A Church with a Heart for our Community

June 29th Wednesday

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! What a beautiful morning in the Kingdom – have you greeted Father-Son-Holy Spirit? have you thanked God for life today? have you thanked God for the people in your life? have you decided what your attitude is going to be? I will be praying for you today, asking Father to make His presence known to you in ways that you will understand – so you can respond to Him.

God did his “thing” again this morning – He took a concern I had for people and mixed it with a couple of verses of scripture that I had been pondering and inserted a some new music/songs and then added a devotional thought. By doing so He touched my spirit and gave me a new vision of who He is. Let me explain – the problem: I see people running out of energy and dealing with spiritual and emotional fatigue. They are good people dealing with a variety of life issues – personally as well as with family and friends. I am concerned.

Next, let me add a song built around the words of an old Sunday School chorus: Be careful little hands what you do – little eyes what you see – little feet where you go … aha! I hear some of you singing and smiling! … then the song adds some words that take the singer deeper: “It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away…People never crumble in a day – it’s a slow fade…People never crumble in a day – Daddies never crumble in a day – Families never crumble in a day…It’s a slow fade…” Mark Hall. My concern is for people who are slowly being worn down…a slow fade. 

Now let me add song number two that God sent: The Word is alive – And it cuts like a sword through the darkness – With a message of life to the hopeless and afraid – Breathing life into all who believe – The Word is alive … Simple strokes on a page – Eternity’s secrets revealed – Carried on from age to age – It speaks truth to us even still…” Mark Hall, Steven Curtis Chapman.

Next, two verses of scripture that address how the Word that is alive can have an impact on the ‘slow fade’ of spiritual/emotional fatigue: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20 NIV  –  “God can do anything, you know–far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:20 The Message.

How do I get this “power” was my question? How do I pass it along to my friends? This is where the devotional fits in. I knew this simple formula but I needed to see it from someone else: You get this power…by asking for it – praying – not for solutions and escape routes but the power of His presence. You get this power…by taking risks to obey God – He has a good plan and purpose for what He is doing and often what He is doing is counter-intuitive. You get this power…by not giving up – it would be so easy, or so it seems, to simply let the ‘slow fade’ take place, but His power comes at the end of our striving. – adapted from Rick Warren.

Something to think about on the second last day of June…be blessed!