The Next Day Part 2

Continued from last nights post….The Next Day Part 1

These are complicated questions to answer.  There is so MUCH history that goes into it.  There are way more questions than answers.  Or…answers that you want to hear, anyway.  I encourage you to dig deep…ask the questions…seek the answers.

A question like, HOW did it end up like this? Deep-rooted systemic decisions and policies that were made intentionally by people in power dating decades….centuries ago…that have led to the problems we have in the City of Richmond today.  If you want to learn more, Ben Campbell, at Richmond Hill, has a wonderful class – Richmond’s Unhealed History – 9 Lectures on the History of Richmond 1607-2009.  It offers a whole new perspective….that is NOT what you read in the history books in school growing up.  We need more people to get involved in the social justice issues that impact not just the City of Richmond, but the metro area as a whole.

Others may ask…why don’t YOU move?  Why do you stay?  As a matter of fact, Frank himself has asked me that same question more than once.  He thought I would be packing it up after that night.  But, I will tell you what I told him.  A year before Frank got shot, my car was vandalized when the windows were shot out.  It later was stolen and dumped off in Petersburg.  People then asked, why don’t you move?  If I had moved in early 2007 after that happened, who would have been there the night Frank got shot?  God doesn’t NEED us to do a thing.  He can do it on His own, without our help.  But, what a priviledge it is to be used by my Almighty God.  So, He called me (and now Louis) here to SBH.  We won’t leave until He calls us some place else.  I have committed my life to Him..so I will go where He sends me.  Will you?

Just yesterday, Mom sent me a devotional newsletter email called Inspired Faith.  I will end this post with that word…

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.II Chronicles 16:9 NIV

God has called each of us to obey Him in the place He has us. In His eyes we all have a ministry. Many serve Him in a local church through a variety of ministries, such as music, teaching, youth work, or by being a part of the church staff. Others serve on the mission field, on the job, at school, or at home.

God knows you and He knows your heart desires to serve Him. You are someone that He will use to make a difference, to share His love, and to touch the hearts of others. What has qualified you for this high privilege of being used by Him? Is it your talents, your personality, your education, your influence, or your résumé? It is none of these; rather, it is the response of your heart toward Him. God is always searching for those whose hearts are yielded to Him so that He can work mightily through them.

Sometimes we can be led to think that God’s work is dependent upon us, upon what we do, and upon what we know. The truth is that God wants us to be totally dependent upon Him. He is the Treasure, we are the vessels; He is Vine, we are the branches; He is the Living Water, we are the channels through which He flows.

The apostle Peter was someone who needed to learn this important truth. Jesus taught him the futility of trying to get results through his own efforts by allowing him, an expert fisherman, to labor all night and come up empty. Afterward, when He followed Jesus’ word to cast out into the deep, Peter pulled in a catch that was beyond his dreams.

As His servant, remember that your ministry is His idea and not yours. He is the One who knows you, who has called you, and who has equipped you to serve Him. Remain true, remain faithful, remain restful, and remain totally dependent upon Him.

God is not looking for those who are clever,
but for those in whom He can be wise;
He is not looking for those who are talented,
but for those to whom He can be all sufficient;
He is not looking for those who are powerful,
but for those through whom He can be almighty.

by Roy Lessin, DaySpring Cofounder