A note of thanks/current lessons - H

I think I've said something like this before, but I just want to write a note of thankfulness about the ministry I was part of in college. I know there are a lot of negative feelings and opinions people have about it from people who were there to people who have never been there and only heard about it. I think people mostly hear about the scars people have after being part of it or the things that were questionable and less than good. When anything is in the hand of sinners, it's not going to be perfect, n'est-ce pas? Fruit can be borne none-the-less, and God can and does use us, doesn't He? Anyway, I don't want to detract from this note by making this about defending that particular ministry. I don't deny that certain things could have been better, but I want to acknowledge the fruit of that ministry at least in my life which I'm thinking about today.

I've been away for about a decade. However, I've never been able to leave it completely behind me b/c now and again, I will be reminded about some fundamental truth about living life as a follower of Christ that God taught me through that ministry and the people there. Lately it's been about the cost of following Christ and the need for death in order for there to be life. At the time, I don't know that this was the kind of thing I, or many of us, liked to hear or wanted to hear. Being as young as we were, maybe we didn't even really know how to integrate that into our lives properly. I don't know, but when I think about it now in the current context of my life, I understand that truth better and can see how that applies to just about everything. I see it as a parent, that in order for my daughter to grow, there's a lot of dying to self that I have done and will do throughout my life. It's a necessary part of parenthood that will yield fruit in her life as she grows and matures. I can see the fruit borne out of sacrificially giving for the sake of another, giving all sorts of things (material or immaterial), but especially prayer borne out of a heart of love and genuine desire for another's benefit and growth be it for a friend, for a group say even for your church, your workplace, etc. The best and clearest example of it was the death of our Savior, Jesus, that brought life for all people. No matter which way you cut it, Jesus's death was necessary for life, and that's a principle we can live by. My death, small or big, can lead to life in someone or something else. The other end of that truth though is that although there's an initial cost to following Christ as well as a continual one, the reward is great. I think we get small rewards along the way, but the one awaiting us in heaven one day will be awesome. So, personal sacrifice for another can bless us now as we see others being blessed, but there's also something eternal we won't want to miss.

I think I veered away slightly from the original purpose of this post. I guess I just wanted to say that I'm thankful for the seeds of truth planted all those years ago that are sprouting after long periods of incubation. The fact that these lessons will periodically emerge from the basement of my mind and soul to speak to me now...it just says to me that I learned some good, fundamental things back then that are applicable now and probably throughout my life. So, Lord, as hard as it was at the time to be there, thanks for all the fruit borne in my life through it. Continue to bless them and bear fruit through them. Glorify Yourself.