those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint
Isaiah 40
In community life can seem very tough at times. It's easy to forget the amazing generosity of God. But in community you don't sign up for an easy life, you pledge yourself to live with other people, for better and worse. If you become tired of all the meetings then you have to question what community is about for you because when we are in community that's what we do, we meet people, all the time.
But I was feeling tired, emotionally worn out. I was getting repeatedly annoyed with God for nothing working out right and desperate for some reprieve; when in bursts my friend and tells me he's had a dream: a dream that remembers God's generosity, that things can be bigger and better, more successful than they already are, because we have a generous God!
It's my hope that news like that doesn't just make my day or week, but makes my life! The tough times will always be there, but that's not the point with God. His heart is more expansive, more roomy than you could ever know... (see Ephesians 3:15-21)
One last thing... God gives every Christian an inspiration of faith and hope when they first meet him. Some aspect of faith so big, so true, that all their vision is expressed in that virtue. For me it was his love, for others it is his power. What was it for you? Return to that principle and live in its reality as much as you can because God gave it to you as a key for you to express his spiritual life as richly as you possibly can!
photo by artandscience of flickr.com
Read about the actual dream: http://man-with-the-mop.blogspot.com/2007/03/i-had-dream.html
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favourite quotes from the Bible. Apart from the beauty of the words, for me it speaks of overcoming and soaring above adversity. Particularly in this 200th anniversary of Britain's attempt to end the hellish horrors of the slave trade, it glorifies the intoxicating joy of freedom.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that brother... The toughest times have most potential for the greatest joy.
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