the hope of glory

I was talking to a man after church this morning, the girls all playing tag with a frenzy of children up and down the empty pews, dozens of shoes and sweaters tangled in the corner.  

He asked how things were going, and I didn't have any luxurious fluff left to give.

I told him how everyone in this state of strangers has been so kind and so friendly, but the distance they keep you firmly at is too far for genuine friendship. 

I thought he was going to feel badly for me, like I have been, overlooking all the graces tangled around me in His hands to focus on how alone I am.

I thought maybe he'd tell me he was sorry, or have some suggestion I should add to the list of things I have tried.

Instead, he told me he's been here decades, and that he is lonely, too.  

In a snap, the lesson I have learned over and over and still, came back.

Christ in us is still the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27  

Lord, may I be the change You wish to see.

The hope for our heartaches is never found in focusing on them. These burdens we carry, they may be true, they may be lies.  Regardless, they are not the solution, nor in them does the solution lie.

Neither self-pity nor disgust nor abandon-ship have any place in His kingdom. 

They lead to nothing honorable, nothing loving, nothing free, nothing holy. 

Simply put, they do not lead to Jesus Christ, and He is the only solution for the burdens of our hearts and world.

If the church should be loving better, Lord, help ME love better.  

If the world should be a better place, Lord, make ME a better place. 

If I am lonely, LORD, make me a true friend. 

If I am in need, show me where to serve. 

If I am hungry, show me who to cook for. 

If I am alone, Lord, show me who to stand with. 

If I am misunderstood, help me understand another, and 

if I am tired, use me, Lord, to bring life. 

If I have nothing to say, Lord, show me where to listen. 

If it's broke, Lord, make me whole. Make me whole.

Doesn't really matter where we are. Doesn't really matter what everybody else is doing, or how well they are doing it. Doesn't really matter if our burdens are lies or truths. Doesn't even really matter who we are.

Nobody's EVER cared for you like Jesus, friends, and that which needs done in our lives and worlds, He wants to do through us. Everything that matters is wrapped up in who He is, and whatever struggles we are today....our Lord Jesus and who HE is is always faithful. 

Let's wrap it all up in Him and carry on faithful, too.