Thursday, October 29, 2009

Sore spiritual muscles? It's a GOOD/GOD thing!

It's been a long time since I have had the opportunity to sit in front of adults to teach the word of God........
I have really missed it. I SO miss the spark of conversation.
This past Tuesday I was given the responsibility to teach/guide a Bible study
for a group of (senior)mature Christians.
You see Keith and Mrs Joy were talking about who would lead this weeks study...they don't like doing that type of thing.....and so Keith offered me up like a sheep to the slaughter. :)

I'll have to say that the realization of what I was doing did not begin to heighten my pulse until I sat there with so much aged wisdom.....and they waited for me to begin.


And then the thought.....What in the world was I thinking!?! Dear God-- hide me behind the cross!
He was faithful to remind me that it wasn't me teaching anyway......so
with a nervous stomach.....I opened my mouth and He spoke.
They were a sweet group of people and they jumped in with the conversation....which made time fly.
And before too long it was over and I had not been hung for speaking anything foolish. \o/
I have missed teaching and I do hope that one day I will get to do it more often.
I do think that when He finally releases me to open my mouth again-- there will be some incredible truths that have been planted in my heart because of what we have walked through lately.
Some things are just crazy......I would have never foreseen going through some of these things.
You know what it brings to mind?
Building a strong resume. 
All those individuals who are working so hard to add experience/school to
their repertoire so that they will be more valuable or so they can earn more money.
But in their case......they are the ones responsible for the work of making themselves well round.
Where am I going with this?
Just a little reminder for all of us who are looking at our lives and wondering why in the world we are going through the things we have gone through and are going through.
So here is the tie in.
As I was studying for Bible study foe Tuesday night.... there was a gentle reminder for me from
our brother Paul in the second book of Thessalonians the third chapter.
  When I first opened the study- I realized the major topic was the lazy people of the day that were not working but expecting others to take care of them. Paul was giving the church the right to "put them out" so that they would learn that if they did not work...they would not be allowed to eat off someone else's plate.
But the thing that touched me was a small verse at the beginning of the chapter.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (New International Version)

3But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Now this hit me! Isn't it funny how God knows when we need reminders?
I may have been showing my age physically and spiritually.....but I jumped into this verse
because it seemed to be beckoning me.
You probably know that the people Paul was addressing were new believers that were going through a huge time of persecution....life was more than rough.
Can you imagine being in their shoes? They were out there "all alone" trying to work out their faith with fear and trembling....all the time wondering if they were doing it right. Wondering if they were doing enough.....that is why they were hesitant to stop taking care of those people who were no longer working.
They were full of questions, questions, questions.
I am sure they wondered how much they would have to do before they would arrive at the maturity of Paul.
When would they arrive at the point where they could say that in all things
they were achieving peace and content?
And so Paul....what a heart......dropped in some words of peace and security for these young believers.

First, he reminded them that..... God was faithful.
If you have received a text from me in the last several months you know that.....He is faithful.....is my signature. It is something that I need to be reminded of....and something that we all need to KNOW way deep down in the marrow of our bones.
As our savings came to an end... and there was no job in site....I needed to KNOW that He was faithful.
And He was.....we were down to our last dollars and Keith got a job this week.
He is faithful!
But sometimes on the way to that realization ----we sometimes think about what we can do to "shore ourselves up" so that we really believe that when the rough times come.
You know...how cool to have the wisdom before you get to the rough time.
But in the past .....the rough times have often become times of "works" for me.....tackling things on my own.
But the truth of this verse.........it is not my job to strengthen myself.
It is God's job... a promise that Paul uses to assure these wavering believers.
I wonder if they realized that God's way of strengthening them may have just been coming from the persecution they were experiencing?
Hmmmm
 I will stop this wondering/wandering post here...with just a gentle thought.

Will you allow God to strengthen you?
Usually......strengthening comes through opposition.


Are you experiencing opposition right now........remember....He is Faithful!
And remember that.....opposition could be part of His plan to strengthen you
in order to protect you from the evil one.
His plan is perfect.
Are you willing?




11 comments:

SunnySusan said...

Oh girl is He faithful.....we got our loan modification this week and our mortgage payment went down $900.
I love our Lord and you too for reminding me always of His faithfulness.

MelanieJoy said...

It's good to hear His voice....it's good to hear you repeating it too...
He is faithful...He is faithful...He is faithful.....
((hugs))

Melanie said...

Having read your blog for 2 years now(is that right?) I am sure you did an amazing job!!

I sure hate going through the tough times. For me I always seem to try to work things out on my own first. I just forget to let go and let God. Then I start praying and suddenly things start working out. I know it's God reminding me that I need to lean on him!

Halfmoon Girl said...

I think it is great that God gave you an opportunity to teach- I know it is something you enjoy doing. Yes, I am willing- I have discovered that there really is no other option- well, I guess there is but I am not willing to go insane with worry and to try to control my circumstances that are out of my control anyways! I do have to still catch myself sometimes though...I can be stubborn! Thanks for your post, Sharon!

Denise said...

Bless you for this post sis, love you.

Fitter After 50 said...

All we need to be is willing, He has the "able" part covered! Well that's what I believe anyhow.

luvmy4sons said...

Good stuff here today girl! He is faithful! Thanks for the wonderful lesson here today. I am so glad you stepped out in faith and let God work through you! We can trust our God, can we not? Amen!

Andrea said...

Thank you for your word about God's faithfulness!!! Yes, He is true and faithful and will never leave us or forsake us.

Blessings to you,

Andrea

Denise said...

Over the years I think that the times that I was most amazed was when I did not deserve it yet HE is is always faithful...... Walking out on the water is tough if you fear getting a little wet........

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Winging It said...

Saturday, my friend Kathy spoke on Seasons. I had a thought while she was teaching (I love how God speaks to us in that environment, believers gathered together to hear His Word and call on His Name and encourage one another) that the adversity we endure in these seasons is so that "patience can have it's perfect work" so that we will be patient as in steadfast, unmoveable, like Our Father. He is working in us to bring us to a place of being steadfast...seems like we are all learning this together! Love ya'!
Maria

Shirley said...

Oh Sharon, thank you for such an uplifting post. It does my heart and spirit good to come to your posts...so much that I look forward to them. I know that God is faithful and I know that I don't deserve His faithfulness and goodness to me...He never ceases to amaze me with His goodness. When we think on these lines, we gain renewed hope and faith in the bad times of our lives and look forward to everything working together for good. May God always bless you...my special friend and sister-in-Christ.