Tomorrow I'm speaking to the mens group at my church. They meet faithfully every Thursday morning - 6:30AM - at the Perkins near our church. My topic is "How I've seen God at work in the past seven years through Fishhook." (No shortage of content for this 30 minute talk).
Tonight I spent some time organizing my thoughts into an outline, attempting to sift through dozens and dozens of memories to find the lessons God has taught me and ways He's showered His love on my family. One of the truths of Christ that flooded back to me is what Bible calls "the mystery of Christ." What I was stuck by is how the business of the Church (or at least Fishhook working with congregations) can, at times takes center stage over the mystery of Christ and the way God works behind the scenes. Preparing for my talk, I came across Colossians 4:2-6
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
As I read this, I'm reminded of some attitudes I seemed to cultivate more often a few years ago as Fishhook first launched. Returning to these attitudes, I need to worry a little less about the balance sheet and company efficiency. Instead I should...
- Pray, watch and be thankful
- Watch for God to open doors
- Remember that faith in Christ is a mystery and the way God works behind the scenes in our lives is a mystery and I need to look for the mysterious moments when God may have an agenda that's different from mine...be ready to change my plans to move with God.
- Move wisely and make the most of the moment.
- Be devoted toward this, not tolerant or just compliant...be devoted.
Sometimes, my focus is so busy, busy...and my eyes are closed to how God is at work. I'm hoping that these refreshed thoughts I have tonight will carry over and not get lost in the busyness...tomorrow.
Thanks Holly. Yep...easy to miss while "fixing."
Posted by: evan mcbroom | May 12, 2010 at 11:03 PM
I find this happens a lot to me in working with my autistic and asperger's sons. I get so caught up in the issues, that I forget that God gave me these boys for a reason. That he "knitted them together" himself and that he *doesn't* make mistakes.
I am sometimes missing God's handiwork because I'm so busy trying to fix it.
Sigh.
Posted by: Holly Anderson | May 12, 2010 at 10:55 PM