As I read today's article I think of the many hurting people who are afraid to come forward and say help me. I think of those who will stand in the congregation and say I have an unspoken request, please pray for me. Then there are those who will smile before you but frown in your absence. Who remembers minister Phillip's message on the spirit of discernment.Oh how we need that spirit today.
Recently a young man was brought to me for counseling and baptism. The person who brought him told me he was bothered by spirits and can't sleep at nights. He immediately retorted that was not what he said. I then saw he was uncomfortable to say what he said in the presence of the two of us so I asked the person to withdraw her presence. After a few probing questions and an intent look in his eyes he confessed to having a preference for men. I then concluded that he wanted to be baptized as a cover up and so remain anonymous-if only for a while. Let us pray Lord open our eyes that we might see and our ears that we might hear what the Spirit is saying unto the church.
Pax Vobiscum <
Robert A. Stewart
The song 'Friend of a wounded heart' comes to mind:
ReplyDeleteSmile, make them think you're happy
Lie, and say that things are fine.
And hide that empty longing that you feel
Don't ever show it, just keep your heart concealed.
Why are the days so lonely?
I wonder where, where can a heart go free?
And who will dry the tears that no one sees?
There must be someone to share your silent dreams.
Caught like a leaf in the wind
Looking for a friend, where can you turn?
Whisper the words of a prayer
And you'll find Him there, arms open wide, love in His eyes.
CHORUS
Jesus, He meets you where you are.
Oh, Jesus, He heals your secret scars
All the love you're longing for is Jesus
The friend of a wounded heart.
Joy, comes like the morning
Hope, deepens as you grow
and peace, beyond the reaches of your soul,
Comes blowing through you, for love has made you whole.
Once like a leaf in the wind
Looking for a friend, where could you turn?
You spoke the words of a prayer
And you found Him there, arms open wide, love in His eyes.
I agree. It is a challenge to discern the issues that hurting people are faced with. But before hastily rushing to judgment, we must give people enough time to open up and share in an atmosphere that engenders trust. This is reminiscent of an earlier discussion of tolerance and patience.
Peace.
Paul
Elder and Fellow Labourers,
ReplyDeleteThe sharing of this article is timely and I know the Lord is speaking. Yesterday morning the word that came to me in the form of a question was 'What are our secrets?' Many of our lives are retarded because of the secrets that we will not confess. Jesus promised through the Apostle Paul 'that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness'. Some of us will be afraid to confess because we are afraid of being judged. But aren't we being judged by God now, not to mention in the future? This goes back to issue that Elder discussed about tolerance and patience and I raised the matter of honesty. If we do not 'come clean' we are building on shifting sand. As the late Elder Harold Brown often said 'Lord help me to plead gulity'.
Bless you all.
Little Sis Naomi