WORD FOR TODAY...

[Chaplain Janet Marston-McGregor]

November 9, 2010

by Chaplain Janet Marston

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE.

First, forgive my absence from sharing God's Word with you lately. I have been going through a very tough personal matter (which some of you know about), and I have been praying diligently for GOD's guidance, wisdom, and strength and also for forgiveness for all of the people involved in my situation. I will not go into details, but will tell you it has been very hurtful. Thank you for praying for me and my family. I would ask that all of you pray for my family and me, and I will also continue to pray for you daily, as I have been.

We are all children of the Almighty God, and, our Father is loving, kind, and gentle. He is also strong, full of justice, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and HE is also our disciplinarian. Just like a parent, He corrects us when we make mistakes, and he gives us wisdom to hopefully learn from our mistakes. And, we should be willing to forgive others who hurt us.

There is so much sin in the world today. It is everywhere. Everyone makes mistakes, even pastors. Everyone gets hurt by someone, even pastors. We all need correction and discipline and guidance when we go through problems. We all need forgiveness. And, we all need to forgive.

People have come to me very distraught and bitter against "church people" because of their hypocritical judgmental attitudes. They don't want to go to church anymore, but still love God. How should we deal with situations like this? How do we witness to people who are hurt and bitter against church folks and sometimes GOD without pointing fingers?

When I am faced with situations like this when someone comes to me, I think of what JESUS said - HE commanded us to "love one another". More important than going to church is someone's "relationship" with GOD. Both are important. However, your relationship with GOD is the most important relationship in your entire life. It is more important than anything or anyone in this world. When we realize that, and we focus on that, GOD will help us through anything we go through.

I try to encourage people who are hurt like that (especially by church people) to focus on their relationship with GOD first and not on those people or the problems of this world. PRAY. GOD will guide you. Don't focus on the people who hurt you. If you feel hurt by a congregation, pray for them, and find another one. If you feel hurt or wronged by a pastor or someone in church authority, turn it over to GOD - pray for them - they are human and they need GOD also. If there is someone in your congregation you can talk to, go to them. If not, then I would suggest you find someone you can trust, talk to them, pray with them, and forgive those who hurt you, and move on. I also remind them that they are GOD's child - they are loved by GOD - and that is what matters most.

Moving on is hard. I had to move on from a serious situation, and it is not easy. The pain is still there. I struggle with it. I know I did what I had to do. Instead of looking back, dwelling, I look forward - I turn my eyes upon JESUS and HE gives me strength. HE gives me wisdom to make it through my situation. And, HE will help you through yours too.

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS, LOOK FULL IN HIS WONDERFUL FACE, AND THE THINGS OF EARTH WILL GROW STRANGELY DIM, IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE. These few words, the words to the Hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" - this says it all - look to GOD - look to JESUS - and the problems of this world will fade away - maybe not today or tomorrow, but it will happen.

GLORY TO OUR LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST who lives and reigns forever and ever. AMEN!

JOB 5:17 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.