Those who work among you.....

Those who work hard among you......

I have seen and lived through church break ups...a devastating event...disillusionment, hatred, horrible actions/words, growth, love and grace abounding....loss of a generation of people for the hurts it elicits.....all for human pride, arrogance, sins of all sorts.....

We have seen case after case of fallen leaders in churches in this generation just as in any generation....we just hear about it quicker now...sometimes it is far away and sometimes it is our own church family....it pits one group against another, one family against another....those we have loved, cared for, encouraged, built up, supported in a multitude of ways.....it maybe even against us....as we stand, stripped, naked,   drained, humbled, before a congregation who are throwing the stones of emotion....either in the wrong or right...it hurts...damaging lives in a multitude of ways....

So many hurting churches everywhere.....hurting people.....loss of witness, loss of ________, you name it......grief, healing, restoration takes time, growth, forgiveness....in big measures.....listening time and time again to those uttered words which fill the air and cannot be taken back, or written letters which are read and not easily forgotten..division among people that is hard to mend....sometimes seemingly impossible....

I appreciated this part of scripture in 1 Thessalonians ......

"1 Thessalonians 5:11-14 New International Version (NIV)
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

We have a job to do...encourage, build up, hold up, live at peace, warn, help, be patient...."above all love one another"

thank YOU....even for the times of disillusionment....in the body, it is a chance to grow, purge myself of sin....let Your love light shine on those whose lives are torn apart by church splits, break ups....and families whose ties are broken....let them dwell in your love, sheltered from the storm.....help each of us to find out footing in You....to those paths made straight....

2 Corinthians 13:11 [ Final Greetings ] Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Galatians 5:13 [ Life by the Spirit ] You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 [ Thanksgiving and Prayer ] We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1 Peter 3:8 [ Suffering for Doing Good ] Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.