Living Stones /July 7 2007

( Church Planting In Croatia )

http://valjak.blogspot.com/

I was at a conference in the south of the country this week by the sea. It is a city that is very active this time of the year. Lots of tourists from other countries who have so much money to spend and then our own people who spend such large amounts of their income trying to look rich like the foreigners. It is humorous to be at a Gas Station and see a smart young person get out of their car, nice clothes, designer sun glasses and then go and put one gallon of petrol in their BMW that they are buying with a 15 year loan.

Being away I felt so strongly the presence of loneliness. Loneliness is a horrible experience. Often I would look out to sea and think of God as a companion and friend and yet I am so aware that God has created us as people who need people, as well as a people who need God. Life really is a balance between accepting our own humanity whilst at the same time throwing ourselves upon the Lord.

I visited a small house Church and heard the stories of those who have come to the Lord through the trials of life. Broken and beaten down people who are being built as Lively Stones into the new temple of God. Some of these stones were very lively. It is incredible how messy life is and how our mess touches other peoples lives in a negative way. The good news is that God specializes in cleaning up our mess.

Being with this group reminded me of our own Fellowship in Varazdin. Broken lives being healed by the Lord Jesus through the Word of Truth and Grace by the Spirit. I mean this when I write this, there is something absolutely wonderful when that which is broken by sin is made whole by the Cross.

In one sense there is still loneliness but in another sense there is such a wonderful sense of belonging in being with the people of God. We press on striving for the balance.

Lord help us to accept ourselves with all our humanity whilst reaching out and being conformed to your divinity.

"You also, as Living Stones are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" 1.PET 2:5