Jesus' Questions

Children's Pastor Darlene Thulson

I was struck, again, today by Jesus’ questions and what his purposes are when he raises them.  In John 6 Jesus asks Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”  It’s the next statement that’s telling: 

“He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.”

How many times do I fail the test and think Jesus is asking me to come up with the solution for a problem on my own?  …when all along he just wants me to realize he is the only one who can solve this and bring peace.  My worried prayers (praying to the problem and not to the Problem Solver) can be as ridiculous as my anxiety and worry during last Sunday’s playoff game.   

My fretting did nothing to help the Broncos win.  My fretting will do nothing to bring peace to a friend or family member.  But I do believe my faithful interceding in the Spirit’s power can make a difference. 

So once again, I need to acknowledge the Provider of Living Water and Bread and offer myself into his plan for this broken world.  Remind me of David’s inspired words, Lord: 

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
…do not fret – it leads only to evil.”  Psalm 37:7-8

Learning to Come

Yesterday afternoon, I actually had some alone time to work on uploading pictures to my Shutterfly account so I could work on a memory book.  As it takes some time for photos to be moved, I had the brilliant idea of working on a watercolor painting I’d started last spring, but never finished.  So here I was moving from the computer on the deck, enjoying a warm afternoon before the storm hit, to go downstairs to where I paint.  Back and forth, back and forth.  And then it hit me.  Why am I making such a project of something that should bring joy and rest?

I took time with the photos, then thanked God for great times with my husband and extended family and the way we saw God at work in us.  After taking time to choose and upload the best photos (quite a project with a son, son-in-law and other extended family members who are great photographers!), I let it be for a while.  

Then I spent time finishing a painting from an anniversary trip.  As I took time to work on it, God brought to my quieted mind memories, not only of a great time with Steve, but also reminding me that it was on that trip that we got a phone call from my Mom that my Dad’s health was failing.  The beauty of the sunset I was painting was a reminder of God’s faithfulness and presence with us in the really good times and also the really challenging and difficult times.  

Isn’t that our life stories? Wonderful and hard, precious and desperate, quiet and crazy?  Yet in all of it comes Jesus’ voice:  “Come to me; come to me.”  As we spend time this fall as a church family considering the focus of “Running at the Pace of Grace,” let’s ask hard questions of ourselves: 

- Where do we needlessly impose stress on our lives?  

 
- Where can we take the necessary tasks before us and bring them to the Father as prayers?  

- How do we take Jesus’ statement seriously, “Learn from Me?

Thankfully Jesus does not expect us to do this alone.  His fulfilled promise to send a Comforter and Guide in the person of the Holy Spirit enables us to keep on learning and growing in Him.

Joy In Anything?

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2 (NIV)

Two weeks ago Pastor Steve's sermon,"Between Plan A...and Unplanned Z" (click here to listen) brought us to think about all that was going on when Paul and Silas visited Philippi.(Acts 16)  All of their plans A,B,and C were disrupted by unplanned X,Y,Z, which became God's plans.  The sharing at the end of worship was remarkable - example after example was given of God redeeming our failed plans (with the pain and frustration those failed plans caused) to bring good and glory to Himself.

I have been there many times: times where hopes and dreams did not play out as I planned.  Yet, I experienced God's faithfulness as a love gift from the Father to bring hope.  Jeremiah 29:11 came to life over and over again as I let go of my plans and embraced what God was doing.  I could see God's plan for me was not to harm me but to bring me "hope and a future."

But now back to where I started.  James 1:2 says to consider it pure joy whenever I face trials - when every failed plan A,B or C occurs.  That's hard.  I can say I love God, and I do.  I can say I trust God, and I do.  But to consider it pure joy, PURE JOY, to walk through the confusion and hardship as a result of the trials and failed plans?  James goes on to give the outcomes .  Trials lead to faith tested.  Faith tested leads to perseverance.  Perseverance leads to my becoming mature and complete, not lacking anything. In other words, it leads me to become more and more like Jesus.  When put that way, I can consider it pure joy when I come face to face with any trial.

Do your work in me, Lord; in us all.

Family Reunion?

What is the first thing you think of when you hear "family reunion?"

• Excitement to see family you have not seen in years? 
• Hope that there will be enough down time to actually talk and share a bit of your life's recent journey?
• Misgivings at being with individuals where there has been hurt or a broken relationships? 
• Dread at the idea of getting into your swimsuit?

Even with many mixed feelings at play, I hope there are anticipations of what God will do during such unique, set apart times. Let me share a personal example.

Forty-three "Thulsons" just came away from an amazing three days together.  While some individuals are struggling with health issues, lack of good jobs, and other issues as the result of living in a broken world, we loved being together.  I do not take for granted the foundation laid by my husband's parents, Roy and Lorraine, for the strength of faith and love in our extended family. 

As all of us shared Communion on Sunday morning, packed into our family room, I had a glimpse of the ultimate "family reunion" with our Abba, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Imagine sharing stories of our life's journeys here, and how often -- just when it seemed as if God had given up on us -- it became evident that he was present. Imagine being held close to the heart of Jesus -- one unified family giving praise and honor to the Lamb, to our heavenly Father and to the Holy Spirit. That's a family reunion worth waiting for!