Friday, October 15

Are You sure?

The past few weeks have been very difficult for me. We had revival at church. Nothing happened. We started looking at ways to reach the community. No ideas were given. Tonight I am up late becuase I am thinking of everything and anything. Not sleeping. I am at a point where I wonder what I am doing in the place I am at and why is nothing happening. I pray. Some. I study. Too much. It seems familiar but the Voice I once heard clearly is now very faint. I think "what if" not "why not". I am frustrated that what once seemed so clear is now so foggy. When I talk with the Lord , my question is "Are You sure?" not "I am here, send me." What I hear is yes but what I see is chaos at best.
A friend of mine had a tough day last week. His mom was in an accident and when I first heard about what happened, I was scared. For her, for him, for the family. And even for me. The question was "are You sure?" She was fine but everything could have changed in an instant. It may already have. I am here doing what I was called to do but things are not going the way they are supposed to. Lord, are you sure I need to be in West Texas? Lord, are sure I am supposed to lead others to you? Lord, are you sure you want to give me this much responsibility? Lord, are you sure you are still there? This may be a challenge or it may be time for change. What was certain today is still up for grabs tomorrow but something keeps reminding me in a still, very small voice....

Yes, I'm sure.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Revelation 22:13

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Draught ot the fishes Luke 5:4 - 10:

Historians tell us that the normal time for fishing in the Sea of Galilee was at night. In the morning, the fishermen would return to shore, clean and repair their nets to make ready for the next night of fishing. Peter, ever the pessimist, informed Jesus that they had fished all night and had caught nothing, but if He insisted, he would let down the nets, probably thinking all the time it would be a wasted effort.

This passage is one of encouragement to those who have been laboring in the cause of truth and righteousness, and whose success has not been according to their hope. We have a picture of fruitless toil. "We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing;" words that have not only been on the lips of the unsuccessful fisherman, but often enough on those of the weary Christian workman - the pastor, the evangelist, the teacher, the philanthropist, the missionary. Weeks, months, even years, may go by, and nothing or little may have resulted. Especially is this the case in a missionaries labor among systems where superstitions prevail. The workman goes through all stages, of lessened hope, of surprise at no success, of disappointment, of despondency, until he may get down very near to despair.

Under discouragement and apparent defeat there frequently enters the thought of abandonment. The worker says, "It is useless to proceed. I must have better soil, or it must have a more skilful hand." But when this thought is being entertained there comes a manifestation of the Master, who by some means and in some language, says, "Go, labor on: toil on and faint not." To the "fisher of men" He says, "Let down your nets for a catch."

We may not want to continue. We may feel, as Peter evidently did on this occasion, that there is nothing to be taken by our toil; that for all practical purposes we might as well leave the field.

But Christ's will is decisive. Against that there is no appeal. "At Your word I will let down the nets." This is the true spirit of obedience. To work for Christ under every possible encouragement is easy and simple enough. To continue at our post under every discouragement, because we believe it is the will of our Lord that we should still strive, that is the trying, the honorable, the acceptable thing.

Patient, obedient work for Jesus Christ will bring its reward. You may not see it even in your lifetime, but only when you stand before Him as that good and faithful servant. We may go forth weeping, but come again with much rejoicing.

Grandpa

Anonymous said...

Luke 5:4 - 10 The draught of fishes

Historians tell us that the normal time for fishing in the Sea of Galilee was at night. In the morning, the fishermen would return to shore, clean and repair their nets to make ready for the next night of fishing. Peter, ever the pessimist, informed Jesus that they had fished all night and had caught nothing, but if He insisted, he would let down the nets, probably thinking all the time it would be a wasted effort.

This passage is one of encouragement to those who have been laboring in the cause of truth and righteousness, and whose success has not been according to their hope. We have a picture of fruitless toil. "We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing;" words that have not only been on the lips of the unsuccessful fisherman, but often enough on those of the weary Christian workman - the pastor, the evangelist, the teacher, the philanthropist, the missionary. Weeks, months, even years, may go by, and nothing or little may have resulted. Especially is this the case in a missionaries labor among systems where superstitions prevail. The workman goes through all stages, of lessened hope, of surprise at no success, of disappointment, of despondency, until he may get down very near to despair.

Under discouragement and apparent defeat there frequently enters the thought of abandonment. The worker says, "It is useless to proceed. I must have better soil, or it must have a more skilful hand." But when this thought is being entertained there comes a manifestation of the Master, who by some means and in some language, says, "Go, labor on: toil on and faint not." To the "fisher of men" He says, "Let down your nets for a catch."

We may not want to continue. We may feel, as Peter evidently did on this occasion, that there is nothing to be taken by our toil; that for all practical purposes we might as well leave the field.

But Christ's will is decisive. Against that there is no appeal. "At Your word I will let down the nets." This is the true spirit of obedience. To work for Christ under every possible encouragement is easy and simple enough. To continue at our post under every discouragement, because we believe it is the will of our Lord that we should still strive, that is the trying, the honorable, the acceptable thing.

Patient, obedient work for Jesus Christ will bring its reward. We may go forth weeping, but come again with much rejoicing.

Grandpa