These pages have sat quietly for over two years. Words first written in April 2007 and through November 08 have since rested silently. And perhaps in no small part they have been bearing the “feelings of disappointment” expressed in the January 08 posting below.
Having written these words, the family of Riverside Community Church earnestly tried for several years to find their earthly home. Worshiping in a school (interestingly, inside a place for children), our family wondered where G_d would lead us next. But it was not yet time for a permanent home. Instead, G_d would give us a rainbow.
As we all know, our family came upon a different place to rest for a time . . . a place called Emerald Rainbow. Now, looking back, this seems to be part of the “middle space” described below in the fall of 07; the middle space between our time in a school house, and home.
And so, our family rested. And waited. And were graced along the way with patience and appreciation and love. Sadly, some felt led to leave. Yet others arrived, and through time our family grew in heart and faith.
Several years later, G_d’s gentle urgings stirred the hearts of several, and people’s hearts and minds and hands and feet began to move again. Moving forward to find our next resting place. Moving forward to see what next G_d has planned for us. Moving forward to perhaps find our earthly home. The account of this part of our journey will be described here in future posts, but in moving forward, it seems worthwhile to not forget the message of yesterday. For it was theologian and philosopher Kierkagaard who said that life must be lived forward, but can only be understood backward.
As expressed in previous posts within this blog, years ago many prayed and toiled to find Riverside’s permanent earthly home. And what we see below in the words of 07 and 08 are fascinating messages received by those in prayer of what our permanent home would ultimately look like. Images of a “city on a hill” and “elevation on property.” Images of a home “adjacent to Hwy. 281,” in the “midst of a chaotic world”; a place near the back yard of the school house where we rested at the time.
Trying to understand, we asked then what we ask today: what did those messages mean, G_d? Were they merely metaphors for the spiritual impact we were to have on the community? Were they descriptions of actual buildings on an actual plot of land, similar to the temples and churches your disciples worshipped in before and after Jesus’ time on earth? What were you telling us through those messages?
We excitedly continue our journey with an eye on the past, a hope for our future, and with obedience and thanksgiving for today. What do you have in store for us, Lord Jesus? Where will we go from here?
Shema
1 comment:
The scripture that keeps coming to mind is the one about how the Kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force and the one that says, "it was but a little that I passed from them, but I found Him whom my soul loves."
I believe there are often 50 channels coming in on one station and we've got to keep fine tuning to hear clearly.
I also believe that day to day, moment to moment things slip in and out of our hands -- yet a Sovereign God who loves us, makes room for that, and does not go back on His promises.
If we believe that Jesus lives in each of us then we have no enemies, only allies.
Knowing God is with us, then... What are we willing to lay a hold of?
I told a friend a story once right before her daughter chose a sorority. It was my story. I had chosen the one that I thought was sure to pick me and not the one my heart desperately wanted to pick. If I had only trusted, I would have received the desires of my heart. However, I chose what I thought would also choose me. And they did...and I may have missed God's best for me right then...but not eternally.
I believe God simply did and does what our many GPS systems do, and I can hear clearly the voice saying to me as it did then and still does now, "Recalculating."
Peace be With You,
Gina
Still, it's what God had in mind all along,
to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.
Isaiah 53:10
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