Friday, July 15, 2016

"Be Still"

Most mornings, I read the Charlotte Observer, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal. That is a tough way to start the day. Global turbulence is on the increase; terrorism, economic upheaval, violence, abuse, fear, polarization and human trafficking. Distress screams at us. Somebody, do something! The need for change is a constant. We need a fix.

Jesus said, “Follow me.’  If we are serious followers, we ask daily, “What is the redemptive thing to do?”  Christians live out their faith in real time and space. Yes, your beliefs matter but the evidence is in how you live.

Fred Buechner wrote, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”  In other words, God’s call comes to us in real time and space. Not just in sacred seclusion. At some point, we put wheels on our faith and jump into the tough arena of Christian obedience. At some point, we have to get out of the stands, put on the uniform, get in shape, and get in the game. The material world is not the enemy of the spiritual world. We are body, mind and spirit. We are expected to be salt, yeast and light in the world. Christians are expected to be catalysts for good in this world. Christian compassion shows up in the flesh.

After reading the papers, I take time to pray. Yes, I express my praise to God and my concerns. Add to that, I allow some time for silence. I need to listen for God’s prompts. “Be still and know that I am God.”  The psalmist was insightful. Sure is hard in this culture to embrace that stillness!

Blessings,

1 comment:

  1. I enjoyed "Be Still"....so true......so well expressed... and leaves you with so much of a need to really take time to find that place where God calls you.... where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet. If more people really understood that, the world could be a better place.

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