My thoughts align with Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
(the Bible passage is at the end of this post).
* I would rather celebrate a birth than suffer a death.
* I would rather plant than uproot.
* I would rather heal than kill.* I would rather build up than break down.* I would rather laugh than weep.* I would rather dance than mourn.* I would rather gather together than cast away.* I would rather embrace than withdraw.* I would rather get than lose.* I would rather keep than cast away.* I would rather sew than tear apart.* I would rather speak than keep silent.* I would rather love than hate.* I would rather celebrate peace than wage war.
Dealing with reality.
But the fact is, life is made up of the bright and the dark, the good and the bad. Even as Christians (and as parents and pastors) we sometimes must do the unpleasant things. Sometimes the healing does not take place until the cutting takes place. Until this vale of tears is past, until we are transferred out of this war zone, we must suffer, in order for others to be delivered.
With that being said, God has provided two places of escape (not escape from reality, but escape from the illusion and deception of sin and separation that is part of this broken world). Both places are essential for full deliverance and victory.
Sanctuary of the soul.
The most important place of escape, place of deliverance, place of safety is in the private shelter of God's presence, the cleft of the Rock, when we go to Him in prayer, meditation, and read His word.
Sanctuary in this world.
The other place of uplifting and up-building is in the presence of a Spirit filled body of believers, who have chosen to surrender all to God, to love others with a perfect love, who have died to sin and self, who are walking in light and love, who are using their gifts, talents, abilities, energies, time to serve the body. THERE IS SUCH A PLACE, AND IT CAN BE FOUND EVERY WEEK AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD GATHER.
Either life or death.
But when the body is not in one accord, then all the things we don't want to do or want to happen must be addressed. Those who choose the way of carnality have chosen the way of death instead of life. It brings death to themselves, their families, their churches, their world.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
(1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
(2) A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
(3) A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
(4) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
(5) A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
(6) A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
(7) A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
(8) A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
* I would rather celebrate a birth than suffer a death.
* I would rather plant than uproot.
* I would rather heal than kill.* I would rather build up than break down.* I would rather laugh than weep.* I would rather dance than mourn.* I would rather gather together than cast away.* I would rather embrace than withdraw.* I would rather get than lose.* I would rather keep than cast away.* I would rather sew than tear apart.* I would rather speak than keep silent.* I would rather love than hate.* I would rather celebrate peace than wage war.
Dealing with reality.
But the fact is, life is made up of the bright and the dark, the good and the bad. Even as Christians (and as parents and pastors) we sometimes must do the unpleasant things. Sometimes the healing does not take place until the cutting takes place. Until this vale of tears is past, until we are transferred out of this war zone, we must suffer, in order for others to be delivered.
With that being said, God has provided two places of escape (not escape from reality, but escape from the illusion and deception of sin and separation that is part of this broken world). Both places are essential for full deliverance and victory.
Sanctuary of the soul.
The most important place of escape, place of deliverance, place of safety is in the private shelter of God's presence, the cleft of the Rock, when we go to Him in prayer, meditation, and read His word.
Sanctuary in this world.
The other place of uplifting and up-building is in the presence of a Spirit filled body of believers, who have chosen to surrender all to God, to love others with a perfect love, who have died to sin and self, who are walking in light and love, who are using their gifts, talents, abilities, energies, time to serve the body. THERE IS SUCH A PLACE, AND IT CAN BE FOUND EVERY WEEK AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD GATHER.
Either life or death.
But when the body is not in one accord, then all the things we don't want to do or want to happen must be addressed. Those who choose the way of carnality have chosen the way of death instead of life. It brings death to themselves, their families, their churches, their world.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
(1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
(2) A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
(3) A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
(4) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
(5) A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
(6) A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
(7) A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
(8) A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
