Being Seekers.

Ok, so. Been reflecting on some things. You know, stuff I learned in Kenya, and how those lessons are starting to carry over to not-Kenya. Knowing the future is impossible. Having a good idea of what the future holds, again, impossible. So. What do we do with that? Living your life, and living it well, takes a certain amount of trust in God(by certain amount, I mean all of it). I think theres an element of confidence in ourselves needed there too. That we are looking for God, consciously seeking Him. Jeremiah 29 says: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. When we seek Him with all of our heart. Not when we sorta look for God. We are called to seek the Lord, and it isn't like God is saying "seek me and I might show you something" He is saying he will. It might not necessarily be what we want to see, but God's plans aren't always what we want them to be. Matthew 7 says: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." God wants us to seek Him, God wants to show us things(Matthew 10:26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.) and all the things He shows us has a purpose, yes, even the painful things. We grow and learn. God isn't a mean kid with a magnifying glass, and we aren't ants. Suffering is meant to draw us closer to God. Pain is meant to grow us, stretch us, and strengthen us. God loves us more than anything else. (see John 3:16, 1 John 4:7-end) Psalm 40 says "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD." We wait patiently for our God. Part of seeking God is waiting for Him to respond. Patiently waiting. I have learned quite a bit about patience in Kenya, and I am continually learning more about it here back in the US. If we seek, God will show us, maybe not on our timeline, but lets be honest, our timeline doesn't really matter. God knows what He is doing. It is our job to seek Him, and let Him show us, guide us, and move us into action. Therefore, we must be ready to take action when we feel called to. God knows what He is doing. God won't just leave us in suffering if we are truly seeking Him. So how do we seek God? Well, it is really that good old Sunday school answer: prayer and reading scripture. Something I learned in Kenya. Prayer is powerful. It can do amazing things. Reading scripture gives us a deeper understanding of God, and the things He says. I read the gospels all the way through on my ministry assignment, and I saw the things that Jesus said in a whole new perspective, every time you read it, you get something new. Its cool! There is plenty more I can say, but sermon over for now.

From "After the Storm" by Mumford and Sons Album "Sign No More"


And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.