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I'm sharing this journal entry from one of our sheep / shepherds for your encouragement and invite you to share your stories to keep us connected David
Thursday April 2, 2020: A journal entry:
JESUS WEPT.
A Morning mist of low cloud wrapped soft around the hills.
I read John 6 and tried to ponder on Jesus the living bread. But the mist beckoned and drew me outside, quickly enfolding me in its clammy embrace.
There was no pausing to choose direction. I headed straight up the hill blanketed in the foggy stillness, only birdcall echoing the inner certainty – she’s coming to pray.
Pray up the hill. I haven’t prayed up there for a while. I’ve prayed. But not there on God’s hill, my place of retreat.
At the summit, as cloud drifted and lifted, it was my heart that rained out its anguished plea, the cry for help with COVID19: LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER. Help us Jesus.
That was it. No wordy waffle. I perched on the rim of the damp bench, poised in grief and need; heart, mind and spirit turned to God, “Yet still do I praise you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Living God.”
A lull then settled over me, like a mute button had been pressed to hush the turmoil of my distressed thoughts and wretched emotions concerning the plight of the world’s people. Wait. Be quiet!
Jesus wept. The words from last Sunday’s reading came to mind loud and clear.
33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Judaeans who had come with her crying, he was deeply stirred in his spirit, and very troubled. 34 ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Master,’ they said, ‘come and see.’ 35 Jesus burst into tears. (John 11:33-35 NTE)
I too burst into tears, and as I wept, there at the top of the hill, I knew he was weeping with me. Weeping with all the world. Weeping for us all.
Turn to me. And I, turning, vision all awash, could see clearly, he was there. Feed my sheep. To this I shook my head, and thought, I’m no pastor. You are a minister of my word. Therefore, speak my word to others. Speak my word to one another. And suddenly understanding dawned. “You aren’t just saying this to me, are you? It’s your call to all of us: Feed your sheep. The responsibility is ours collectively.” And I pictured the scattered sheep, isolated from one another but belonging together and needing creative new ways of being church and speaking grace and hope to one another and others.
I plunged, then, down the hill, not following the worn paths but winding down the steeper slope, weaving through knee high weeds, around rocky mounds and patches of slippery flattened grass, to emerge at the wider base track.
Now is the time to forge new paths. Jesus is still the Way, the “base track” of my faith remains the same. It’s the network of familiar paths that represent how we have lived out our faith, that have fallen away, not God’s word or his kingdom, or his love.
I am thankful for this love that comes to us where we are: scattered sheep weeping in the mist of uncertainty. I’m thankful that Jesus wept and that his way isn’t set in stone. That he comes and calls us to discover a new and living way, today and tomorrow and the next day. Hallelujah! This is a new day! And the Jesus who weeps with us in our distress will renew us and lead us on beyond COVID19.
JESUS WEPT.
The autumn sun filtered a pale ray through the drifting grey. A reminder that the God who weeps, also sheds light as well as tears.
Stories of the Past 21st Day in Lent (Friday) Read: Romans 15:1-6 “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (NIV)
Another of my passions is family history. I have most of the family history books about my family from when they arrived in Australia. I would love to know more about the time they lived in Prussia and Germany – what they did, what family they had, and about their faith. But after my visit to the family towns in both Prussia and Germany last year, I realised that this past has been forgotten or destroyed.
So, I enjoy hearing stories from my mother and my grandmother when she was alive. I listen to stories of the faithfulness of my ancestors which have guided and directed myself and my family to our faith. Paul reminds us in Romans 15, that through the stories written in the Bible we also can be strengthened in our faith. The Bible stories of the past shape our lives and bring us to understanding the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father, the love of His Son and the guiding power of the Holy Spirit.
All this can help us when we are weak, when we need comfort and when faced with uncertainty. Learning about the faith of Abraham – having to wait until he was 100 before God gave Him his promised heir. Recognizing the continual repentance of King David who came asking for God’s forgiveness again and again; and he was blessed by God. Reading about the strength of Esther who stood up against the King for her people, and they were saved. Then we read in the New Testament of the strength of the apostles and disciples who went throughout the known world spreading the news about Jesus dying and rising.
