When it falls apart ...

When it falls apart ...

Let’s peek into the life of a gentleman in the bible book of Acts chapter 16. You may be familiar with him. He was a jailor. He was also a leader, no doubt a husband, for sure a family man. Let’s not entertain any distain you may have for him because of his former life Pre-Midnight. We all have Pre-Midnight lives … I’m thankful for my life Post-Midnight! Let’s get a CLUE…

He had a charge to keep ... He took it seriously ... So serious that he would have ... You know, taken his life. Now before you condemn him or call him weak and a failure … Think about his charge (Acts 16:24) He was given and received a “charge”.  So Ask yourself the question “how many people in our world really take what they do that serious?” Do you take your charge as sober as this? Family, Friendship ... Faith ... Yes, he knew the penalty of losing the prisoners ... To add to that, think of the shame, the doubt, the second guessing ... "why didn't I check on them ... Why didn't I see this coming?" Of course, in actuality, there was nothing he could have done about it ... Things fell apart ... They crumbled ... It all broke up ... He didn't know why ... But it happened on his watch! He began to hear the voices "You failure" "You couldn't even keep it together" "Where were you?" The voices got louder and even more brutal … “You are going to die anyway because the magistrates will see to it!! The sword was drawn from the sheath … ready to inflict the fatal blow … Then he heard a voice ... A different voice "hey, don't do it ... We're still here … all of us!”

Failure happens ... Sometimes on your best day things will fall apart. (Of course I’m not speaking of a rule that this must happen … but it can in some way.) You feel the pressure ... pain ... You're perplexed ... "what went wrong?" You're at the point ... That point ... Not physical suicide ... But spiritual suicide - you're about to "check out" ... check out of fellowship ... Your faith ... Your family ... What's the use! Then you hear a voice … another voice; different. "Don't do it ... We're still here for you!" “Yes things fell apart but as you have been here for us, we are here for you!”

Wouldn’t it be nice if leaders, preachers, even parents heard those words from those they lead and serve? All too often when things fall apart in our lives we seldom hear those words. That’s disturbing because just as those words saved a man from making a serious, life-ending mistake, they can help your leaders through difficult times in their lives or ministries. They crumble ... It breaks up ... but remember God is moving for His purpose - you can't see or understand it, but it's in His will.

The Truth Is that your words carry weight and power- as do all of ours … Someone needs to be the voice that whispers ... Even shouts to your leaders that "We are here ... All is well … or … It will get better!" Be that voice today ... be a Hope Dealer ... Things fall apart...

TheCLUEfromLEU ®

One Day the marching will stop.

One day the marching will stop.

I remember as boy I would lay my head on my bed sideways (with my ear deep in the pillow) and listen to the marching of the soldiers. To my childhood ears it seemed as though they were marching in the frozen snow; you know the sound, perhaps – crunch, crunch, crunch. I always imagined them with red solider suits on and big hats, sort of like the Beefeaters in London, England. I could see them in my mind just marching in the snow on a sunny day (Hey I was 8 years old). At any rate, they always marched when I laid down to rest and I wondered how long they could go on marching. It’s been over 40 year and they still show up!

I know you’re saying, “What in the world is he talking about?” Well, as I lay in the silence of my room, head sideways on the pillow, I hear the pulse in my ear or temple, and against the pillow it sounds like a steady march in the cold snow.  That sound of course lets me know my heart is still beating after all these years. But I know, one day the marchers will stop marching and come to an abrupt halt!

I just pray that when they do stop, I’m occupied in the Lord’s work; his vineyard; his purpose. Even if I’m lying on my bed sideways … with my ear deep in the pillow … thinking of His will!

TheCLUEfromLeu ®

Hey, I've been really busy these last few months since the beginning of the year! I hope to bring many more CLUEs in the coming months ... Peace.