Look up...Lift up your heads...
Our Wednesday night meeting is the most informal of all our regular meetings, and therefore the most unpredictable. Sometimes it's two hours of "wrestling" with difficult passages of the Bible, or difficult issues of the day. There's always time for prayer, of course, but on nights like tonight, it was all about prayer. Actually, it was all prayer. Some requests were made, some testimonies of blessings were given, but mainly it was God's people praying.
As you can tell from recent posts, the church as a whole, and certain members, in particular, have been going through very difficult times. Jesus' words came to my mind: "Lift up your eyes and look on the fields..." (John 4:35)He told His disciples, encouraging them to work; and when He spoke of the trials that would come in the last days, He said, "Look up, lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:28) Discouragement is described as being downcast; if we concentrate our sights on our problems (or even those of our loved ones---brothers in Christ, or physical family)we will become downcast. The solution: lift up our eyes...look up and lift up our heads.
We have needs, but the fields lie before us, full of souls needier than we are. Let us lift our eyes and look on the fields. We are troubled, but when we set our gaze on the horizon before us, we catch a glimpse of the purpose of God, and we know by faith that our present tribulation is light, and works for a greater weight of eternal glory, as Paul wrote. God has allowed it to make us better prepared for His work in the field. Let us lift our heads and see that our redemption is drawing near. God is working in the world, in the church, and in our lives to bring His purpose to pass.
The requests made by the various members in their prayers are signs that God is indeed working: "give me more boldness to witness for You"; "strengthen my faith"; "we place ourselves in Your hands--use us". Those are the kinds of requests God will never fail to honor. We have much to look forward to.
Update on Marcia: She continues to feel well, except for the severe itching that is a symptom of the disease, which in turn makes it difficult for her to sleep at night. Her next chemotherapy treatment is the 23rd.
Update on Jackie: Due to the seriousness of her kidney infection, the doctor has extended her antiobiotic treatment until Sunday, at least. The medication has caused her some discomfort, but she seems to have begun to feel better.
As you can tell from recent posts, the church as a whole, and certain members, in particular, have been going through very difficult times. Jesus' words came to my mind: "Lift up your eyes and look on the fields..." (John 4:35)He told His disciples, encouraging them to work; and when He spoke of the trials that would come in the last days, He said, "Look up, lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:28) Discouragement is described as being downcast; if we concentrate our sights on our problems (or even those of our loved ones---brothers in Christ, or physical family)we will become downcast. The solution: lift up our eyes...look up and lift up our heads.
We have needs, but the fields lie before us, full of souls needier than we are. Let us lift our eyes and look on the fields. We are troubled, but when we set our gaze on the horizon before us, we catch a glimpse of the purpose of God, and we know by faith that our present tribulation is light, and works for a greater weight of eternal glory, as Paul wrote. God has allowed it to make us better prepared for His work in the field. Let us lift our heads and see that our redemption is drawing near. God is working in the world, in the church, and in our lives to bring His purpose to pass.
The requests made by the various members in their prayers are signs that God is indeed working: "give me more boldness to witness for You"; "strengthen my faith"; "we place ourselves in Your hands--use us". Those are the kinds of requests God will never fail to honor. We have much to look forward to.
Update on Marcia: She continues to feel well, except for the severe itching that is a symptom of the disease, which in turn makes it difficult for her to sleep at night. Her next chemotherapy treatment is the 23rd.
Update on Jackie: Due to the seriousness of her kidney infection, the doctor has extended her antiobiotic treatment until Sunday, at least. The medication has caused her some discomfort, but she seems to have begun to feel better.
posted by EP | 12:27 AM | Permalink
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