E-votional - Ouch!
May 15, 2002
Verse:

"For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good newsŁ of Christ."

2 Corinthians 10:14 (NRSV)

Thought:

   Broken. When something seems to be together, only to find out it is not, there is am ouch sensation. When someone is going through grief or pain, there is an assumption that certain people, if they know what has happened, will respond in a caring and loving manner. Yet there was a family that received the most hurtful ouch of all days ago. "Because he took his own life, ministers would not do the funeral." Ouch. Again, I say Ouch!

   Hear the Good News, there is no reason for anyone to reject another who is reaching out to God. We are all to welcome the one reaching, and none of us, no one is beyond the reach of God. The other day, tragedy struck our small town. A gentleman took his own life. With no known current association with a community of faith, received word that "ministers do not do suicide funerals." Hmmm . . . Why did Jesus reach out to the thief on the cross? Could it be that, one more for the kingdom matters? Reach them. Please. The line from Liam Nielsen in Schindler's List, one more . . ..I could have saved one more. No barriers to the Father.

Prayer: 

   Gracious God, it is about You. You give strength, direction and hope. Help me to see the beauty in the adversity. Help me to tell Your story, not mine, because I am merely a vessel, a plain clay pot. It is the stuff inside that matters Thank You for all that You have done in my life and all You will continue to do, for ask this through Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.