I’m In, How About You?

If we’ve ever needed You, Lord, it’s now, Lord, it’s now,
We are desperate for Your hand, we’re reachin’ out, we’re reachin’ out,
If we’ve ever needed You, Lord, it’s now, Lord, it’s now,
We are desperate for Your hand, we’re reachin’ out, we’re reachin’ out

Let Your Church arise, let Your Church arise!            Casting Crowns 

 The happy crowd at the Route 91 Harvest Festival sang “God Bless America”, honoring their country and the veterans present on the stage. Just moments later, evil struck, bringing devastation and death; life will never be the same.

Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.                    Psalm 31:9 NIV

I know many who attended this concert. None dead or maimed physically. Yet, emotionally maimed and changed forever.

How do we wrap our brains around the devastating events of this fall? Here in the USA and abroad: earthquakes, storms, fires, death, and darkness.  I am leery of switching on my radio, checking the news, scrolling through Facebook or even checking my texts. It seems each day brings heart-wrenching news from the world at large or from people I know experiencing sorrow or crisis. There is no making sense of it. 

What does makes sense for me, sometimes the only thing that makes sense  is to go to God and His Word for solace.

This is where we find instructions directed to His church. It is here we gain fortification as we face a world in a hope-crisis. This is where we discover His sovereignty and goodness. Jesus loves the hurting. A love beyond comprehension.

And as the Church of Jesus Christ, His mission is our mission.

In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world…” As darkness and bad news continue to press in, I cling to this truth: He is the light of the world!

Secondly, Jesus commissions us (His church) in Mathew 5:14, when He states, “You are the light of the world…” In this, the autumn of 2017, Christians have a tremendous opportunity to shine as a City on a Hill (see Matthew 5:14), walk with the heartbroken, comfort those who mourn,  give our money and time, and serve up hope in a world of crisis.

Lastly, to shine His light and love, we must fill our own cups. We make rest a priority. We practice good health and make time with God. We grab the hand of other Jesus-pals and bear burdens with them. We pray and cry together. We  also find sustenance and refreshment in church on Sundays. 

For such a time as this, may the Church arise and shine the light of Christ, a City on a Hill.

I’m in, how about you?

Dear Lord,

Fill our cups, as we overflow with light and love. Let Your church arise during this time of hope-crisis. This season of human-made and natural disasters, we choose to hold on tightly to You because you are the only way. The only answer.   AMEN

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