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"Love Revolution"

11/19/2019

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"... do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" Phil. 2:4

 Listen to:     Israel Houghton & New Tribe: "Love Revolution"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PycBIqjZSjw

We live in a time of greater and greater division in our country, among the classes, across the world.
During difficult situations, we are tempted to give in to cynicism or despair. To give up. To turn inward and care only for ourselves and the small group around us.  As Christians, we have a powerful mandate in face of social and personal chaos.  Jesus calls us to use the situation we are in as an opportunity to grow in faith. To trust more deeply.  To practice patience and forbearance  To love more sacrificially.  To reinvest our energies, even when we ourselves are hurting,  in the world.  

No matter who the president is, God is our eternal Sovereign.  We carry God's standard:  so we must be the salt and leaven of our communities.  We bring God's order:  so we must listen to those who don't have a voice.  We must see those made invisible by injustice and sin.  We must touch those who are angry, fearful and forsaken.

Today is a new day and there is  much ministry to do.  There are devastated communities we can help repair. There are hearts that need mending. There are needs out there that fit the longing of our own hearts.  If our communities are to be restored, we must model giving and service. We discover, in the process, our own spirits are touched and healed.

This is a great, spiritual truth: as we focus on and meet the needs of our neighbor,  we in turn find peace and a balm for our souls. Giving is key to our spiritual maturity.  For as St. Francis said, "in giving we receive."    Let us carry Jesus' words as go forth this day:  

"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you" Luke 6:38




PRAY: "God, out there is a need with my name on it. Lead me to it. We remember that  you are for us -- and yes, Lord, we are for your people. So today we give: with all our hearts, we give, in your name."

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Carrying Each Other's Burdens

11/13/2019

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“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 2 Cor 1:8,9” 



​Listen to:   KUTLESS, “What Faith Can Do”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR_v4iSr6vI

The Lord of the Rings,The J.R.R. Tolkien story, is one of our family favorites. An unlikely band of creatures (men, dwarves, elves, hobbits, wizards) forge a fellowship that overcomes their differences in order to resist a common evil enemy, Sauron. On their journey to destroy an evil ring and vanquish Sauron and his cohorts once and for all, the fellowship encounters death, grueling hardships, misunderstandings, betrayals, challenges to their faith, and battles – internal and external.  They experience blessings and unexpected encounters that give them unexpected gifts needed for the journey, and forge additional alliances that help in the fight to defeat evil.  
 
The story teaches us of the power of the holy bounds of friendship,of help that comes from a place greater than ourselves,  and of continuing the journey even when faith and hope seem lost.  God is present, whether we believe it or not.  Our faith will challenge us to act as Jesus expects of us – even when devastation is great and no rest in sight.  We learn in these trying circumstances that we act on a power greater than ourselves.  We just need to do what we can do, and leave the rest to God.  This is what the Apostle Paul learned in his trials throughout his ministry. At times Paul felt crushed.  Yet he persevered. So we are not exempt from hardship.  We persevere because God is there, leading us through it, even when we don't understand .

There is one scene in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,  that always brings tears to me eyes.  The Hobbit, Sam, is helping Frodo up Mount Doom, where the evil ring must be destroyed.   Frodo is nearly wasted from carrying the ring. He can barely move. So Sam says, “I can’t carry it (the ring) for you, but I can carry you! Come on!” And so Sam carries his dear. weakened friend up the steep pass. This is what we are called to do.  We can't always take away another's heartache.  But we can be there with them and ease the load where we can when the pain is too much.

     We can all carry something. Like the Tolkien fellowship, we are a motley group, forged by our love of Christ and desire to meet and serve our Lord in our neighbor in need. Let us move forward, in faith, trusting our journey will bring forth good and shape us into holy bounds of friendship and care – forged and centered in the love of Christ.
 
 


 


PRAY: “There are times when the burdens are so heavy. It’s too much for us.  We need you.  Help us to rely on your strength. Help us to forge holy bounds of fellowship with those you have placed in our lives – so we may, with your grace, find strength in you, confront brokenness and evil, and give witness to your never-ending love.”
 

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    Moirajo is a minister, social worker, wife, mother, writer and animal lover. That's just for starters. Join the story, there's so much we can share together! 

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