Tuesday 25 February 2014

Tuesday - solving difficulties

Prayer:  God of all goodness,  tend our souls so that we may live this day refreshed in Your Word.   God of love and compassion,  tend our hearts this day so that we will reach out to those who are in need of Your Word.   Have mercy upon us and grant us Your peace.  Amen.

Read 1 Timothy 1: 3-11

In this section,  Paul is concerned with false teachings.  He warns Timothy to stay in Ephesus  and command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer.  Paul states that Timothy is required to solve difficulties that are already in the Christian community, not to  create another Christian Community.  This is not an easy task.  The “certain people” were from the community and thought they were dedicated and devoted new Christians but unfortunately,  they did not want to believe the full gospel.
Solve difficulties.    Take immediate action.  Don't wait until the difficulties becomes gigantic.      I was interested this year to hear  Commander Chris Hadfield state that we need to sweat the small stuff.  If we don't face the small stuff,  the small stuff then becomes big and bigger and then becomes a hazardous  problem.    In our Churches,  how do we go about solving difficulties?    Do we bring forth our problems in prayer?  Usually.  That is a good thing.  But what about when a Church ignores their difficulties?  The difficulties do not go away.  In fact,  the difficulties became harder to solve and become intangled.   Sweat the small stuff.   Solve the difficulties when they are small and easier to solve.    But this all takes hard work,  inspiration,  and a community that works and prayers together.
In the Museum where I volunteer,  we each have our own gifts and skills.  It is amazing to see volunteers aged 20 through to 83 years of age working on a difficulty and working towards a solution together.   And in working towards a solution there is much laughter.   Our Museum sweats the small stuff.   
Prayer:   Gracious God,  we thank You that You bring people into our lives to help us with solving difficulties.   This day,  be with those who are in ministry and need to solve difficulties in the Church.   Grant them  people with creative minds and prayerful hearts.  This we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen.

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