As a deer

Good morning again. It is a wet day here, but the rain is much needed. I love to just sit and listen to the raindrops fall as they water the dry ground. It's a wonderful sound and soothing to the spirit.

Much like God's voice when he speaks to us in our quiet times. Getting alone to pray and seek his face really inspires the spirit, lifts the soul and sets the course of the day so much better than getting up grabbing a pop tart and bolting for the door.

What do we do though when God doesn't speak? When he doesn't answer? Or worse yet when he does, and gives us a response that we wished we had not received? Is God messing with us? NO! He is growing us. He is stretching us and challenging us to step into places and to do things that we normally would not go or do. The silence of God at times can be deafining.

Have you ever sat back and asked: "Why LORD are you not answering me?" "Why am I so troubled?" Many times we feel that way when God seems to be silent. We struggle with the lack of response and feel distanced from him. Yet, God is doing something in his silence. He is teaching us to walk with him even when he seems to be aloof to the goings on of life. Why? To teach trust and faith. It is not a divine game of "I shall mess with so and so because its fun." It is a test as it were to see if we really wish to have him or not. Will we press in? Will we persevere and continue to ask him even if he holds back his response?

Psalm 42 tells a story of at least one of the Sons of Korah. He seems to be going through a dry time, a time where God isn't talking to him. He is troubled in the deep part of his soul and wonders why. His feeling is that God has forgotten him. Don't we sometimes feel that way? For whatever reason, we get the sense that God has left us to walk alone.

Yet, he never does. He is always there, and is watching over us. I would encourage you as I have been encouraged, remember what he has done for you in the past. Recall his faithfulness and his steadfastness and hold tight to that in the times of silence.

"Give me strength LORD, to walk in your silence." Most times our greatest lessons are learned along that quiet road.

That's the way the world goes round

Good day. Not much to say for those of you who humor me by reading my blog. Except I have a good many thank-you's.

It has been one of those summers to forget. I am happy that I can sit down at my desk, type a bit, process more and listen to some music. To the elders and the congregation here at COTR, you are all awesome. I serve a great congregation. PR and Suzanne, thank you as well for your prayers and support. In addition, my early morning coffee dudes! You are all awesome. And especially to my wife, without whom I do not believe I  would have the ability to see the forest for the trees.

Sometimes life takes twists and turns that we are either unprepared for or we just simply do not wish to walk to roads that present themselves. Yet, off we must go onto paths we would rather leave untrod. God leads, trains and lifts up his children, and he uses those around us to remind us of important things. Along those same paths we wish to stay away from, we find that by stepping onto them some of the greatest lessons can be found. I have taken some of those lessons, stored them in my heart and will draw from them as I move forward.

In the midst of two funerals and at last count 7 road trips throughout NE, life goes on. Planning for Elevate youth happens this evening, and the young adult group has begun to form. We are looking at Paul's letter to the Ephesian church. I will use this blog as a means of facilitating that conversation beyond our weekly meeting. I am excited to see what this new "year" (school year) brings to life. Time marches on and life happens. We can grab it by the reigns and with the help of God set out on that faith journey marked out for us. OR we can sit back and let the winds of change take us to the wherever stop-off. One turns into a life well lived, while the other is a life lost in the valley of entropy.

Me, I want to take all I have learned these few months, apply it, learn from it and seek the LORD more. Why? Because letting the currents of the river take you where ever and then complaining about where you landed is quite silly. I would rather steer the boat, let the LORD give direction and land right where he says to. As the world continues to go round, what is your assignment in the midst of the goings on in your life? I challenge you to dig in, pray and then act. Make changes where they need to be made. Focus on the one who solves problems and not the one who causes them.

Life is like Fangorn forest. The trees are so thick sometimes that no light gets in. Bilbo didn't complain, he climbed to where the light was and found where he needed to go. Yup, a Hobbit reference. I'm a nerd.

Many blessings to you all and I pray that I will be solid enough to return again tomorrow: Same bat time same bat channel...