by Dale Reeves

Story Pastor

 

A former teammate of mine on the CBC Golden Eagles basketball team, Tim Seevers, senior minister at Union Church of Christ, in Hillsboro, Ohio, shared this recap of our weather this past week:

 

“Last Monday reached 50 degrees with sunshine. By Tuesday evening it was raining. On Wednesday we awoke to two to three inches of snow, which was gone by Thursday, when the rain returned. Saturday morning, we had freezing rain and the sidewalks were slick. Then last night we had thunder and lightning and a downpour.”

 

I would add to that . . . then this past Sunday morning after raining all night, I drove to church Sunday morning in blowing snow and very poor visibility, as no snowplows were in sight. I was surprised how many older folks showed up for the 9:00 am service. Some tough cookies, right there! It was still snowing pretty hard during both church services. By the time I returned home Sunday afternoon, there were three inches of snow on the ground. The wind was strong, and the temps were pretty cold. Thank you, Mr. Groundhog, for the extra weeks of winter!

 

After my friend Tim’s weather recap, he shared these thoughts:

“How quickly things change. One moment we are enjoying life like I did on Monday, when my brother Mark, my dad, and I made a trip to Mom’s grave. The sun was shining, and we enjoyed the day being together. But in just a few hours it started to rain. Then it turned to snow, and a beautiful white blanket covered everything, only to flee quickly as it was erased by more rain. Life is ever-changing. Good days, bad days, beautiful things happen but flee quickly. Life can get slippery like the sidewalks in an ice storm, and we have to guard each step we take. Then, when we least expect it, a storm can hit like unexpected thunder and lightning. Suddenly we are awakened by the storm, but we are also reminded that we are safe in the arms of the One who gave his life for us. We can survive all unsuspected storms in life if we are safe in the arms of Jesus. One day you may have an unexpected storm. Will you rest in him?”

 

Hitting the Pause Button

Last Sunday at Christ’s Church, Brad talked about what it means to walk in the way of Jesus, to be fully present wherever we are—not in a hurry—to be open to those divine appointments, willing to be obedient to whatever and wherever God calls us. Jesus knew when to retreat to be alone with his Father, when to engage and be with people, and when to rest. His pace was defined by his relationship with God, not by the pressure of public demands. In case you missed Brad’s teaching last week, due to the weather, you can check it out here.

 

“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (Mark 1:35, NLT).

 

In the midst of many people clamoring for a touch of Jesus, he knew how essential it was for him to spend time with his Father. What action steps can you take to be more intentional about your alone time with your heavenly Father? How can you embrace a lifestyle in which you have deeper connections with others by being more present with them? What would it look like for you to slow down and cultivate a deeper relationship with God, hitting the pause button on your busy life?

 

Several weeks ago, while attending a Saturday morning men’s group that is led by Gary Herbert, a few passages of Scripture became a topic of our discussion. What does God mean when he says to “Seek the Lord while you can find him”? Isn’t God available to us all 24/7 every day of every week of every month?

 

The prophet Isaiah writes, “Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously” (Isaiah 55:6, 7, NLT).

 

The prophet Jeremiah writes, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV).

 

Both prophets impressed a sense of urgency on God’s people. It isn’t that God is hidden and can only be found now! These verses mean that God can only be found when our hearts are inclined to look for him, which, in itself, is a gift from God. He is accessible to us because Jesus made the way for us through his sacrificial death on a Roman cross. And God wants us to seek him wholeheartedly, not only when we are desperate.

 

Drinking from the Water of Life

Recently, I’ve been asking people to choose between three options concerning their spiritual growth. Which of these three statements defines your walk with Jesus today?

  1. “I am drinking consistently from the water of life that Jesus offers me.”
  2. “I come to the well to drink of Jesus’ living water occasionally—when life’s not too busy and crazy—and I know that I need to spend some time with him.”
  3. “I feel like I am in the desert right now, I am dead tired and totally parched, in desperate need of a drink!”

 

No matter where you find yourself today, Jesus says to you, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (John 7:37, NIV). He invites you to take up his yoke and walk with him in his rhythm of grace. Jesus’ way won’t wear you out, tire you out, or cause you to burn out. But it will allow you to relax, be the best version of yourself, and be a light for others he brings into your path.

 

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT).