Tom Branch - Roads of Faith

Blessed are those who mourn...I have mourned over sins twice this week. Well one I mourned and another hit so hard I nearly cried just thinking about it.

When the homleess man asked me for money and I informed him I only had three cents, he replied "That's three more than I have." I cannot belive that I am not thankful for what I have. I mean three worthless cents. He was happy over every one of them. For the first time when taking it into prayer I cried over this. It hit me hard enough to want change and a true repentance. Yet I am human and do not know how to repent truley as some sins I keep on doing after I repent so that does not seem so true to me.

Yet this time I did not ask for repentance, I asked to learn repentance of this sin. This wretchedness in my heart.

In fact here alot lately it seems that matters of the heart have come up. Really shining light upon areas that I did not know or think of. And some I have tried to ignore and need attention first.

In fact one thing is my false sense of wealth. From what I have if I have my possessions misvalued then I should not have them. I have so much junk that things stay cluttered. So I am pondering on giving so much of it away rather than waiting to sell it off. That and trash much stuff that needs trashing. Really trying to let go of many material possesions and try being happy with what I have rather than keep going after what I want.

I have also been valuing the time I have had in prayer and time with God lately. It's not perfect but it's more than what it was for so long. And now that the prayer directory is done, I have been really putting forth an extra effort. But knowing that certain thigns come out only in prayer, well it does seem to be true. I have felt better or at least in a different peace than I have in a long while.

I listened to a sermon by Jerry Bridges, which is odd to hear him after reading him a few times. And his sermon was called "Why Pray" and he had some serious answers for it. To acknowledge our helplessness on our own power and depend on god's power, to also bring and give glory to God. I have been praying for Sojourn for prayer to beceome life changing and move us in ways they have not before. That and pray that the partners really use the prayer directory every day and pray for each other and bring each other up in prayer.

In the times ahead there is so much coming up that we need to have some folks step up. It's time to cultivate within ourselves. But not forgetting that all these changes, the move, upgrades, everything that is going on and will be going on that we not forget we are doing this for God and his glory and by his power. May we not forget this above all.

I really hope that from within Sojourn that we focus in on prayer and all journey towards God through the teachings of Christ, and in the presence of the holy spirit and may this fill not only the upcoming changes but also our every day lives.

3 Comments:

L. Eubanks said...: Tom. It's amazing how Jesus goes straight to the HEART of things. Straight to our hearts. It's kind of cool and scary at the same time.; Tuesday, January 31, 2006 6:55:00 PM
Tom said...: Very much both. But knowing that there is a purpose and him behind it, the scary part goes away.; Wednesday, February 01, 2006 12:31:00 PM
iggie said...: i'm tearing up a lot of things too, not quite mourning. a young lady got baptized last sunday, and the young women of the church who could sing, got up and sang "it is well with my soul". "no matter what my lot, God has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul." the grace of God touched me to bring tears to my eyes, but it was also the grace that kept them from falling and stuff.

we've never been this way before so we're going to experience God in a brand new way... to paraphrase from cece winans; Thursday, February 02, 2006 11:41:00 PM

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