9-19-2016 So Close

"I called on your name, O LORD, 

from the depths of the pit; you 

heard my plea, 'Do not close your 

ear to my cry for help!'

You came near when I called on you; 

you said, 'Do not fear!' "You have taken up my cause, O Lord; you have redeemed my life.”  

Lamentations 3:55-58

Dear Lord, we are so close. That is a typical adage I hear: “We are so close 

to completing something; we are so close to changing our circumstances; 

we are so close to breaking down and things completely coming unraveled.”

But what are we really, really close to? What is the thing we are closest too? Of course, this is a personal perspective Master, but it seems like most people measure the hope and meaning of their lives by how close they are to…something.

Me too—I confess that my step by step progression either inspirers me to push on more diligently, or to turn back from the way I came to put some distance between me and my “closeness.” So what am I and my wife that close to? You know me best, Creator. I’ll first gravitate to the easy answers.

We are so close to…

—learning lessons from our past actions and inactions; pleasant and unpleasant.

—improving our financial situation; after a struggle of years.

                      —overcoming recent physical struggles.

—finishing up preparations for the great adventure You have placed before us; our ministry trip to Israel

                        —understanding prophesied future events which You warn will affect us 
                        significantly.

I’m sure You will subliminally suggest more to add to the list, Lord. I’m positive that anyone looking at this short list, can make it a longer one for themselves. Your Spirit is that kind of teacher, always encouraging us always closer to the answers You desire us to discover.

Sometimes though, You don’t seem to be ready for me to be as close as I desire to be. With being close, comes the awareness that things are not completely right…yet. Although not my preference, I do recognize a certain healthiness in the realization: In being close...there must remain, a gap. If there were no gap, there would be no need for us to strive. I am not yet sufficiently refined by Your methods and You have built into all of us, believer and non-believer alike, the characteristic of desire. Some of us desire to climb the hill toward Your love, others to take the downhill path.

Our closeness, provides an advantage. It humbles, causing me to realize how, no matter where I am on the uphill path, there is still more to learn, more to refine—so close, yet so far away. And it teaches. You encourage our journey, reminding and teaching along the path. I know what I’ve learned is but a speck of what You have yet to offer. So I remain obedient, walking out my faith with Your guidance, seeking the work yet to be done…

—changing my ways, repenting of our unpleasant past and striving to obey You, even when we think we know a better (or easier) way.

—not just improving our financial situation, but being alert to and resisting unrighteous spending temptations

—being spiritually vigilant and health conscious during the healing process of our physical struggles.

—more diligently sharing the testimony of our Israel adventure, including others through awareness, prayer and vicarious participation.

            O yes, in all of this, pointing all the attention toward You. Professing Your handiwork and Glory in it all. With Your help and using the resources You supply—scripture, the fellowship of other believers, and our daily encounters with Your Spirit, we draw closer still. 

And as we draw nearer to one another, You give us other things to be close to; a kingdom where we will not be close, but one. And that’s a place I long to reach. I know, by Your promises, that its already “done” in Your eyes, the victory is Yours. But I am only close to understanding how You can love me, love all of us, that much.

We are so close to knowing you better. Draw ever nearer to us, Lord Jesus. I feel your closeness— the real, real closeness with the one I hope for. Pull me, pull us all in and help us learn how to share the closeness of your love with those who have yet to recognize your presence and the glory of the Father, whom you lead us ever closer to.

Shalom

Mark C.

8-9-2016 This Year In Jerusalem

Oh God, you are my God: earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live: in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 64:1-4

Lord of the Land and of Your People, Lord of our personal salvation, Lord of Israel,

It seemed “on again, off again, maybe yes, maybe no…” We said we would wait for Your will. We fought through the ups and downs, even shared our struggle and disappointment with friends and family; thinking that the “deal was off”—too many walls in the way to knock down. But that is Your way Lord, preparing us to see, not what we can do, but how You alone are able. Now You have made Your presence known. So simple, so…You. When Your Spirit says, “go,” there is no stopping the plan. We received notice from our friend, Sam that all is now in place for our flights and lodging to Israel, November 8th – 22nd. Other friends have joined in, to travel with us, and our ministry is launched!

            Oh, not that there aren’t still challenges. Patti fell and broke three ribs, my work has been affected by the economy, world events suggest chaos will triumph. We are unsure if the enemy is provoking, or if You are asking us to “step out” in faith. Pardon me, we do know: It is a little of the first and a lot of the latter.  In confidence, we stand. Not our confidence—You, Jesus give us strength.

And when You give strength, Master, You do no fool around! My wife will not be daunted by physical restrictions, I will not let worry stand in the way. And so we already see fruit. My business shows great signs of improvement. Patti’s stamina grows daily. Friends and family offer support and…enough said…You have called and we answer.

Our hope though is not just in the blessing this trip provides for us, but in the sharing it allows. We will serve those in need through The Joseph Project and other Israel ministries. I will share, in blogs and through my book writing, whatever new insights You will inspire, my God. We will chronologue  the journey; engaging in prayer with all who desire to participate, whether traveling with us physically or in spirit. We will share Your Gospel message without fear or apology. 
And stilll we expect challenges. We know that the enemy will continue to try to distract us. We know that You will continue to shape and use us to Your purpose. Will we need others to help us? You are a God of community: we don’t know, nor can we imagine all of those You will inspire with this adventure: So as You instruct us to do, we pray…

—We pray for active and continued support, encouragement and the prayers of our friends and family.

—We pray for strength and support to those who will physically be traveling with us; for Sam, Peggy, John, Ed, Donna, and Dawn.

—We pray for your purpose in all of this and that we are inspired to greater understanding, strong teaching and spiritual growth for all of us while we journey in the Land.

— Lord, we pray that those, we encounter—through this blog, in our daily lives, during our Israel journey and beyond—will see Your light reflected outward through us.

—We pray that the lives You send us to touch will join in to support and spread the message of our purpose so that above all, the world may know that You are God.

Praise to You, Sovereign God, for we we will do by Your will, walking out our faith with Jesus as our heartfelt companion. In his name we pray. Amen and amen. 
And to you reading along, please let us hear from you. Even if you have no interest in Israel, or in the God that Patti and I serve, we are excited about even that discussion: we hunger to understand and to be understood. So share your hearts with us and let’s discover together, what this conversation is really all about.
Blessings and Shalom, ברכות שלום

Mark & Patti C.
markc91754@comcast.net

http://steppingoutinfaith-theisraeljourney.blogspot.com/

If you feel compelled to contribute financially to this ministry journey: https://www.gofundme.com/IsrealMinistryTrip