I have spent the previous five days fighting a migraine. It came on at full force at approximately 2 pm on Christmas day. I managed to spend Christmas morning with the family, doing our normal Christmas routine (stockings first thing, breakfast, and then the presents) ... We even played some games together, listened to some new CDs, and enjoyed the morning.
But then, inexplicably, I was hit with the beginnings of a terrible migraine. Immediately, I went to the medicine cabinet and downed a few pills. It was my hope the early medication would minimize the event, making it possible to enjoy Christmas dinner with the family.
But by 2:30 I was flat on my back in bed with a wet cloth covering my eyes. I lay there until Saturday morning, eating Christmas dinner in bed.
Saturday, the pain continued and because the details of the individual days are not important, I'll fast-forward to day five; the pain was still there on Tuesday morning. I had missed work on Sunday, I had been in bed with a wet cloth on my head far too long, I had watched far too many videos (finding the diversion helped me focus beyond the pain). Most importantly, I had filled my body with pills (something I've walked away from in recent years) because of the pain.
It wasn't until late Tuesday morning, after reading an email from a life group member, that healing began. In that email, Eric asked me had I taken my migraine to God? Yes I was taking medication, yes I was making plans to visit my chiropractor, yes I was dulling the pain with videos; but had I invited God's healing for my pain?
This hit me with great conviction. Why do we (and by we, I mean me) so quickly reach for modern medicine, push drugs and other 'healing' substances in our bodies, and yet forsake the Great Physician, the Great Creator, our Father when we are sick or hurting, or in need?
So with prompting from my friend, and a humbled heart at my own personal arrogance, I went to my Heavenly Father asking for His healing. Within a very short time, I felt less pain, was able to focus for the first time in days, and didn't feel that hopelessness that had overwhelmed me the previous five days.
So it is my prayer this gentle reminder helps you. I'm not sure what you are facing right now. I'm not sure what 'earthly' solutions you are using to mitigate your suffering. But if you have not sought God to be with you in this, stop and ask. He is waiting for your invitation.
I can't promise that you will see immediate healing as I did. I can promise that God wants to be with you, wants to comfort you, and wants community with you; all of which are good.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Shepherds
Our church has been in a series called "How to Steal Christmas." It is about the ways our actions steal the true meaning of Christmas. Week one was "Give in to Greed." Through a 'greed based' outlook at Christmas (I want, I want, I want or worse I need, I need, I need), we miss the truth of this marvelous season. Week two was "Unwrap Unbelief" which focused on our tendency, especially in America, to simply not seek actual truth, but to settle for what society calls truth, or worse simply do nothing to pursue what our heart so desperately seeks.
Today we learned so many "Waste the Wonder." The pastor asked, "Have we allowed this story to become so familiar, we waste the wonder?" Or have we become so focused on our 'to do list' that we simply don't have time to revel in the wonder that God became man simply to save us.
Enter the shepherds. As you read the story in Luke 2, you learn a heavenly host came to the shepherds and told them of the birth of Christ in neighboring Bethlehem. And what was the shepherds response? They LEFT THEIR SHEEP to go find this baby.
Now I wonder how often you've been like me and read the story and never marveled at this simple act. Shepherds would defend their sheep, even to death if necessary. They certainly would not leave them in the fields. This announcement had to be something that was so important to them, their primary focus would shift.
Which is exactly what happened. Because even after going to meet the messiah, the shepherds did not immediately return to their herds, they continued to neglect their charges in order to spread the word of Jesus' birth. Please don't miss the importance of these acts we so frequently gloss over as we 'sterilize' the birth of our Lord. This one event some two thousand years ago has literally changed the world. It split history in two.
And it took shepherds from their flocks. Please don't waste the wonder this year. Please find some new truth in the story of the Incarnation. Please follow the lead of the shepherds and forsake everything you hold dear to meet this Christ and then tell everyone you meet about the encounter!
You will not regret the decision and it might just split the history of your life in two as well!
Today we learned so many "Waste the Wonder." The pastor asked, "Have we allowed this story to become so familiar, we waste the wonder?" Or have we become so focused on our 'to do list' that we simply don't have time to revel in the wonder that God became man simply to save us.
Enter the shepherds. As you read the story in Luke 2, you learn a heavenly host came to the shepherds and told them of the birth of Christ in neighboring Bethlehem. And what was the shepherds response? They LEFT THEIR SHEEP to go find this baby.
Now I wonder how often you've been like me and read the story and never marveled at this simple act. Shepherds would defend their sheep, even to death if necessary. They certainly would not leave them in the fields. This announcement had to be something that was so important to them, their primary focus would shift.
Which is exactly what happened. Because even after going to meet the messiah, the shepherds did not immediately return to their herds, they continued to neglect their charges in order to spread the word of Jesus' birth. Please don't miss the importance of these acts we so frequently gloss over as we 'sterilize' the birth of our Lord. This one event some two thousand years ago has literally changed the world. It split history in two.