God blessed them and the church grew. Sometimes we put aside the past and say we are living in the present. Remember the hope of our eternal future. Learn from our ancestors and God’s faithfulness to His people and grow your children and grandchildren’s faith so that they too may know the hope we have in a loving God. The past guides us into the present and gives hope for our future!
Prayer: My loving Father, you have given me your Word, the Bible, to teach me and my family about your love and faithfulness from the beginning of time. This gives me hope for my future. Thank you. Amen.
Joyful in Hope 20th Day in Lent (Thursday) Read: Romans 12:9-21 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (NIV)
In 17th century Italy, in the town of Cremona, lived a young boy named Antonio. Antonio was often sad because he lived in a town that was famous for its music, but he could neither sing nor play. Antonio’s voice was high and squeaky, so he was not welcome in the Cremona Boys’ Choir. When he took violin lessons, the neighbours persuaded his parents to make him stop. Yet Antonio still wanted to make music.
Antonio’s friends kidded him because it seemed that his only talent was whittling, but he did not give up. One day the boy learned that a world-famous violinmaker named Amati lived in Cremona. The next morning Antonio went to visit Amati and begged to serve as his apprentice. For many years he studied and worked. Antonio’s knack for whittling grew into a skill of carving; his hobby became his craft. Patiently he fashioned many violins, striving to make each one better and more beautiful than the one before. When Antonio died, he left over 1,500 violins, each one bearing a label that said “Antonio Stradivarius.” Today they are the most sought after violins in all the world. The clarity of tone and careful craftsmanship remain untouched by the centuries.
Today Antonio’s violins sell for more than $100,000. Antonio Stradivarius could neither sing nor play, but he did what he could, and now, over 300 years later, his violins are still making beautiful music. In the above story, this little boy had a passion and wanted to make music. He persevered to find his calling, the place where he knew he fitted. God has a place for each of us, and it is a place where our gifts can be used.
A place where we can make ‘beautiful music’. We are to be joyful with hope to find the place where God blesses and guides you to where there is also a need in the world. Your calling is where the needs of the world intercept with your passion. God will use you for His glory. Your place is where God is calling you to be. Be joy filled in hope.
Prayer: Lord, you know where my life is going. Direct and guide me that I may find joy in all that you have prepared for me. My hope and life is in you – use me Lord! Amen
Absolutely Certain 19th Day in Lent (Wednesday) Read: Romans 8:31-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels not demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
There is not a lot in this world to which I hold absolute certainty! We lived through COVID 19 and saw how quickly a world can shut down, new laws put in place, not being able to buy toilet paper, and be faced with fear and uncertainty of catching this dreaded virus. Then with the weather, will the forecast be correct or should I doubt BOM (Bureau of Meteorology)? With all the computer scamming happening can I be absolutely certain that my money will still be in the bank when I want to use it? Going for holidays, can I be absolutely certain that my home will not be burgled while I am away?
All these things happening in the world bring fear to our lives and it seems there is nothing certain to hold on to. The Apostle Paul points us to our God: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31b–32 NIV) This is something we can be absolutely certain about. God loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to suffer and die for all our sins and wrongdoings.
God then raised Him to life, after beating death so that you and I can now no longer be left condemned of all our sin but be made righteous (perfect) in God’s eyes. You can be absolutely certain, that nothing can now separate us from God… read the list above in verses 38 and 39. This is the hope we have, that there is a loving God who wants us to be with Him for all eternity and there is nothing in this world now that can stop this.
God made sure of this 2,000 years ago when He sent His sinless Son to die for our sins. This broke the power that the devil had over us. You are God’s child now and for eternity! You can be absolutely certain of this!
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you made a way for me to be righteous and holy before God. You have made my salvation and all your promises absolutely certain. I don’t need to fear but live in hope. Amen.