The Part Yet to be Heard

Life Stories
Originally uploaded by andebos.

Today was the first day of my discontent. I have been really happy here in KC over this summer and once school started; but, these last few days have been extremely hard. I heard this week that more people are now having a quarter life crisis as opposed to a mid-life crisis...does that mean I need to buy a new car? I can't afford one. Anyway, being in your 20's is a difficult time. Meeting people is hard. Living a life devoted to Christ is hard. Loving others, instead of myself, is hard. I love teaching, and I love my life and the people in it, but I am homesick. Not for my family, because my family is right here. I miss fellowship with my family in Christ. The verse that says, Jesus responded, "Who do you think are my mother and brothers?" Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, "Right here, right in front of you - my mother and my brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God's will is my brother and sister and mother." It is nice to have my family around and I love them a lot - but your relationship to Christ and those who share it with you will always bring in an immediately tight relationship. I am realizing how important the fellowship to others is in my life. There are some people who are more independent in their nature; however, for me I need community, I need relationships. Even though I am fairly anit-social and introverted I need community. I realize it is one of the major ways God speaks and shows his love to me personally. Lack of this need has made life tough...but I have faith that God will provide - he always does, and he already has.

Tonight at Jacob's Well we read Jeremiah 29...it was interesting, many people have heard 29:11 - but have you read the context? It brings up some good thoughts and conversations. It was interesting - in this context there is a story and God is speaking to the story of His people...here are his words: The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, sends this message to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: "Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food you produce. Marry, and have children, Then find spouses for them, and have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not Dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of Babylon. Pray to the Lord for that city where you are held captive, for if Babylon has peace, so will you." The Lord almighty, the God of Israel, says, "Do not let the prophets and mediums who are there in Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams because they prophesy lies in my name. I have not sent them," says the Lord. The truth is that you will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find we when you seek. I will be found by you, says the Lord. I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land."

Tim talked about how there was a dry spell of God speaking to his people. For seventy years these people were held in captivity without God speaking - why would he not speak? It is interesting we hear Jer. 29:11 all the time. But how often do we hear the context? these people were in this land for seventy years before God said he would speak and be found...just stay there. That's tough to hear, where are we now? The sermon was interesting and I really liked it - tim stressed that in our lives we are part of a whole story, not one little moment. Our lives fit into a context...and the danger is in believing that our life is the middle point of the world - we are so disconnected to the stories around us that it's easy to believe what happens is based on and aonly affects me (world rotates around me) it's easy to see this in children, but it still happens as adults and it's more dangerous because it just gets waived as well, that's life. Tim posed thse questions for reflection and I thought they were good...something to think about yourself

1) What is your story? if someone could see your life through your eyes, what is it they would see?

2) What larger stories claim you? (Amos 8 and Gal. 4:4) family, culture, world, etc...

3) Are you part of the story God is telling or is God just an addition to an already pretty good life? is God a way to add more good stuff to an already cozy life? or are you in His story?