And it took shepherds from their flocks. Please don't waste the wonder this year. Please find some new truth in the story of the Incarnation. Please follow the lead of the shepherds and forsake everything you hold dear to meet this Christ and then tell everyone you meet about the encounter!
You will not regret the decision and it might just split the history of your life in two as well!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Musings on my Life Group
I have joined a new church and a new life group since my last post. On October 1, 2009 I joined the staff of Hope Springs Community Church. Today (December 13, 2009), I became a member of the church. It is kind of funny to me that I've been on staff for 10 weeks but was not a member of the church. I guess that is common, there are some churches who encourage certain staff to attend a separate church so they can experience worship without having to feel like they are 'working' ...
However, joining the new church also brought me and my lovely bride to a new Life Group. Our old church called them small groups, you church might have a completely different name, but here at Hope Springs, we call them Life Groups.
And that brings me to my musings from our time together today. Our group has studied the book of Philippians since our inception in October, wandering from home to home, taking a verse, section, or chapter at a time. Because we meet every other week, we didn't finish this four chapter book until today ... and quite honestly, I don't feel we are actually finished.
But during the conversation on contentment (Paul states he has learned to be content in any circumstance in Philippians 4:11) ... the talk turned to the more communal living style of the first century Christians. We wondered if part of the contentment was from truly "doing life together" as opposed to what you find in most modern church life groups.
Unfortunately, we were not able to come to any answers, leaving only questions. Our group isn't ready to sell everything (like the first century church in Acts) and move into a community of faith house ... but some good questions were asked that I'd like to challenge anyone who reads this blog (which is very few, I imagine):
1. We have a member who was unemployed for over a year. The question I'd like to challenge you with today is who do you know that is unemployed? Who do you know that you can connect that person with in hopes of getting them a job? Have you asked your friend if they are able to make their mortgage payment this month, and are you willing to help or find those who can if the answer is "no, I'm short on money"? What if that unemployed friend needs food? Will you help?
Unfortunately, these questions were never asked of our life group member ... fortunately, shortly after the group coming together, he found employment. I'd like to think that had his situation continued, our group would have done the right thing. I certainly hope we will should a similar situation arise in the future.
2. We are a young group, but almost immediately, we began to support each other in daily prayer. Are you connected to a community that prays for you daily? Do you have a list of people for whom you pray daily? If the answer is no, why not?
I know this is far from what the early church experienced. I know that deep in my soul I long for deeper community. But I believe this group is going in the right direction. We will never sell everything and become communal, but I do hope that as a group living lives in separate houses we will be as close to the Acts model as is humanly possible.
That is my prayer ... I'm starting to believe it is also the prayer of many of my life group partners.
Be blessed!
However, joining the new church also brought me and my lovely bride to a new Life Group. Our old church called them small groups, you church might have a completely different name, but here at Hope Springs, we call them Life Groups.
And that brings me to my musings from our time together today. Our group has studied the book of Philippians since our inception in October, wandering from home to home, taking a verse, section, or chapter at a time. Because we meet every other week, we didn't finish this four chapter book until today ... and quite honestly, I don't feel we are actually finished.
But during the conversation on contentment (Paul states he has learned to be content in any circumstance in Philippians 4:11) ... the talk turned to the more communal living style of the first century Christians. We wondered if part of the contentment was from truly "doing life together" as opposed to what you find in most modern church life groups.
Unfortunately, we were not able to come to any answers, leaving only questions. Our group isn't ready to sell everything (like the first century church in Acts) and move into a community of faith house ... but some good questions were asked that I'd like to challenge anyone who reads this blog (which is very few, I imagine):
1. We have a member who was unemployed for over a year. The question I'd like to challenge you with today is who do you know that is unemployed? Who do you know that you can connect that person with in hopes of getting them a job? Have you asked your friend if they are able to make their mortgage payment this month, and are you willing to help or find those who can if the answer is "no, I'm short on money"? What if that unemployed friend needs food? Will you help?
Unfortunately, these questions were never asked of our life group member ... fortunately, shortly after the group coming together, he found employment. I'd like to think that had his situation continued, our group would have done the right thing. I certainly hope we will should a similar situation arise in the future.
2. We are a young group, but almost immediately, we began to support each other in daily prayer. Are you connected to a community that prays for you daily? Do you have a list of people for whom you pray daily? If the answer is no, why not?
I know this is far from what the early church experienced. I know that deep in my soul I long for deeper community. But I believe this group is going in the right direction. We will never sell everything and become communal, but I do hope that as a group living lives in separate houses we will be as close to the Acts model as is humanly possible.
That is my prayer ... I'm starting to believe it is also the prayer of many of my life group partners.
Be blessed!
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