BOTHERING BURDEN

AUGUST 27, 2007

            The PCD EXECOM is in great pain, burdened, troubled, concerned. My heart just sank as I read the very words of our own local church youth fellowship. Some words are really striking and offensive in some parts.

            I am dumbfounded, asking what happened.

            Our fellowship, as we see, is going well, we laugh together, joked together, sing together. But just last night, it’s as if, all fell down.

            We are deeply hurt by those words.

            I am trying to be patient, to analyze the situation. I know we knew in our part that we are part to blame, our mistakes, our decisions, our actions was some what questioned. We have the responsibility in many ways. But the thought of losing our oneness with our fellow youths bothered me.

            It grieves my heart to think that those actions would give or bring divisions in our fellowship. It grieves my heart to see what is happening within us, with each other. It grieves my heart to see and hear harsh words towards each other. It grieves my heart knowing that we have hurt each other.

            But I continually seek God as my counselor. I am trying to be still and listen, comforting and standing firm. I pray to God to bind us together again, to not let this misunderstanding an instrument of the enemy to tear us down.

Ephesians 4:1-7

English Standard Version (ESV)

Unity in the Body of Christ

 ¹ I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷ But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Ephesians 4:15-16

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:31-32

English Standard Version (ESV)

³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all

malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

            We just need to remember that our service is not for men but to God alone… to grow in the knowledge of God.

Romans 8:31

English Standard Version (ESV)

God's Everlasting Love

 ³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be^[a] against us?

Have faith

            Have trust

                        Have love

                                    Have patience

                                                Have understanding…