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Mini-Worship
May 28- June 2, 2024
Take a few deep breaths and center yourself and quiet down
Entering the presence of God
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5; NIV)
Adoration :
Gracious God, you remind us that by Jesus Christ we are standing here and are in your full acceptance. Yes, there are various difficulties in our lives. Knowing that you love us and you will not put us in shame, we lay aside every care now. Let us worship you and adore you in hope and joy. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Exodus 15:22-25a; 16:12; 17:8-9; Numbers 11:16-17;
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[a]) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”25 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
The LORD said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”
The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.
Thoughts to share and to ponder
Transition is a part of real life. It happens to individuals. It happens to organizations. It happens either by choice or by circumstances. Our contemporary society is characterized with uncertainty. We are probably often in one or another unfinished transition process. Transition causes anxiety and fear. Transition also causes grief and wandering. Why? People are facing an unstable present and an unknown future. What is tomorrow? What is the next step? What are we going to be? Where are we going to go? Will I be better later than past? Going through transitions is not easy.
I like to search for wisdom from the word of God for guidance in those situations in which I could not see clearly. Over the years, I have discovered a few things about dealing with transition. I would like to share a couple of them with you.
Firstly, it is okay to admit and tell God how you feel about Him and what you think about Him. Recall after God miraculously brought the Israelites out of Egypt through Red Sea, these Israelites soon went into a desert. There they wandered for 40 years. God did not perform another miracle like parting Red Sea for them through the desert area. They had to face many difficulties in immediate daily living. They worried what to drink. They wondered what to eat. They feared where their safe space was. They were angry. They felt God let them down. They felt not going anywhere. They yelled to God and to their leaders. They forgot past miracles. They forgot their praises to the loving and mighty God. They forgot how they had feared God and put trust in Him and His leaders gladly and willfully. In all, they had a very different way of feeling toward God. However, in spite of all these negatives, God still heard their cries. God continued to provide for their needs. God continued to lead them with clouds and torches. It is safe and helpful to tell God how you feel about Him. So do not feel hesitate to get the feeling out in your own way.
Secondly, try to make use of a transition time to do some adjustments. Transition gives us room to reflect on our own life stories. We may just need to rest for a while from the many hard-working years. We may find areas that we need to grow. We may need to adjust our attitudes. We may need to update some new skills. We may need to reorganize and re-center ourselves. We may need God’s cleansing and healing in certain areas. Let us back to the experiences of those Israelites. During those forty years, they learned a lot. One thing was that they received Ten Commandments. They learned some fundamental life principles and attitudes. They learned a new holistic lifestyle. They learned to how to live within themselves and with other peoples. Other thing was that they learned organizing and managing themselves as a large group in order to better help themselves. They learned the importance of group leadership and team work. They learned how to fight a good fight. They learned the importance of group holy living. They learned dealing with all sorts of problems. While they were doing all sorts of adjustments, God affirmed His promise that He would send angel ahead of them to guard them along the way and to bring them to the place He had promised. What God asked them in their transition was to pay attention to Him and listen to what he said at the moment. Those forty years of transition in desert prepared them for a successful living in the promised land later.
Being children of God, we have confidence that He will guide us all times, including the transition periods in our lives. Let us look up to this good God who holds our every tomorrow. Let us be humble to do necessary adjustments. In His timing, He will surely lead us into next promised land. May His peace calm our anxiety and may His grace touch our paths.
Prayer Suggestion
Are you in any transition? How do you respond to such a period? How do you live with many feelings with it? Are you wondering where God is? Will you come out of this stuck? Come, do not be afraid. God understands your transition. He has plans for you.
God of our hope, the world is ever changing. But we find comfort in knowing that you see all changes and you do have plans for us even in changes. Help us to dwell in you. Give us the liberty to pour our frustrations to you. Open our ears to hear your instructions to us. Grant us patience to live in this moment. Renew us in your way. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Benediction
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Prayer Request
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