[And Also With You] "Pray That This Will Not Take Place In Winter"
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Fr. Scott
Mar 30, 2009, 10:14:01 AM3/30/09
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Mark 13:18, 19 refers to the Signs of the End of the Age. It says, "Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning when God created the world until now--and never to be equaled again."
Last week I was talking to one of the men after men's group. I was sharing how blessed I felt that a very lengthy, eighteen month trial, that had involved trusting the Lord for finances had taken place during better economic times than we are experiencing now. I shared that if it had happened at the onset of establishing Grace Church in 2000, then I might have been overcome with doubt that I had done the right thing by planting the church.
I also shared that if the trial had started during this severe economic down turn, then I might looked to the economy for my trust rather than the Lord. i.e. God's provision works while the stock market is high but He cannot do the same when it is low. Again, however, the Lord had graciously prevented me from having to learn that hard lesson during times that would have made a normally difficult time harder.
As soon as I shared all of this, my friend blurted out...."Pray that this will not take place in winter!" When I heard it, I realized that he had spoken a very important truth from a verse that I had really never quite understood.
Winter is a hard time. Normal jobs become harder the colder it is. There are greater hindrances in winter as well as greater discomfort. Having to trust financially at the onset of a new ministry is normal, but if it is a severe testing, it can discourage and cause doubt. Or as times are now, learning to trust would just be more difficult than even a year ago when money was more readily available, etc.
Pray to the Lord that He will teach us His lessons when it is not winter so that when winter comes, we will be prepared and ready to serve Him to an even greater degree.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
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Posted By Fr. Scott to And Also With You at 3/30/2009 09:14:00 AM
Last week I was talking to one of the men after men's group. I was sharing how blessed I felt that a very lengthy, eighteen month trial, that had involved trusting the Lord for finances had taken place during better economic times than we are experiencing now. I shared that if it had happened at the onset of establishing Grace Church in 2000, then I might have been overcome with doubt that I had done the right thing by planting the church.
I also shared that if the trial had started during this severe economic down turn, then I might looked to the economy for my trust rather than the Lord. i.e. God's provision works while the stock market is high but He cannot do the same when it is low. Again, however, the Lord had graciously prevented me from having to learn that hard lesson during times that would have made a normally difficult time harder.
As soon as I shared all of this, my friend blurted out...."Pray that this will not take place in winter!" When I heard it, I realized that he had spoken a very important truth from a verse that I had really never quite understood.
Winter is a hard time. Normal jobs become harder the colder it is. There are greater hindrances in winter as well as greater discomfort. Having to trust financially at the onset of a new ministry is normal, but if it is a severe testing, it can discourage and cause doubt. Or as times are now, learning to trust would just be more difficult than even a year ago when money was more readily available, etc.
Pray to the Lord that He will teach us His lessons when it is not winter so that when winter comes, we will be prepared and ready to serve Him to an even greater degree.
Blessings,
Father Scott +
--
Posted By Fr. Scott to And Also With You at 3/30/2009 09:14:00 AM
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