The Journey

A church that I have served in the past and dearly still love today has been going through some very difficult times. I am not all that sure what has gone on but I know that, like any church, things have been said, people have been hurt, and none of us really know how to respond.

Many have reacted by going to Facebook to air our concern, call out the bullies, and ask for prayer. Even as well intended as this has been I believe that it is not the best thing for us to be doing – that is I don’t believe it will accomplish what we desire but may very well produce just the opposite results. Instead of bringing us together it may, in fact, make the divide all the greater.

If we were asked (all of us) what we want right now, I believe most all of us would say: peace and understanding, forgiveness and restoration, and a new direction that will place us on a higher plane. I don’t want things to go back like they were before all this stuff happened because apparently something was brewing underneath it all. I want something new – a new spirit from which, through which we can build the church in a way where Jesus is indeed the sweet, sweet Spirit in our midst.

Plow Point Ministries is coming in to help us find that place where we can be the church again. I have known Reverend Beth Crissman for many years now. She is one of the most spiritual persons I know. Her calling is to help us (the church) find a way to settle our differences in a Biblical and Christian manner, and start us on a path to where we actually treat one another in a Christian way all the time. Please look forward to her being with you and don’t fear the process.

In order for us to prepare our hearts and minds for Plow Point and all that it has to offer, as your friend, I think it would be better not to post anything to Facebook about any of the problems at the church. Instead, let me suggest that we start preparing our own hearts and minds for what we seek: peace and understanding, forgiveness and restoration, and a new direction that will place us on a higher plane, by spending daily time in prayer and meditation.

To prepare ourselves to be receptive to the Spirit of God through Plow Point let me suggest that we use this prayer as our daily meditation:

The Prayer of St. Francis

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen”

Allow this prayer to guide your thoughts as you prepare for that which is to come, and even as you prepare for each coming day as you pray it several times a day.

Grace and Peace to all of you. Amen.

Filed under: Faith |