One Paver at a time

At last nights ministry group I decided to sit with the leader of the grief share group. At this same table sat a group of guys attending the Celebration Recovery group.  I was energized by these guys desire to grow in their relationships with Christ.  I was especially energize by one young man who said he was baptized Easter morning! Wow. A few of the guys at the table were sharing from the book of Isaiah.

When Sandy, our spokesperson got up to introduce the worship time she shared from Isaiah 55..The words that hit me were " for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.....you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

  We read these words:aloud. as a group. She shared about a good friend and believer who went home to be with the Lord.  I remember this guy for his very friendly and gracious smile and for his encouraging words. Sandy shared about how at times we are unable to see the path ahead of us until we shine a flashlight on the paver directly in front of us. One paver at a time we move forward. The words of the prophets is a reminder that God is with us every step of the way.

I remembered a scene from the movie, "The Hiding Place" where Corrie Ten Boom, as a young girl, was being escorted by her dad  to the train station. It wasn't until she was just about to get on the train when her dad handed her the ticket. When young Corrie asked him why he waited until now before giving her the ticket her dad looked at her and said " you have enough to worry about and I didn't want to burden you with the ticket until you needed it."  This is a poignant reminder of how God understands what we need and he gives us what we need at the time we need it.  

As I glanced over and watch my beautiful wife I am again reminded how I am blessed.  Her love for the Lord, her passion for the scriptures and desire to serve in ministry energize me to keep pressing onward toward the goal for the  prize of the upward call of God  in Christ Jesus(Philippians 3:14.  I think that is why being around other believer's is so important. We need others to uphold us when we are down and we need to uphold others when they are down.