House Church Talk - agenda documentation

[Tim Poole]

Dan,
 Good hearing from you too. I know when times are tough, for me, its easy to
become inward and so aware of my failings and sins. We have seen tragic
things happen to several families is our group. One brother (not yet 40)
died from cancer, One brother lost his job after 21 years, another close
brother had to repo his business after a default, loosing near a million in
the process. Its easy to become synical or depressed but as you said  "I
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us." After seeing the movie
"The Passion" I realized I had nothing to complain about compaired to what
HE suffered. I just try to remind myself to "Consider it pure Joy", and "In
everything give thanks".

  When we had a child with a birth defect, nothing seemed to work. The
brokeness of a wounded spirit is hard to bear. Looking back, I can say she
was a blessing although some of my own family says "it was the devil that
did this".  The healing comes when you stop asking why and embracing the
fact that "In everything give thanks,because this was Gods will concerning
you". Its tough, but God owes me nothing and I owe him everything. As Job
says, "Though he slay me yet will I serve him". No one understood what pain
we were going through and we found little comfort, other than knowing HE was
our reward. Things and expectations of others to somehow help always fell
short. He becomes our focus and our reward, because nothing else matters
when your hurting.

  I can laugh again and I have recovered my Joy, but the seasons of sorrow
seems to make us more grateful of his Joy and empower us to not take lightly
his blessings. In my opinion, He seems to be able to slay and kill our flesh
during this time because we are broken. As Paul said "Christ endured the
cross because of the Joy set before him". Its hard to imagine JOY during
this time or season but he promises a season of Joy if we dont faint.
Hopefully you can be encouraged that Joy will follow the cross as he
promises. In Christ, Tim

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Beaty" <dlbeaty at copper.net>
To: "House Church Talk" <House Church Talk  at housechurch.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2004 9:38 AM
Subject: Re: House Church Talk -  agenda documentation


> Tim,
>
> It was good to hear from you on the list today! I also appreciate your
> understanding on the Sheparding movement and empathy for Claire and others
> who have experienced problems there.
>
> My experiences were no doubt mild compared to some of the stories I have
> heard.
>
> This part you wrote really struck me:
>
> > My question is, Are we in a place where the life of God is moving and
> > filling our being or we just looking to avoid the rules and abuses.
> > Spiritual pride can seduce anyone. I hope we can discern what God is
doing
> > and throw ourselves into it, rather than rejecting something because it
> has
> > fallen people that seem to keep making mistakes. The last conference I
> went
> > to was a very good experience because their was such a vision imparted
to
> > change the world rather than split hairs over non-esssentials. In
Christ,
> > Tim
> >
>
> Once I put this question to a group of men in India: "Are we simply
running
> from sin, or are we running towards Christ?" It seems to me that in
pursuing
> Christ, our preoccupation with Him will naturally free us from the
bondages
> of sin, the world, the past and even harmful religious systems.
>
> Paul wrote: "If we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of
the
> flesh." and "This ONE THING I do, forgetting those things that are behind
> me......I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God
in
> Christ Jesus."
>
> I seem to be writing this to myself today. The last few years have brought
> some very painful situations into my circle of family and friends. I know
I
> need to put them behind me and continue to follow Christ to where ever He
> leads me.
>
> This brings me to another favorite verse:
> "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
> compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us."
>
> WOW!
>
> Dan B.
>
>
>
>