Community In Christ

Community In Christ

God truly moves in mysterious ways. Three years ago when the news of the day, which is the work that I do, became overwhelming and I turned back to Jesus Christ I had no idea that I would find myself on this path. I wanted relief from some of the stories that I was consuming about organ harvesting, human trafficking and other extremely evil acts perpetrated by humans. I was not searching for these stories, but the enemy kept putting them in my path. I found myself crying multiple times a day for several weeks and finally surrendered to Christ Jesus and ask Him to help me get through the day. It felt as if the world had turned into a giant cesspool of human misery and I was in the middle with no way out. I raised my arms above my head and begged God to please remove me from this nightmare in my head. Later that day I explained to my wife that, beginning Sunday, I was going back to church and she could join me if she wished, but either way I was going. I explained to her what had been happening and we both found ourselves seeking a church home.

Three years on, Gospel New Network is helping to spread the Gospel, we now friends in our lives that we couldn’t have imagined – people that truly care about our well being and that we, equally, care for.  The relationship my wife I share is far stronger than yesterday but not as strong as tomorrow. The news-of-the-day hasn’t changed, there is still a lot of misery to report, but the Holy Spirit keeps my feet on the ground, my heart softened and Jesus Christ, as long as I get out of His way, gladly fights my battles.

The past couple of days have been a serious struggle with my readings and study of scripture. Lots of confusion and misunderstanding of what Jesus Christ is teaching us. The words are clear, the lessons are simple but somehow I managed to get them as jumbled-up as can be. It’s amazing the power the enemy has as soon as we let our guard down. I’m not unintelligent but the enemy can sure slip through the cracks and make me think I am stupid beyond measure.

Christ Jesus saves and keeps us from the enemy as long as we stand-down and leave it all at His feet, pick up our cross and bear our burden. Thank you, Father, for we raise you up as our King of kings.

Matthew 20 NKJV

1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’
7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’
8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’
9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.
11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner,
12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”