Leaning……

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

It is quite amazing the number of things that can go wrong, disappoint and cause hiccups along the way, when you’re walking in obedience.

I’ve already blogged a little about the cost of obedience.  But seriously – it is amazing the things we’ve encountered in the last two months and keep facing.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

I could list all the details – but won’t.  God knows our trials and our needs.  We just need to keep on eyes and hearts facing Him.  Leaning into Him.  Leaning on Him.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Our pastor preached a fantastic sermon this morning.  No matter what you’re facing – keep leaning forward, keep running the race.  This one thing I know……..

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

You see where your eyes look to – your body follows.  There’s no forward momentum if you’re looking behind.  In my dancing days I learnt the art of  ‘spotting’ – fixing your eyes in a position, and then whipping your head around the find that same exact spot as fast as you can.  Essential in pirouettes – spinning.  A couple of days ago Brian Houston tweeted this:  Look down to get discouraged – Look around to get distracted – Look up to get direction!

So, although we’re tired.  We’re frustrated.  We’d like a break from the struggles we currently face – we’ll continue to look up.  We’ll continue to lean forward.  We’ll continue to lean on each other, and on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

 

Five Minute Friday: See

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

5 mins of writing on a set topic.

I’ve decided that if I ever wanted to do more writing….and to really get serious about it then I need to be able to just write. Simply write. So I’m going to join some friends linking up at Lisa-Jo’s blog and we shall see what fun ensues…..

So here goes….

START.

See.

At the moment everything I see is new.  New beaches, new roads, new shopping centres, new churches, new people, new new new.  New brands of food, new names for things, new customs, new new new.

It can be overwhelming.  I feel like my senses are on high alert.

And I’m in a first world nation.

Ohh how my heart grieves and how I admire those who God has called to serve in developing nations.  The poorest of the poor.  The sickest of the sick.  Culture shock?  I’ve got nothing on those who daily sidestep around disease, who face the very real threat of martyrdom, who are called to be the face and hands of Jesus to the most depraved of us all.

Such things these people must see.

Such things these people must hear.

Such things these people must feel.

Lord help us to remember those who are working for you in the most unpleasant places.  Who are serving you in the real combat zones.  Help us to encourage them, to pray circles of protection over them and to bless them mightily. Help us to partner with them, help us to shoulder some of their burdens.  Amen.