Welcome to part numero dos of my reflections on the GroupLife Conference last weekend.
You're excited, I know. What will I talk about this time? It could be about anything! (I did babysit for some kiddos last night, and I could share my experience with 3-year old, Cade, and the tantrum heard-around-the-world because we (his sister and I) didn't want to play "Cruise Ship" anymore. He missed his afternoon nap.)
So, I was thinking: how about forgetfulness?
Not the feeling that you get when you are driving to work in the morning and you can't remember if you unplugged the flat iron or not... (I know I am not alone with this!) but the forgetfullness we allow into our lives that separates us from developing an intimate relationship with Christ.
The first session was lead by John Burke (he wrote the No Perfect People Allowed book, and has a new one, Soul Revolution, that looks like a good read as well) and from him alone I have a litany of phrases I should write on post-its and place around the house.
So, I don't forget.
They included:
- Spiritual growth is scandalously simple: stay connected to God.
- Only one thing is necessary: listening and responding to God.
- What God is building in me is essential.
- We pretend we are “other than” ourselves. We aren’t happy with “this,” so we act out on “that.”
All of these I could probably write about alone, (and I just might) but the phrase I want to focus on now is:
- We need to help train ourselves not to ignore God all day.
What? He is daring to suggest that I need help to remember God? Well, he is right-on. I need help. A lot of help. I need to train myself better to remember when I am having a 'drama queen' moment (and we now know I do!) I will instead of freaking-out, I will go to God with my drama. He can take it.
This week in lifegroups we are on session three, "Disappointed and Fogotten." We are reading about how Joseph interpreted the dreams for the cupbearer and the baker, but the cupbearer forgot what Joseph did. And how frustrating that must be for Joseph. To be forgotten. Left out. Insignificant. Used. [Genesis 39:20b-40]
I think of how many times I whine and complain about feeling forgotten as a single person. Where's my good-lookin', Christ-lovin', funny as heck, good with children and cats, loves to bbq (meat) and read books (that aren't just about cars and computers) man? Yep. Maybe God forgot about me.
Maybe not.
Maybe I forget about Him. Does God ever feel left out? Insignificant? Used in my life?
How can I train myself better to not forget? Maybe some of the disappointment (and yes, a little jealousy) I feel when friends get married or single friends have hot-date prospects (and I don't) could be converted somehow to happy-happy God things?
The ALC Living Right When Life Goes Wrong lifegroup curriculum asks us (pg18): "What is a principle that Joseph displayed that will help you walk through disappointment in your life?"
The answer (pg43):
- Joseph never lost faith in God.
- He continued to trust God in his disappointment.
- He continued to serve and focus on others.
- He made the most of his situation.
- He responded with character
"But while Joseph was there in prison, the Lord was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden." Genesis 39:20b-21
I want that: the favor of God because I am trusting and putting my faith in Him.
Amen!
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