Just a quickie early this morning--when, PRAISE GOD, it's not raining! Thank You, Lord, for the rain that grows spring's astounding beauty and bounty, but oh boy, thank You for the promise of sun, sun, sun today after a week of rain, rain, rain!
But this morning, I simply want to thank God for the privilege of having a small part in the Raleigh Rescue Mission "Hearts of Hope" fundraising luncheon yesterday. It may have been raining outside yesterday, but it was sunny and joyful in that lovely banquet room. What a wonderful mission that provides homeless women and children (and some men too) a warm, safe, clean, comfortable place to stay as well as hot, nutritious meals. But they also provide all kinds of other services to enable folks to get back on their feet, get a job, finish schooling, believe in themselves again, and most importantly, know the Lord of the universe who has a plan for their lives and loves them immeasurably.
If you want to be incredibly blessed and encouraged, go to Raleigh Rescue Mission's website and read about and listen to some of the stories of these remarkable and courageous folks whose lives have been transformed and redeemed by the love of Christ through the work of this mission. Just yesterday we heard Verlisha's story. Just incredible and beautiful. All the stuff of Ephesians 3:20-21 and a reminder that our God is a God of REDEMPTION and RESTORATION, and He is truly able to do abundantly more than all we ask or imagine according to His power at work within us!
I share this, because our culture and our world at the moment can be mighty discouraging. There's just so much that seems to be going totally wrong, and it's awfully tempting to throw up your hands in despair. Or rage in anger and frustration. Or simply want to withdraw into a discouraged, defeated isolation.
But NO!! God is at work in a million different ways...even when we can't see it or feel it. If you need a reminder, look at places like Raleigh Rescue Mission that are lavishly sharing the love of Christ with a hurting, dark world.
Did Moses give up when the people relentlessly complained and problems abounded in that desert? Did Joseph give up when it seemed the world had forgotten about him in that prison? Did Nehemiah give up building that wall in the midst of his enemies' persecution? Did Paul give up as he was hounded and persecuted and imprisoned everywhere he went? Did Jesus give up and get down off that cross in the face of pain, humiliation, betrayal and rejection.
No, no, no, a thousand times NO! As Jesus promised--right before He knew He would face the unimaginable horrors of the cross--"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
I have read the end of the story people...and Jesus wins. Jesus triumphs. And Jesus overcomes. And in Him and through Him and by Him, we will persevere and keep loving, obeying, serving, praying, and living to the praise of His glory.
Just yesterday I heard words to this effect from John Stonestreet of the Colson Center: "For the Christ follower, despair is a sin. Outrage is not a strategy. And prayer is not an optional habit."
He is the God of all glory, all power, all wisdom, all love, all forgiveness, all grace, all goodness, and He tells us to come to Him, trust Him, and pray.
So away with the despair. Forget the outrage. And let's start--and continue--praying to Almighty God. And while we pray, let's keep loving those God has put in our paths. Loving and serving, loving and serving, loving and serving...because that's what He's told us to do.
That's why we here--to love God and love others. Just like the Raleigh Rescue Mission.
Never doubt it--God is at work in this world. Keep your eyes fixed on Him as you pray and as you love. "Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22), for He is infinitely worthy. And He has overcome the world.
To God be the glory.
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