This week the four lectionary readings came together in greater clarity than in most weeks. The three themes developed were :
1) Our lives are imagined by God while we are still elements within the earth.
2) Whenever we stray and go our own way God can remold us as a Nation or as an individual into God’s image, the image God has for us, any time we submit to be remolded, and
3) When we ask God to remold us, God allows us to leave out any part we choose, but, it is God’s deep desire that we hold nothing back. As God is remolding us He wants us to give every part, natural and artificial, we have and hold nothing back. An underlying theme in all of this is “Free Will.” God is all about keeping free will sacred. It is always our choice.
The lessons taught us how the Hebrew people were remolded from slaves to faithful conquerors in the 40 years they lived in the wilderness. How God remolded the Hebrew people as he let them scatter in the Diaspora where when they did came back to Jerusalem, they were different people, (re-molded), and 3) God is remolding Cahaba Valley Church and the individuals within the church right now as we go through this period in time.
It would not be appropriate to ask, ”Is God reshaping us right now?” God is always reshaping and remolding all the time, it is what God does. This leads to the question, “What is God reshaping us into?” This too is unanswerable. God reveals His plan for us in small pieces, usually one day at a time. We are only able to discern this reshaping as we view in hindsight.
Cahaba Valley Church has accomplished many extraordinary activities for God – great things. After worship this week, a person who led one of these great adventures expressed how hard it was. There was a moment of reflection that if God had revealed the whole plan at one time, would it be too overwhelming or would it be even more exciting. Most likely it would be so overwhelming that it would scar the actual plan God had in mind. God thinks a lot bigger than we do.
Right now God is calling us to clean the area where the old playground is on Friday, September 10th and Saturday the 11th. God has not revealed what the new playground will look like. God has not revealed how successful the effort will be. God is demanding quality as he always does, not a make-do effort. Vicki is all ready to draw up the plan for the new playground but God just has not given us enough information yet.
This is always the way of God. Can we have the faith to know that our current activity is good, and that we’ll have to work in the blind, albeit with faith, in these early stages. God, we know you give us advice for our good. Please help us Lord to have faith that you will reveal more and more of your plan as we go along. Amen
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