Two people or more,
not alone, the One is there.
I saw a cluster of violets today
against the outer wall.
They flowered in abundance, in cold February.
Their roots grew deep beneath the wall warmed soil
Together, I Am in the midst of them.
I think a lot of us are feeling weary, sad and yet quiet before the Lord. Jesus is after all the only reason we are walking where we are walking. He is the head of his church and he has promised that even in the midst of only two or three he is there. All of our tomorrows are in his hands. Praise to his holy name.
“But now I come to you; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have my joy in full in themselves. I have given them your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I also send them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify myself that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:13-19)
7 comments:
I think I know what you mean Viola. It's almost 3AM here in TN and I'm sitting up worried about the church that I serve and love. I've tried to think about how liberals and progressives think, but I just don't get it at all. Our Senior Highs are away at a Youth Summit and I don't know what kind of teaching they will get.
Despite all of this, I still trust in the Lord. God bless you Viola.
@ Stushie: That's both sad and surprising. It isn't like we're another species or something. How conservatives think doesn't baffle me - they think just like I do, only from different premises, with an added flavor of change-aversion and a higher importance given to notions about purity.
What makes me lose hope is, honestly, an inability to imagine those who differ with empathy, or to ascribe to them reason and good intentions.
Stushie, I wrote that after reading several one sentence thoughts of the orthodox after their presbytery meetings. And I feel the same way they do. There is a great sadness growing, but also, I think, a growing awareness of God's keeping power.
I think perhaps there may need to be alternative places for young people. However, I know that a lot of the young people in my church are so well grounded in their faith that they become bold witnesses in questionable situations.
Bless you too.
Doug,
I think it might be less insulting to say you don't understand how someone thinks, then to tell the other person how they do think. "A higher importance given to 'notions' about purity," indeed. Perhaps a higher importance given to the authority of scripture and the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Viola,
I think I would have to agree with you about making assumptions about how others think. However, I think you may be guilty of the same offense you accuse Doug. If you are referring to Doug personally that's one thing, and maybe you might be able to substantiate that, but if you are referring to the set of Liberals and Progressives, as Stushie was and Doug reacted to, I would certainly feel insulted and offended by that.
Please clarify your intent in your remark to Doug.
Please do not assume you have a higher regard for the authority of Scripture and of the Lordship of Jesus than the totality of Progressives do.
Kattie,
You are once again beginning to use my blog and as usual in ways that I do not feel are appropriate for anyone's blog.
You never write about the subject but always about how people say things. I do not have to answer to you about how I write or what I say.
If we ever just once had a conversation about our mutual love for Jesus Christ that would be amazing. But I never read anything you have to say about Jesus. If you were not a Christian I would understand. I am not really interested in talking about whether I said something just right or not.
I actually wrote this blog for those Evangelicals and the orthodox who are grieving as I am. So I am not feeling particularly friendly toward those who wish to use my posting as a place to argue.
@Doug...I think our blogger icons sum up our differences perfectly.
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