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The Presence of a Friend

“They sat with Job on the ground seven days and seven nights, not speaking a word to him, for they saw that he was in excruciating pain.” (Job 2:13 CEB)

I think the book of Job is highly misunderstood. It is a difficult read for me because it is so difficult to see someone go through so much and feel such pain. It truly breaks my heart. This verse however took me by surprise.

We all know that at times life just plain stinks. There is no way around it, life at times is just not fair.

How many times have you had a time like Job though? How many times have you sat on the ground for seven days and seven nights with the sole purpose of just being there for a friend.

Another addition to this discussion: “It’s a picture of where pastoral care begins.” -Rev. Katie Long

As United Methodists I have a high appreciation for one of our core beliefs and that is even though we know there is injustice in this world, We are called to respond. What’s even more amazing is that you don’t have to be on church staff, ordained, licensed, or anything of that effect to respond.

Respond we must because we have a world out there that is hurting and confused and at times darn right mad. They need people to sit with them and do nothing up listen to what is going on in their lives. Sometimes the best way to minister to someone is shutting up.

So, I challenge you.

In what ways can you respond. Is there a relationship in your life that needs nurturing? Needs to be cultivated? I encourage you to pray over this and do it!

May the people of God be encouraged, equipped, energized, and empowered by the hearing of His Holy Word.

Amen.

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Truth.

“You are increasingly released to become the one I created you to be.”

“Let My thoughts burst freely upon your consciousness, stimulating abundant life.”

These two quotes are two separate sections of the “Jesus Calling” daily devotion for today. I am increasingly amazed at the quality of Sarah Young’s ability to write in the most simplistic yet powerful imagery. The images that these words bring to the consciousness give me a daily gift of reflection.

These two sections really struck me.

This past week Facebook was flooded with different political opinions. No, I am not going to share how I feel about the Health Care passing. These two sections gave me great relief and comfort, that in the midst of the fear being tossed about in the media and our culture, God is still in control and it is only when we let Him in completely that we truly become who we are truly created to be.

I don’t know what’s going to happen and I am very thankful for that.

I am thankful that I don’t have that power.

God is only being that does.

I pray that we all allow God’s thoughts and actions burst through us so that we may totally understand what truly matters. God is the only one that can heal us completely and love us like no one else could.

After all He is the reason we cannot stop believing because He is the one knows us the best and loves us most,

AND

He is always with us, to end of the age.

I pray and hope that these meek words comfort you and point you to the true healer.

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On The Road Again

It’s the summer so very frequently the song, “On the Road again,” occasionally goes through my head. This time it goes through my head as the month of June is coming to close with another mission trip.

After all its mission trip season.

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Mission Trip.

The time and experience where God shows us just how powerful he truly is. It’s during these that the above quote is truly heard and realized.

It truly also is a time where this scripture is realized for me as a youth minister.

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Teenagers get a really bad rap. A really bad one. The truth is that sometimes Teens are better ministers and pastors than adults. Something amazing happens through them on mission trips. So, in response to that I have a simple request.

As the Middle School Students and Adults from St. Philip’s United Methodist Church travel to Winnie, TX please keep us in your prayers. Pray that we have an open mind and heart to what God will do through us this weekend!

Above all else pray that God is glorified through our actions!

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What We Stand For.

“The United Methodist Church believes God’s love is an active and engaged love, a love seeking justice and liberty.  We cannot be just observers.  So we care enough about people’s lives to risk interpreting God’s love, to take a stand, to call each of us into a response, no matter how controversial or complex.” (Book of Resolutions, Page 27).

This past week I had the amazing opportunity to be in mission with 1600+ of my fellow methodorks (also known as Methodists). We canvassed the entire state of Arkansas and parts of Southern Missouri and help various clients around the towns in those areas by doing some light construction work, yard work, cleaning, and sometimes just hang out with some of the coolest we will ever meet.

During the week we took excerpts from the text above. It is what I believe to be a core belief of not just the United Methodist Church but for the Universal Christian Church! If we said to love Christ with all we have then all this text should be seen in our lives.

At our living center we ended the week of worship with me prosing a question to them.

If you love Jesus and your life doesn’t show it then what good is your “love for Jesus?”

It’s a gut check for sure but one I think we all need to analyze ourselves and honestly deal with this question, because if we don’t then what good is our life.

Cause a life without is Christ in my estimation is a life not worth living, because Christ gives us the tools to “live life and live it abundantly.” So, ask yourself. Do your beliefs reflect in the way you live?

If your human and I expect that you are then there are times when you don’t live up to what you believe, that is where Christ comes in. That is the principal reason behind his sacrifice. He loved us so much that He even though He knew we wouldn’t live up to our beliefs, so he went the extra mile, because of His great love.

But.

If you are not actively trying then I believe you are wasting time. Our lives are a wisp in the wind so we can’t wait to really live our life. We have to do it now!

As a Disciple of Jesus Christ who just happens to be a United Methodist I stand for the following:

An active and engaged love.
To seek justice and liberty.
To not be a observer but an active participant, because there is no spectators in the Body of Christ.
Because we care enough about others lives to risk taking a stand, by responding NOW!

No matter what!

So, what do you stand for?

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Daily Bible Verse (Hebrews 10:35-36)

I'm going to be starting a daily blogging series today with sharing my thoughts and reflections on the "Daily Bible Verse" that I have listed on the main page of my blog. So, let's start this series off today with the scripture Hebrews 10:35-36


So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Hebrews was written by an unknown author in an unknown time at an unknown place, but we know who it was written to. It was written to the Hebrew Christians who were at that time considering a return to Judaism. They have come to a point where they are starting to doubt. They were taught their entire lives the Law of the Prophets through commandments, rituals, and even the prophets themselves describing the promises of God. The Law was the way to forgiveness and salvation. That is what they have been taught up until Jesus came and died for the world and now there is the old (Judaism) and the new (Christianity), but the book of Hebrews is about realizing that both of those of religions revealed by God. 

The Law of the Prophets was fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Have you ever felt that your faith is stagnant? 

We have all had times of doubt and feel that our faith is not where it was. It's feeling more stale, and lacking growth and going nowhere. So, creeps in the doubt. 

I present to you Hebrews 10:35-36

Be persistent. Don't give up. 

Life in the essence of everything that it is will get hard. It will beat you down, but God will always be by your side, giving you the guidance and strength that is required of you in every situation of your life. You know for the longest time I have had this pet peeve. I absolutely detest the word, "can't" I just dont like, it bothers me when people use it too. 

God doesn't like that either. Us using the word can't im sure is not one of God's favorite things we do, because with God's help we can do all things. 

In the midst of their lives and doubt the Hebrew Christians were looking for answers and wanted God to assure them of their doubts. We want that too. We want answers, but God doesn't give them all the time. Sometimes God is silent and doesn't give an answer. 

The end of the book of Job 

The end of the prodigal son

He tells the writers heart that as God's children we persevere and be confident in what Jesus did for all of mankind. Don't lose heart. Have confidence in Christ. He will supply what we need, but we have to have an openness as well. We must open our hearts, minds, and very souls. God will supply the strength and courage to persevere, but maybe not in the way we expect.