2023-06-08 915
Tim Stephenson
- 2 minutes read - 343 wordsBe still and know that I am God.
An interesting quote I came across:
Hurry is not of the devil, it is the devil.
— Carl Jung quoted by John Mark Comer
In similar vein, this one is from Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes— The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.
— quoted in Heroic Living by Chris Lowney
Give thanks
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Yet we are encouraged by society to think that it is our indvidual brilliance or effort that leads to our successes and.
Maybe we can name some things that have gone well in our congregation lately and give God the glory for them.
Face our shortcomings
We know the greatest commandment from Mat 22:36-40 and we intend to do it it I’m sure.
Here’s another yardstick to measure ourselves by:
The soul is measured by its flights, Some low and others high, The heart is known by its delights, And pleasures never lie. (The Pleasures of God, 4)
— John Piper, the pleasures of God
In this context, I’d like us to think about anything that is holding back the congregation. Feel free to confess it to one another if you like but I imagine it might be easier to do so silently to God.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Look forward to the day to come
Small things, a prayer for someone, a coffee with someone, a message on the WhatsApp group Or big things: joining an existing ministry, starting an entirely new ministry, reaching outside CBC to another church or community group.
Would someone prayer for God’s inpiration for practical steps in the immediate future?