I'm wrapping up our current LifeCare group (Healing Tears) over these next couple weeks (but don't worry, it will be back). On Sept. 18th, however, I will begin a new group using my book Clash of Hope*. Having never led a group using this book before, I'm very excited to finally go through it with a group of women. Clash of Hope approaches the issue of relational conflict and pursues God's perspective on the issue. Writing the book was very rewarding...and now I get to process through it with some others...studying some biblical examples (both good and bad) and situations of conflict, sharing some of my own stories of course, digging into our own "stuff", exploring our feelings and beliefs about conflict, allowing conflict to "work for us", etc. One of my favorite parts of the book, however, is the part where we disect the armor of God and determine what each part is, how it functions and how to use it as God intended. If you'd like to join me on this 3 month journey, feel free to reply on this blog, or email me if you have my email address.
I hope you'll join me as we see how conflict can have hope and even move us toward peace and the realization that "you have been given fullness in Christ" (Colossians 2.10).
*To order a copy of Clash of Hope, go to www.carepointministry.com/conflict.html
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Joy in the Inner Dungeon
I heard a teaching recently on Acts 16 regarding how Paul and Silas knew what God was calling them to...they knew their mission. Within their mission, they were stripped, beaten almost to death, thrown in the inner dungeon of a prison and put in stocks. It was because they knew their mission that they had an increased ability to endure suffering.
Good things for us to think about.
As I was applying this to my own life, I was struck by what Paul understood about his mission and what he was enduring. Maybe he had his own idea of what his mission would look like when he 'knew' (according to these verses) that God was calling him to Macedonia. Just like I have my own ideas of what my mission looks like in various areas...such as, with CarePoint, and with LifeCare.
But it appeared that Paul's mission was obstructed by all that he was suffering...being dragged away, stripped, severely beaten with wooden rods, put in the inner dungeon in stocks (16.18-25). Still, around midnight he and Silas were heard praying and singing and the other prisoners were listening. Paul seemed to completely trust God's mission for him, wherever it led him. He probably didn't know it at the time, but how else was the jailer and his entire household going to be saved??? God brought amazing redemption from the suffering.
It "appears" that some struggles in my life are obstructing my mission...but what is God doing? I have to trust that He's going to bring amazing redemption through what seems to be an obstruction to the mission...where it is more likely the more precise mission God has me on.... But there seemed to be a key aspect for Paul...and for me...Paul didn't know exactly where his mission would lead him, but he continued to rejoice, trusting that God would accomplish His mission through Paul and his joy and trust. That's what I want in my own mission. I easily forget the rejoicing part, but God can accomplish His mission right where I am...obstacles and all.
I have some questions for both of us...
What is going on in your life that seems to be obstructing what you perceive as your mission?
What is your response to that perceived obstruction?
In Paul's example, he prayed and sang hymns...something that, in those circumstances, arises out of trust in God's plan. That is not the natural response to suffering. Yet Paul responded with joy and trust.
Will I trust and choose joy in what seems like an obstruction but quite possibly may be a powerful tool that God will use to accomplish His mission?
Good things for us to think about.
As I was applying this to my own life, I was struck by what Paul understood about his mission and what he was enduring. Maybe he had his own idea of what his mission would look like when he 'knew' (according to these verses) that God was calling him to Macedonia. Just like I have my own ideas of what my mission looks like in various areas...such as, with CarePoint, and with LifeCare.
But it appeared that Paul's mission was obstructed by all that he was suffering...being dragged away, stripped, severely beaten with wooden rods, put in the inner dungeon in stocks (16.18-25). Still, around midnight he and Silas were heard praying and singing and the other prisoners were listening. Paul seemed to completely trust God's mission for him, wherever it led him. He probably didn't know it at the time, but how else was the jailer and his entire household going to be saved??? God brought amazing redemption from the suffering.
It "appears" that some struggles in my life are obstructing my mission...but what is God doing? I have to trust that He's going to bring amazing redemption through what seems to be an obstruction to the mission...where it is more likely the more precise mission God has me on.... But there seemed to be a key aspect for Paul...and for me...Paul didn't know exactly where his mission would lead him, but he continued to rejoice, trusting that God would accomplish His mission through Paul and his joy and trust. That's what I want in my own mission. I easily forget the rejoicing part, but God can accomplish His mission right where I am...obstacles and all.
I have some questions for both of us...
What is going on in your life that seems to be obstructing what you perceive as your mission?
What is your response to that perceived obstruction?
In Paul's example, he prayed and sang hymns...something that, in those circumstances, arises out of trust in God's plan. That is not the natural response to suffering. Yet Paul responded with joy and trust.
Will I trust and choose joy in what seems like an obstruction but quite possibly may be a powerful tool that God will use to accomplish His mission?
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