23 Aug Just keep swimming!
Greetings one & all!
Apologies for this arriving later than I had hoped…been a busy week for a guy with one good leg & one good eye…although I’m moving quickly toward being mostly functional.
I’ve seen both surgeons this week & both are pleased with my progress. I’m thankful for them & God’s handiwork at their fingertips and for the prayers offered on my behalf which are speeding me along toward recovery. My new prayer is to not be frustrated with the medical truth: muscle tone is lost in days & rebuilt in months. It’s going to be some time before I can honestly say, “I’m back.” But we’ll keep doing what needs to be done & that includes regular time outs with ice & elevation as well as appropriate exercise etc…
BUT…for this week…
- Thank you to everyone who made soup & helped last Sunday be such a warm and wonderful morning. Great work Liz in getting that all pulled together!
- Zoom Bible Study Catch-up — Friday 25th August 2023 @ 1:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting — https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83586782734 — Meeting ID: 835 8678 2734
- Saturday, 26th August is a day FILLED with opportunities.
- Albury Men’s Convention – check with Phil if you need a ride.
- Tree Planting at Horsley Park – touch base with Philippa for the details.
- Wagga Wagga Christian College Fete & Fireworks – 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Just show up & enjoy the rides, food, music & fireworks!!!
- The Intersport Wagga Lake Run & Ride is coming! Sunday – September 24th. You know what that means…Living Water Fellowship runs a water station for the participants to serve our community and then we gather around 12:30 p.m. at the Guide Hall (once the roads are open & clear again) for lunch & worship together. Bring something to share & let’s enjoy God’s Word together around a wonderful meal.
I’ve just finished reading Jeremiah & then a devotion from a pastor I know on Jeremiah 45…one of the shortest chapters in the book & not specifically about Jeremiah but his scribe, Baruch. As a scribe, Baruch was highly educated, well-regarded in the community, & as someone in close relationship with Jeremiah…as broken-hearted as the prophet. He’d seen his written record of God’s Word through Jeremiah, ignored, scorned & at one point destroyed by the King Jehoiakim…literally thrown one piece at a time into a fire.
Like Jeremiah, Baruch takes his weary broken-hearted frustration to God. That seems like a good place to take it. God reveals to Baruch that he is not blind either to his peoples’ wanton sinfulness & rebellion nor to Baruch’s pain & soul-wrenching fatigue. The conversation goes like this in Jer 45:2-3…
“The Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: You have said, ‘I am overwhelmed with trouble! Haven’t I had enough pain already? And now the Lord has added more! I am worn out from sighing and can find no rest.’” God, quotes Baruch’s complaint back to him. Notice well…God’s listening even when we’re so worn out all we have is our sighing & groaning. (see also Romans 8:26-27, 1 Pet 5:7, Ps 56:8)
What God says next is striking: “Baruch, this is what the Lord says: ‘I will destroy this nation that I built. I will uproot what I planted. Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the Lord, have spoken!’”
Two things…First…God reminds Baruch that where Baruch is standing is not is some place God has abandoned, but the exact place where God is at work & Baruch is part of that work of Yahweh. When we are engaged in what God has called us to do, as insignificant, fruitless or wearying as it seems…God is using us for his purpose.
But as we hear that assurance, notice secondly, things might get worse before they get better; but God will lead us through according to his grace. God will destroy the rebellious nation of Israel until it is time for God to rebuild it after the exile. But through all that, Baruch is guarded & guided by God. Baruch is not to seek his own reward, but to trust that God will grant him life in the midst of the tragedy swirling around him.
God listens to us. God is at work through us. God has us at all times…even the worst of times.
Let that assurance carry you this week.
It’s carried me for a bit now…I feel better because of it.
Peace
John
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.