good Sabbath

Like a lot of churches, well, everywhere, the church in Vaudreil (the community we used to live in) is going through some heartbreak.  Some division.  Some disagreeing.  Some strong opinions.  Some of it maybe not so much in a great Godly way.

Lucner is one of the lead pastors, and watching him and several of our other staff who are members there go through this heartbreak hasn't been easy.

This past Monday some of these issues came up in the EBS women's Bible study I'm a part of.  By the time everyone headed home, I was really thankful for a small chance to speak peace and love into the situation...to listen to the women in the middle of the division and to hold their hands and pray with them.  To pour over His Word with them and see what it said.  

And it said that Christ is the foundation, that can't be shaken, that can't be taken away from, that can't be added to.  And it said that we're each before Him and Him alone...accountable for our work to Him, and able, able to bless Him...to do work and give in ways that BLESS the Almighty God. (1 Cor. 4)

So, when Lucner asked Matt to please preach this weekend for him, it was a great opportunity.  But let's face it...a lot of pressure!  

Thankfully, Matt reminded me this morning that it's not his job to "bring a message" or to treat the issues of the church or to convict or change anyone's heart...just to be an open vessel with which God can speak through.

Isaiah 6 was the perfect springboard, and it was a joy for me, packed into a sea of brothers and sisters, to just listen to the truth and the LIFE of His Word, that meets us where we're at, knows what we're facing, and the Holy Spirit that desires Holiness in us each.  

That's a good Sabbath.  

Thankful for the many opportunities God continues to provide to minister...to be Jesus just by pursing Him in every opportunity, in the midst of a hurting and broken world.