Greetings Dear Reader,
The jumping off point for these expressions of gratitude is
the idea that every day is a new story in which we get to write the way in
which we interact with the universe. I
have also tried to be clear that I am on a journey of restoration in addition
to other things. This gratitude story is
part of that journey.
As long as I can remember I have tried to put on a good face
in new situations. I try to be friendly and
fearless when in truth I usually feel inferior and unwanted. I want others to feel at ease and reach out
to be kind and welcoming. Then there are
the situations like the one I am in now.
I am trying to be humble and honest. I am wanting to be genuine and be
myself. My brother took me to a Sunday night
para-church service the first week I was here.
As is common in many small churches they need volunteer help and asked
me for it. I felt the deep need to gloss
over my history and be kind and charming.
Instead I asked to meet with the leadership of the group
before I accepted the offer to help. I
told them the story of my failure and sin.
I was honest about why I was back in this small town where good and evil
seem to be locked in such bloody combat.
I recognize that there is no such thing as neutral in this war.
As is the way with these things, the Father had prepared the
path for my journey just like he did with the people I was trying to find. Unknown to me, this group of Christ followers
had recently chosen that they wanted to be involved in the restoration of those
who had failed and wanted to make their way back to faith and following. The leadership’s exact words were, “We came
back from our conference wanting to be involved in restoration ministry and
here it is in our midst.”
My gratitude is that even though there are those who will
not see me, speak to me, and allow us to build the kind of lives Christ wishes
us to, there are those ready and willing to allow me to confront my failures
and help me find the way that is next. I
am sure that the Father is guiding all of this.
I am thankful that he has a place where I can be of service and sort out
my heart at the same time.
My quest feels as if it is on the edge of the knife. There are precipitating needs that I do not
know how to meet. There is fear and pain
still to be confronted. There is no certainty
in front of me except for the day’s journey.
That, however, is supposed to be enough.
What I have is great gratitude that everything is working toward all
things getting back to GOOD. In our
daily stories we either strike a blow for that good or we further the
darkness. Today I choose gratitude for
those who have the heart to do what it takes to restore in love those who have
failed. It gives me the courage to continue
to seek redemptive restoration for those who have cast me aside because of my
failures. It is things like this that
are at the heart of “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us.”
No Rusty Swords
– Michael Card
Don't you know the battle's raging
And you got to join the fight
There's an army of the darkness
And an army of the Light
There's a side that fights for Satan
And a side that's for the Lord
And on this battle field there are no rusty swords
On this battle field there are no rusty swords
Christ has made the final move
So our side is sure to win
He became like us so we would have
A chance to be like Him
It seems strange so many fall back
When the victory has been won
You just need to ask yourself
Which side you're on
And on this battle field there are no rusty swords
On this battle field there are no rusty swords
There's a fact you need to understand
Before you join our side
You need to know when Jesus calls
He bids you come and die
He's invaded Satan's kingdom
And He's claiming all His own
When the battle's over
He will lead us home
Don't you know the battle's raging
And you got to join the fight
There's an army of the darkness
And an army of the Light
There's a side that fights for Satan
And a side that's for the Lord
And on this battle field there are no rusty swords
And on this battle field there are no rusty swords
On this battle field there are no rusty swords
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every
writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a
home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
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