Pastor Wrinkles: The Lenten Journey Pt. 3

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We wake, if ever we wake at all, to mystery.- Annie Dillard

We wake, if ever we wake at all, to mystery.- Annie Dillard

Brent Curtis writes, “The true story of every person in this world is not the story you see, the external story.  The true story of each person is the journey of his or her heart.” ( The Sacred Romance, Pg.7)

This journey is so compellingly different from the 21 day spiritual journey I walked through in January. Two weeks ago my prayers were so focused, directed and led by the visions God was giving me. Now I am spending long hours in prayer just staring into space and asking God “Show me…show me what’s in my heart.”

I don’t know how I know this but I am certain that this  season…this journey is about healing my heart so that it may be ready to receive the  God dreams He has promised me. The change must come in order for my life to support the dreams He is giving birth too.

I feel like something in me is awakening and I don’t know what it is. I only know that this awakening is exciting and frightening all at once: Exciting for the promise it brings of forward movement (because how can I move if I am asleep);  Frightening because I know it will call me to face and come to terms with some of the confusing stuff that has happened.

Fredrick Buechner writes, “If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that HE speaks  to us largely through what happens to us…”

While I believe God has many ways to speak to us I do believe He uses our past circumstances to teach us deeply about the life HE longs for us to have. So what is God teaching me through my past about my future?

What has God spoken through your past circumstances?

10 thoughts on “Pastor Wrinkles: The Lenten Journey Pt. 3”

  3. ” …I think that HE speaks to us largely through what happens to us…” I think so too, Pastor J. I really do!

    I think of Moses and his burning bush experience after his exile and before the exodus … Was there a lesson in there somewhere? I think of myself and the journey so far,and I know He’s trying to teach me something in every experience, but I often don’t get it until after the fact 🙂

    Here’s to learning in the moment!

    Blessings and thanks for sharing,
    ann

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  4. Interesting I am reading this today (late) as my wife and I have discussed this today in depth and from differing perspectives. Through my alcoholism I had to come to a belief in a power greater than myself. My wife is currently dealing with 6 deaths close to her that are making her reflect on hardship and the reality of fleshly death. Through the birth defects of a neighbor’s grand baby we find things we can not understand. Yet, through hard lessons I am finding this is where we find God if we seek to find His goodness and His promised hope. Beyond me I find Him. I believe we all experience something that brings us to our knees and it is here, broken and on our knees is where we find Him. For this I am thankful for the brokenness that is different for all of us where we all find Him and have a story to share with the world! Blessings!

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  5. Praise God that He uses our past to make us what we are to become – His image in the world and to the world – and His witness: His hands, His words, His love, mercy and grace, to all we meet. Although I wouldn’t want to live it again, I praise Him for each and every detail of my life and the way He has used it.

    I have seen many changes in you and your ministry here since I first “met” you and I know that our amazing God is going to continue to bless you, working in you and through you to bless many. I continue to pray for you and I hope I’m around long enough to see the results of His work – but we are one day closer to His coming, and it could be today!

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