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Making Connections
by Poppy Smith
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Sister Connection:
I'm soooo looking forward to seeing my two sisters because, to be quite honest, we don't connect with each other very often. In fact, we only phone or email a few times a year. The result? We aren't as close as we might be if we made more of an effort. I know! Some of you are probably horrified at what I've confessed above - you are in contact with your sisters or other family members perhaps weekly or even daily. The result for you? A deeper sense of belonging, having someone who shares the highs and lows of your life, a confidante, an adviser and an encourager. The longer I think about it, the more I see that there are definite benefits, both emotional and social, from staying close. Clearly, I need to be more intentional about this!
God Connection:
There's another relationship, however, that also suffers greatly where there's little connection - and that's our relationship with God. Summer is prime time for taking a spiritual vacation - maybe you were in a small group but it stops for three months. Maybe you travel on weekends. Maybe you stop preparing for teaching Sunday School or studying in some consistent way - and the result? Spiritual and emotional dryness and distance from God. But this isn't inevitable. It doesn't have to be this way. Think about this:
Jesus doesn't wave goodbye as you leave your small group or church meeting for the summer. He wants to connect with you every day - when your kids are driving you crazy, when you feel overwhelmed by demands, when you are stressed by family decisions, when you need patience, love, courage, and faith to get through daily life. Why make time to connect with God this summer? Here are five reasons:
1. Love and gratitude. Think of all Jesus has done for us - how can we not thank Him?
2. Duty and honor. He is worthy of our praise because He's our Creator: Great, Powerful, Loving - One whose faithfulness to us is new every morning.
3. Who He is. The One who promises sufficient grace for every trial, His peace for our anxieties, His wisdom for our confusion, His courage for our fears.
4. We're Ineffective without Him. Unless we abide in Him, Jesus says we will not bear spiritual fruit - we won't see the power of His Spirit changing our attitudes, thoughts, desires or behavior. His power at work in us is what brings change and witnesses to others of His reality.
5. He's the Joy Giver. God wants us to enjoy life and to bring joy to others - but this doesn't happen if we forget that He is God, not us. Staying close to Him helps us recognize we can't control or fix other people, nor can we make circumstances turn out the way we want. Joy comes when we let God be God and trust Him to work in us and in others - and that takes a daily reminder and spiritual focus!
So how will you use this summer? As a spiritual vacation or a gift of time to live a more spiritually powerful life marked by contentment, joy, love, and freedom from whatever habitually trips you up? I'm going to make sure I end the summer with a deeper relationship with my sisters - and with the Lord.
Copyright 2008 - Poppy Smith. All rights reserved.
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