The wonder of God and what He is doing comes freshly and boldly to your mind and heart. These are quiet, contemplative, heart-searching, and seeking times. These are the times you sit back and ponder all the things happening. What if God allowed this to happen so you could meet the needs of another better? Are you willing to come to the garden so God can fulfill His purpose through you? Look up – He is in the garden with you. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 says we are afflicted but not crushed. Gethsemane means “olive press.” Jesus was crushed so we do not have to be crushed. These could also be called Jacob moments where maybe at the end of the struggle you experience a metaphorically pronounced limp that stays with you the rest of your life. You ask if there is another way that His plan can be carried out, a less painful way, an easier way. These are those times you struggle and wrestle with God. What would you call them? Garden of Gethsemane Moments I think of these times in my life in five categories:Īs each is briefly unpacked, think through your moments. Let them know when it is hard to trust His Word, trust His heart – He loves them beyond their wildest hopes. Your example in word and deed can show the strong reality of trusting God and His Word. Our young people need to know life can be hard but greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. It is time to be real about our spiritual journey – the ups and downs. Those times when you felt you would not have made it if it was not for God and His Word. Times of raw emotion and turmoil where you depended on an Almighty, All-Knowing, All-Loving God who never left you. Yet do not be afraid to share the ones where you felt alone, suffered in silence while your thoughts screamed day and night, those times of despair where the hurt ran deep – these are the stories that may speak louder than any others you share. They are the good ones, the happy ones, the ones that bring much laughter. We have family stories that are always rehearsed and remembered each time we get together. What are those stories that you do not want to die and lay buried when you are gone? So whether you will be around a table or a computer, think through some ways you can be very intentional to capture this time building a strong spiritual legacy. Most of us missed that last year, and it looks promising that it may happen this year.īeing together is so important to build strong connections and share family traditions and stories. Written by Deb del Villar, Director of CommunicationsĪs the holidays quickly approach, many of us are thinking about spending time with family.
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