Back to School Confession II

Beloved, it is that time of year when the season is about to change and students are going back to school. Recently, in a Q&A, a young lady shared her testimony and call to serve as a missionary with bible translation. She defined her "spiritually dry season" as a time of being lonely with unmet expectations, in a region where there are no thriving, strong or welcoming churches - she had to bear her burdens alone, apart from her strong church family and look straight to the Lord. This summer, while reading "God does His best Work with Empty," by Nancy Guthrie, it was made clear I am naturally dry and empty, but Christ is faithful to continue providing Himself (see Philippians 4:19 and Romans 8:32).

In her book, Nancy hones in on the perspective of seeing emptiness in our life as a pre-planned opportunity for God to personally fill us in ways no one and nothing else can. Instead, we tend to quickly and regularly feed on our 'disappointment or frustration' (page 26). Yet only on empty can we discern the difference between what we 'really need vs. what we crave' (27). Being a believer of Christ does not remove the brokenness, but He gives proper perspective comfort in remembering, "...He [Himself] is committed to meeting our true and deepest needs fully and forever" (77; i.e. rescue from self replaced with godly desires and abilities see Philippians 2:12-13).

Each chapter focuses on a different person or group of individuals from the bible, and the one that resonated was on Mephibosheth. In one day, just about everything physical was stripped away from him: his father and grandfather were killed; the throne was overtaken, so his home, wealth and servants were gone; and he became crippled while being taken away in haste. When David came to the throne, Mephibosheth should have been killed. Yet the Lord used David to be an instrument of underserved favor: "...you will eat here with me at the king's table...like one of the king's own sons" (2 Samuel 9:7, 11). This is a beautiful picture of what Christ has done and continues to do for us as his children. "We can't come to him unless he draws us to Himself. We're poor, with nothing to offer. We're blind. We can't see him until he reveals himself to us. Not one of us stride with self-confidence into the presence of our King. We all limp our way in" (91). As the Lord has chipped away at physical things in my own life, I rejoice at how He has graciously drawn me closer to Himself (see Ephesians 2:1-10).

What should I do if I find myself filling outside of the one true well? "Don't do it! Don't go! Cry out to God in repentance! Cry out to God to send relief! Put your trust in God to save you and supply you with what you need. Don't seek out some solution apart from God, away from where he has promised to bless his people-which is in Christ alone" (76). We can also take a cue from Habakkuk: "...yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation' (3:17-18). Towards the end of the book, Nancy exhorts the reader: "With eyes of faith, see the beauty and value in the one pearl of great value, the person of Jesus Christ, and in joy, surrender anything and everything you must in order to have Him" (184). 

Before I was a believer in Christ, I thought I was full. Then I came to faith thinking fullness was a one and done event. Ten years later, I see how empty I was, and how daily I am tempted to drift back, thinking as long as my preferences are met and comforts maintained, "I am full." After reading this book, I found myself asking: if God took every thing and one of value out of my life, how would I respond? My honest response is an indicator of how full I am in Christ, myself or fill in the blank. My prayer is that we would, "...be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:18-19, NASB). How do you remember the love of Christ?

Praise Reports:

1. Husband and I were able to fellowship with a brother and sister for lunch - we had not seen them in almost 2 years, and it was a joy to share about the goodness of the Lord in both of our lives; 
2. he and I also started going through a communication series with one of our pastor's; 
3. Husband started year 2 (of 3) of bible training with the "Training Center" at Foothill Bible Church;
4. Husband and Zachary were able to have a father-son dinner and a hard but good conversation;
5. I was able to get some additional blood-work and doctor appointments scheduled; I also had a second appointment with a new holistic doctor and have begun some new practical measures to address ongoing fatigue, chest tightness & a few other items; 
6. I was able to attend our neighbor's baby shower and have been able to have a few faith conversations with coworkers and left a note with a grocery clerk on the first anniversary of her son's passing;
7. Jacob starts his third year of college at CBU; 
8. he and I were able to go rock climbing together - I had pain for days, but it was well worth it; we also had a great WOG-son date with heart-talk :) and
9. Zachary started his senior year of high-school at Norco High.

General Prayer Requests (the Lord's will in all):

1. Husband and I (and/or another male pastor/leader from our church) have been invited to attend ITA's annual conference in Rome, January 2023; we are also praying about attending a marriage retreat;
2. Wisdom as we continue praying about conception;
3. Unity in marriage & family; 
4. To seek God’s glory & submit to His will, above all else;  
5. To walk in the gospel & bear fruit of the Spirit;
6. Continued direction/balance;
7. To slow down, fix our eyes on and abide in Christ; to fulfill our roles well as spouses, parents, staff members & neighbors; peace of God & growing faith;
8. Zachary will be making some important life decisions in the next year - guidance; and
9. Hacob & Zachary to bear consistent/genuine fruit of salvation.