Heart Sick

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (Prv 13:12)

No truer words could be spoken. There is likely someone reading – probably more of us than we realise – who right now are strongly desirous for something. I’m not speaking to those who HOPE for a better job or new car or bigger house or a raise. As important as some of those things may be at times, they are frivolous and not worth nearly the energy we expend on them.

My message is to those who have gone deeper…the longing for someone close to you to find God in their lives instead of running away from him; or they’re “so far gone’ that they have no sense of Him at all any more. You pray … you HOPE … but you don’t see anything coming of it.

Some are dealing with the pressure of broken marriages, ruptured family relationships with parents and siblings and wanting desperately for things to mend, to be the way they should be, honouring God all the way.

Hope deferred makes your heart sick.

But there’s reason to HOPE in HOPE! Solomon wrote his proverbial wisdom from experience. And what does he said at the end of the verse? “A longing fulfilled is a tree of life”. He knew how hoping deferred makes the heart sick but he says things really turn around when the HOPE is finally fulfilled!

Does that mean we always get what we’re hoping for? Sometimes. Not always. Probably in many cases not likely. You can’t forced someone to love you or meet you on level ground and “fix things” or convince someone to embrace God. personal choice is a very deciding factor.

So what do we do with that?

First, make sure we’re hoping for the right things. Second, make sure we’re hoping for the right reason. Third, make sure we’re seeking God and we know His will before we start hoping for anything. It will save a lot of time and energy and will be very helpful in protecting us always living with hope deferred and never getting to the tree of life part.

And at the end of it all, HOPE in God. He knows everything; is faithful to his perfect plan and works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Make sure it’s all about Him, not about you – and certainly not about “them”.

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Sanctuary in the Sand

Psalm 63:1-2

What was the sanctuary that David speaks of when he mentions gazing on God in the sanctuary (63:2) to see God’s strength and glory, as he wanders the Judaean desert? Was he speaking of the tent of meeting that had been the tent of Moses and the people in the wilderness? Was it the open desert and distant mountains or the damp cave where he might have been sleeping in this Judaean darkness? Or did he perhaps have a vision of the temple to be built? Was the coming temple of Solomon born in his heart as a reflection of the natural temple that surrounded him and made him feel quite small in the big scheme of things?

What captures my attention most of all is David using his present circumstances to turn the moment into worship. In the literal wilderness of Judaea, with thirst and hunger very real and in his face, he turns his would-have-been desperate situation into worship so that things are not as bad as they appear. It leads him to pray with thanksgiving and praise that God satisfied him with rich food (verse 5)! In Judah’s barren ‘nothing’ he finds satisfaction!

How rich a person is, to be in the moment and see the strength and glory of God over-riding everything else. It takes discipline; it takes seeking God and refusing to believe "this is for nothing and makes no sense". It is being confident that God is in this - and looking for it.

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Coffee Corner … “Moving On”

Today is a significant day in the life of Salvation Army officers (clergy, ministers, pastors). It’s appointment time, when the National office, through Divisional offices across the country, contacted many officers who are being assigned new ministry appointments. These include a variety of ministry realities. The most challenging part of the change is the impact it has on officers’ children but that is not to minimize the impact on ministries that have grown comfortable with a leader’s style or is anxious about new leadership and how things will change. New leaders face the same fears as well.

We’re among those moving on. We’ve had five amazing years at Kitchener Community Church where our spiritual and leadership development was shaped by an amazing team of people that we’ve grown to love and call “family”. I can’t begin to describe the mix of emotions that come with that change. We are looking forward to a new venture but have to leave special people behind to do that. We’ve invested a lot together as a faith community so it’s not easy to let go of those things.

As we move we leave one daughter behind. That will be the most significant adjustment of all.

I am confident however that God is faithful. He will give attention to the details that matter to me and the things that matter to you. Nothing is too small for him or too insignificant that we shouldn’t present our concerns to him. He already knows, of course, but he likes to hear from  us.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) is a timing message: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Go ahead, give it a try. It’s awesome!

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