You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘Christian’ tag.
This is one of the poems I will be including in Poetry For The Soul. Hopefully it will be ready by December. I have never really liked poetry but for some reason, I find myself jotting down a new poem very early in the mornings – every morning.
As He Said He Would Be
In the quiet of the morning – no one but me around;
I talk to the Lord within the silence of sound.
My deepest desires and what burdens my heart;
He takes this load off my shoulders, and His peace He imparts.
As I go through my day, He still always is there.
No matter what surrounds me, with Him my burdens I can share.
When praying with others, as we present our requests;
I cling to His promise, our faith He will bless.
At the end of the day, as I turn out the light;
I can sense His presence and I can feel His might.
In the midst of the prayer, as my husband prays with me;
He is there as He promised, as He said He would be.
– Beverly S. Harless
What are we looking for in the church we attend? What things about our place of worship burden our hearts when they happen? Most importantly, how do the things that are, that shouldn’t be, that happen within our own church home effect our faith, our relationship with God, and our lives outside of church? How do these things bleed over into our family lives – and every other aspect of our lives for that matter?
These are some of the things that perplex my mind, even within my own church. It is easy to say, “that’s not what we are here for – what other people do.” It is also easy to not speak up about matters in order to not cause waves. It is extremely easy to overlook small things that need to be addressed and just keep running our race deceiving ourselves into believing that it’s perfectly alright to keep overlooking. The problem with overlooking is; each time something is overlook and not addressed it adds to all the other things that were overlooked. Then suddenly, one day, we open our eyes and realize that our church is no longer the church it used to be. We realize that we are burdened and all those things are distracting us from what we are truly there for. We end up walking out of a service not filled with joy. But, instead feeling defeated because we no longer are able to have the ministries we personally know we are called to do because the church has gotten, slowly but surely, inch by inch, away from even desiring to having those ministries.
There is an answer to these situations. Put on the whole armor of God. Stand on the Bible’s principals. Speak up and let it be known that whatever the things are that are being overlooked are not in line with God’s principals. Chances are, there are more people within the church that feel the same as you do. If not, well then, be the ensample for others to follow. With love and compassion, but yet with authority go to the church and from the Bible show where these things need to be addressed
Things that are overlooked within the church grow and grow and become out of control just like hidden sins do – you know the ones that start small and devour a little more of us each day. They grow because they think they are invisible or acceptable. They grow until no one is left there that will hold them to accountability because all have gone elsewhere looking for what used to be there.
In the meantime, all those who have left are struggling in every area of their lives wondering how something like this happened, stepping back from getting so involved, pulling away from a ministry they were called to do – some even walking away from it completely, causing problems within their families and their God given role to be Christian leaders within their homes. All this because of a stumbling block placed, yet watered by all, being placed in the strategic area in the midst of where we are to go to be lifted up.
This is why it is so important that we stay focused on God and not esteem any man over any other, yet esteem all others higher than ourselves. It is God we are there to please, and His principals and Word we are to stand on. Not our allegiance to wants and desires of others within the church that go against God’s Word, simply because they are our friends.
There are mistakes riddled through out everything I do. If there weren’t, well then, it just wouldn’t be me. This is true in every aspect of my life – especially in my writing. But, everyone of us can say the same thing about mistakes being in everything we do.
We weren’t created to be perfect. If we were, we would have no need of a Savior. Perfection in grammar, spelling, and punctuation is not the perfection I focus on. Instead, I focus on pleasing God in all that I do. I may make some mistakes; even in doing that. But, it is my willingness and eager heart – even when I make mistakes, that please Him.
Having the knowledge that we will be less than perfect stops us from being willing to do things for fear of being criticized by others. So, find peace in knowing that God doesn’t expect you to be perfect. Have peace in knowing that He just wants you to be willing. Find comfort in knowing that no one else is perfect either.Saying that, I will continue to write (not perfectly) and I hope you enjoy what I write. I encourage you to step out, be willing and have a eager heart to (not so perfectly) pursue those things you long to do.
Each day I start out doing whatever it is I am to do that particular day. Quite awhile ago I started realizing that a lot the things that I wanted to do were not getting done…
The lady in the grocery store who mentions how high the price of grapes is going and not knowing how she would buy all she needed if things keep going the way they are – Why didn’t I take the time to tell her that God always supplies our needs if we just put our trust in Him?
The man at the gas station that smiles from the other side of the fuel pump who declares that God has given us such a beautiful day…Why didn’t I ask him to share with me exactly where he was placing his trust in order to get to heaven?
Other questions plague my mind…like…
When a teenager knocks at my door selling items for their school fundraiser…Do they knock on doors in the community with youth leaders in order to learn how to spread the gospel of Christ….and if now….why?
When I hear parents at church say that evangelism at a local street fair or prayer walking or door knocking is just too dangerous to let their teenagers do, and the next statement that they say is they let their teenager along with a couple of their friends drive three hours on a busy highway to go to a concert with thousands of other teenagers in attendance whom none of them knew and then drive back home again in the middle of the night…I have to question what makes the latter activity safer than the first.
When I see leaders step up in the church who are willing to work with the youth or teens, being criticized for teaching the Bible and standing on it’s principals while not backing down, while the ones criticizing were themselves not willing to step out of their comfort zone and rely on God to equip them to do the same job…I have to shake my head in disbelief when these things happen.
When I see a new believer make the smallest of mistakes and seasoned Christians pull away and shun them instead of going to them in love and compassion and disciple them…teach them… and grow them… as Christ does with us…giving them encouragement….and a resource of accountability…walking along side of them helping them mature in Christ…I have to honestly say this is one of the things that puzzle me the most.
These are the things…the questions…the things that should not be that grew my desire to write. My writing is fictional as are the story lines. But, the questions that prompt the story lines are oh so real….This is what my writing is about…
Beverly S. Harless 