desire fulfilled...

...hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life... Prov. 13:12

It is easy to focus on the disapointments of life (most of us have ample supply to choose from). I will only stir a reminder of what we all know...that as we are renewed into Christs image, we become increasingly positive. Sometime the positive that presents itself can go virtually unnoticed if we allow the fog of disappointment to overshadow.

Today I would like to focus on a desire fulfilled. Most who know me know my passion to see the organic networking of Gods people. No institution. No mother ship orginization. No corporate 501c3 identity. Just believers relating to and working with other believers under the banner of Jesus. Nothing to join....no push to build a secondary entity...just believers drawn together by their mutual relationships with their Creator. It is toward this end that Suzy and I have labored over the last couple of years (particularly within the simple church expression). We (I) have often been frustrated and frankly ready to give up. Then there would be the stratigic email or phone call that put new wind in the sail. Today God unveiled the fog of disappointmet and showed me a glimpse of desire fulfilled. On Feb. 6-8 our friends from www.theway247.com are hosting a family retreat. As of this writting they have confirmed attendance from numerous expressions through out Tennessee and Kentucky. It will be a weekend of relationship building that (I trust) will result in future opportunitys to work together, pool resources, listen collectively, etc. Thanks to the Duncans and their Christ community for making this a reality. It brings me "tree of life" joy to see progress happening before our very eyes......Father, I pray that this Spirit of cooperation and the understanding of the need for extra-local relationships will extend through out your Kingdom. May your Kingdom continue to come....


For a link to the retreat flyer go to http://theway247.com/Retreat.html

mickey

being human.....

Being a Tennessee Titans football fan I was taken back by my despondency at their loss this past Saturday. I know football is just a game and has no significance in the eternal scheme of things. I became quite perplexed (at myself) for the dark frame of mind that captivated me. As I attempted to understand my own ridiculous mental state I was thrust on a interesting journey of self perspective. I had planned on the Titans going to the Superbowl and had arranged my schedule so I could watch all games leading up to the big kuhuna. I came to grips with the reality that I spent much of my time looking forward to certain events or activities. If I have a golf date planned on Thursday I will begin to count down to it about Tuesday with the anticipation one has for finally reaching the cherry filling on a tart. It seems that I simply endure or pass time in pursuit of something pleasurable. I find that dread works much the same way. I am not a fan of doctor appointments, funerals, or weddings (anything formal for that matter). The dread I feel when approaching such occasions will occupy my consciousness until the dreaded event can be marked off my list as accomplished. I have been kicking myself for such attitudes until the Holy Spirit rescued me by way of bringing a scripture to mind.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

While the things that motivate me are often trivial (enjoying a tennis match or getting past a dental appointment) it is liberating to know that looking to, or even past, future events is simply human and God understands our humanness. What am I trying to say? I guess that I often have too unrealistic of expectation about my own spirituality. I often find myself at a place I feel I should have grown past. The truth is I am human and experience life as a human. I must correctly discern falleness and not give it permission. However, I must grant myself and others the luxury of being what we are. Human

mickey mooney