It’s nice to be home again and be able to start to blog again...
I bought a car recently. It’s a Kombi, or wagon as they are called in the USA. Shortly after buying it, part of the car - which I had really not considered all that important - suddenly became quite the focus of my attention. That was the “trunk” area. It became my focus because I had to move a piano and the question was whether or not the piano would fit in the back. I measured the back of the car - height, width, length. I called the person who had our piano and asked him to send me the measurements of the piano. I measured the car again and took into account the different spots that were higher, narrower and shorter. Eventually, I went to get the piano.
As I reflect on the question, “After almost 20 years without Communism, as Christians, how much have we impacted the society of Central Europe?” I’m not encouraged by the results.
As I reflect further and recall the revival taking place in South America, I ask the Lord, “Why not here? When will true revival take place here in Slovakia and other former iron curtain countries?”
And as I consider what is necessary for revival in our part of the world, I realize that the need for repentance, prayer, faithfulness, obedience and more are part of preparation for revival.
I say “part” of the preparation for revival because I realize that the sovereignty of God is a large part of when, where & how revival takes place. Ultimately, God decides when/where/how revival is to take place - not us. Ultimately, it is HIS decision to respond to faithful followers with revival and in whatever shape, size or form He decides.
It is our responsibility to be faithful, prayerful, obedient, repentant, etc. But let’s not forget that God has His plan and we are only a part of it.
Just as the trunk area of my car took my attention for a time so that I could accomplish a specific task that was a part of a greater task (moving back into our house here in Slovakia), we are a part of a greater plan that God has in mind. At times, we seem to be used more for His plan than at others - that is only our perspective, not the reality.
I’m trying to “wax eloquent” here in stating that as the clay in the master’s hand is to be/do a part of the master’s greater desire, so we are to be for our Master. Let’s not worry and strategize revival. Let’s BE the holy ones we are called to be and do the work of the Kingdom which we are called to do. Then, when it is according to HIS plan, we will see revival.
Jer. 18:5-10 “Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.”
I bought a car recently. It’s a Kombi, or wagon as they are called in the USA. Shortly after buying it, part of the car - which I had really not considered all that important - suddenly became quite the focus of my attention. That was the “trunk” area. It became my focus because I had to move a piano and the question was whether or not the piano would fit in the back. I measured the back of the car - height, width, length. I called the person who had our piano and asked him to send me the measurements of the piano. I measured the car again and took into account the different spots that were higher, narrower and shorter. Eventually, I went to get the piano.
As I reflect on the question, “After almost 20 years without Communism, as Christians, how much have we impacted the society of Central Europe?” I’m not encouraged by the results.
As I reflect further and recall the revival taking place in South America, I ask the Lord, “Why not here? When will true revival take place here in Slovakia and other former iron curtain countries?”
And as I consider what is necessary for revival in our part of the world, I realize that the need for repentance, prayer, faithfulness, obedience and more are part of preparation for revival.
I say “part” of the preparation for revival because I realize that the sovereignty of God is a large part of when, where & how revival takes place. Ultimately, God decides when/where/how revival is to take place - not us. Ultimately, it is HIS decision to respond to faithful followers with revival and in whatever shape, size or form He decides.
It is our responsibility to be faithful, prayerful, obedient, repentant, etc. But let’s not forget that God has His plan and we are only a part of it.
Just as the trunk area of my car took my attention for a time so that I could accomplish a specific task that was a part of a greater task (moving back into our house here in Slovakia), we are a part of a greater plan that God has in mind. At times, we seem to be used more for His plan than at others - that is only our perspective, not the reality.
I’m trying to “wax eloquent” here in stating that as the clay in the master’s hand is to be/do a part of the master’s greater desire, so we are to be for our Master. Let’s not worry and strategize revival. Let’s BE the holy ones we are called to be and do the work of the Kingdom which we are called to do. Then, when it is according to HIS plan, we will see revival.
Jer. 18:5-10 “Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.”
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