Below is a passage that has been on my heart for awhile. It is so fitting for this time in the life of this HG. As hard as it is for me to give it up after nearly four years I truly believe God has called me to do just that. While I love the people of the group tremendously, the joy has left me for doing the actual leading of the group. My hope is that the bonds forged over years will last and endure this latest season. I am stepping down as home group leader but not as a friend or confidant. Nothing can make me stop caring for and praying for those people whom God so graciously put into my life, some of them for nearly seven years now. I am taking that leap of faith believing that when God closes one door He will open another. My heart aches but is at peace, I am restless but I feel at rest, I am tired but I am energized, I have doubts but I trust completely. When God calls....LISTEN AND OBEY!!!
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
15 Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account. [a]
16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I thought in my heart,
"God will bring to judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time for every deed."
18 I also thought, "As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath [b] ; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal [c] goes down into the earth?"
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
3 comments:
Sometimes God asks us to do something that seems difficult, but, like you said, He gives us peace about it.
I agree that the LGHG had a season. I used past tense because I think it may be over. It's always sad to see something end, but I feel like I see everyone who's been a part of it following God on to great and greater things.
We may look back on our time in the LGHG as a time of learning and preparation for the next thing.
I hope that as we all move ahead - to Brazil or California or new churches or new jobs - that we'll remember to thank God for LGHG and the people that are, or have been a part of it.
Only God knows what is in store for the group as we all move forward in obedience to His calling. I will, and do, miss the fellowship with the group and with you Robert.
Life is funny, you start going one direction and feel so confident that you have finally figured it out, you have figured out the thing you should be doing. Then God throws a twist in there and sends you spiraling off in a new direction. The older I get the more I understand this reality and the less I understand about life. But that is ok, I think that is the way it is supposed to be.
I know there are promises that I was given by God over 7 years ago when my ex-wife left me and I know without a doubt that God is working those out in the manner that is best.
Many times in the past 7 years I took the course that God had me on and assumed it was "THE" course, in so doing I became locked in a train of thought and of action that amazingly became a prison and not the freedom that God had intended. However, that is alright too! Because through it all I have always known that somehow and someway His plans for me were (are) still intact.
This is just the latest season in my life and this is just another opportunity to be blessed by God in new ways. I am learning to embrace the change instead of fighting against it. It transitions much easier that way.
For those that may read this I want you to know that you have and do mean a lot to me. I am not always the best at showing or saying this but it is true. I am fundamentally weak in this area but as I stated earlier, "that is ok", it is just another way for God to bless me as I learn to be more fruitful in this. For those that don't read this, well it won't matter what I write hear, but know I appreciate you and I am thankful that God put you in my life.
May our great God bless you in everything you do. Thank you for all your prayers, kindness and understanding.
Your Sister in Christ,
Linda
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