READY FOR REAL?

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“Ministry means the ongoing attempt to put one's own search for God, with all the moments of pain and joy, despair and hope, at the disposal of those who want to join this search but do not know how.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. – 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT)

Last Saturday GOD gave me the privilege of sharing “HOW WE (the CHURCH) CAN HELP with the ADDICTION CRISIS” with some very concerned, READY, and capable folks in Parkersburg.  And as we shared together, prayed together, and learned together it was clear that many in the crowd were READY to do “ministry” as Nouwen described.

They were ready to be transparent. Ready to be REAL!

They were ready to share HOW GOD had shown them comfort in their pain and in their losses, especially if it meant someone else could benefit, could learn, could avoid the pitfall, or find relief.

They were ready to help others “join the search” to discover GOD and experience GOD.

They were NOT AFRAID to be real.

Lawhead surmised that…

“We are closest to Christ when sharing the world’s misery. Think you Jesus came to remove our pains? Wherever did you get that notion? The Lord came, not to remove our suffering, but to show us the way through it to the glory beyond. We can overcome our travails.

That is the promise of the Cross.”

When we are “overcomers”, when we can DEMONSTRATE the promise of the CROSS, we become messengers of the GOODNESS of GOD! - Delaney

So, the question today is, are we willing to minister?

I mean minister the way Nouwen encourages us to minister.

Using our trials and experiences to show GOD’S glory and providence?

Being transparent with our flaws for another to not feel so ashamed of theirs? (Biggie!)

Willing to share our faults even if they are embarrassing knowing that GOD has a broader purpose in your challenge in your journey?

Remember…

“…all of God’s children go through crises, and it’s during times of adversity that His peace is most clearly manifested. So, give thanks for these times—even though they’re painful—because they’ll serve to bring you closer to Him.” ― Charles F. Stanley

And the closer we draw to Him, the better we can see how He wants us to use those times to help those around us

So, I close today with just one more observation from Nouwen…

By the honest recognition and confession of our human sameness, we can participate in the care of God who came, not to the powerful but powerless, not to be different but the same, not to take our pain away but to share it. Through this participation we can open our hearts to each other and form a new community.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen

THAT is REAL ministry friends!

Ready for it?

Love you all

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE