It has been an interesting week in Ceresco. I am finding that God is teaching me a lot
about balance and grace as I seek after Him and seek to do his will. In some regards this week has been a
roller-coaster as I continue to seek wisdom in terms of what it looks like to
be a pastor, to be a student, and to be a disciple of Christ.
As a pastor I had the opportunity to walk alongside a family
who has been struggling with sickness and disease. One of the parishioners has liver cancer and
late Wednesday night he got the news that he was going to receive a new
liver. This is a miracle! It continues to be a miracle as God is
present and at work in the life of this family.
I have never experienced anything like this. To see the joy and the hope as healing
begins. I continue to pray for healing
and for cure as the long road of recovery lies ahead for this family. Yet God is present and in that all hope lies.
In life I have struggles as I am far away from people I love
in Chicago. Dear dear friends like Kim
and Mike Thomas, (see picture), bless me with their intentional
friendship. I have been blessed beyond
belief with friends and family that demonstrate love for me every day. This past week I had the opportunity to catch
up with a college roommate and played phone tag with three other college
roommates. Again, the blessing of
friends like Beena, Kelly, Grace, Kelly, and Annicka bring tears to my eyes
because I feel so loved. But it is hard
to reflect on my current state of singleness and the reality that at the end of
the day I come home to an empty apartment.
As always I am wrestling with the difference between solitude and
loneliness and seeking wisdom. To know
that I am so blessed with community, yet so far away from people I love it a
hard truth.
Which brings me to my final reflect of the week on my walk
with Jesus. In school, in ministry, and
in life all aspects come back to my identity as a disciple of Christ. I live this life not out of my own strength
but out of God’s. My identity is founded
on who He has made me to be and in the hope for where He is directing me. It is hard.
I am rebellious and seek to be my own god and be the one in control of
all circumstances. Yet, it is the
promise of life and the good news of Christ that I do not HAVE to be god! God is God!!
And daily I have the freedom to turn to Him and give Him my
burdens. He is my hope for today, my
hope for tomorrow, and in that truth I find rest.
2 comments:
I was blessed by this post. Not that I got my pic in it;), but to hear such transparency from you. I want you to know that we deeply love your intentional friendship and family-hood as well!
I just read through John 11 tonight and Jesus, when reflecting on the situation of Lazarus' sickness said that this situation will not end in death, but that its for my Glory. When you feel the reality of situations, know that your desires will not die unanswered, but God is getting Glory out of your faithfulness and He will supply your desire! Stay encouraged sis!!
Aww, I got a shoutout! Just wanted to remind you of how dear you are to me and that I will keep you in my prayers. Thank you for sharing your life and being honest. Let's catch up sometime. Love you!
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