with the temptation he will also make the way of
escape, that we may be able to bear it (1Corinthians 10:13 NKJ).
mother’s arms. Our God controls all and nothing occurs anywhere in the universe
without his permission. We may not comprehend his permissions, but our hope is
in him from this time forth and forever! He is our shepherd and we shall not
lack anything (Psalm 23). He has promised that we will not be tempted
beyond what we are able, but with the temptation he will also make the way of
escape, that we may be able to bear it (1Corinthians 10:13 NKJ).
No matter what is
occurring, we are comforted in his arms. And we Christians need to understand
that while “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,” the carnal
strongholds plastered across the front pages of our newspapers need some
“mighty in God” hands, as well as comforting intercessory support,
taking hold to pull them down.
occurring, we are comforted in his arms. And we Christians need to understand
that while “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,” the carnal
strongholds plastered across the front pages of our newspapers need some
“mighty in God” hands, as well as comforting intercessory support,
taking hold to pull them down.
Dear Father, thank
you for warning us of danger and making a way of escape. Empower us to minister
to the disenchanted, the disenfranchised, and those discouraged by
uncontrollable circumstances. I pray this in the name of our Savior and Lord,
Jesus Christ. AMEN
you for warning us of danger and making a way of escape. Empower us to minister
to the disenchanted, the disenfranchised, and those discouraged by
uncontrollable circumstances. I pray this in the name of our Savior and Lord,
Jesus Christ. AMEN
Pray for your family
and community concerns today,
and community concerns today,