Low Speed Turns

Long-sweeping curves in the road... go for it!
Twisty two-lane back roads with no traffic, sign me up!

All provided you have the right vehicle.

Then there are low-speed turns. Situations on the road, where, regardless of environmental conditions, what vehicle you control at your fingertips or the load you carry, now is not a time to play Speed Racer.

Such is life. You know the conditions. You are aware of your surroundings. You know the terrain. Everything is secure and going well. Or so you think. Then... life.

As though a conspiracy against you has taken place. And it's amazing how just one thing can throw you off your game. The schedule. The to-do list. The game plan. The answer to "what's next" changes to, "now, we have to go do this thing, first". The dominoes begin to fall... hard and fast

Then the funny part... you were going slow! Using caution. Seeking direction. Praying in faith. And it still feels as though you dropped the ball. Or someone dropped one on you. Either way... if one is not careful, mistakes, even on low-speed turns can make a serious mess. And I'm sure you've discovered as I have, there are degrees of seriousness, used to describe the messes of life. But they shouldn't ruin the day. Or your week. Next month there will be another one. And by next year, at least a 100 more will be more memorable than this.

Time may or may not heal all wounds, but it certainly has a way off lessening the pain of the sting.

The church has made many messes. Some huge. Some blown out of proportion. Some insignificant and long-forgotten. And while God's grace is sufficient, what we often receive from man doesn't come close. No... now where near close.

But for all of that... God still uses the church. Still chooses to use the church. That alone, is worth pressing on. Moving forward. Taking on the "what's next" of life, even when it's interrupted, by "but, first this problem over here."

Pray, this #deaconThursday, for church leadership and staff... to continue to seek the face of God, as they move forward in the purpose and the vision of their ministry in light of eternity. May they overcome the discouragement and perhaps even the disgrace, of situations and moments where the ball got dropped; for whatever the reason. Pray God's grace, anew and afresh, for God is not done with any of us, yet. May the church leadership rise up in the strength of the Lord, not defeated, despite their states of weariness and frustration; may God supernatural move in their hearts and minds, to draw all the more closer to Him, seek Him in greater dimension and trust Him, with a more child-like faith. Pray for the release of life's messes over to God, who makes all things beautiful... in His time. In His purpose. In His Sovereignty.

For His glory. For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

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