A pivotal circumstance can refer to something positive or negative. It might be something like the birth of a child, a personal experience with God, a medical diagnosis—or maybe even a pandemic situation.
What does a life of faith look like in these pivotal circumstances, whether they be positive or negative? How do we navigate these life events, trusting and continuing to pursue God and a relationship with Him? God is constantly pursuing us, no matter what our circumstances may or may not be. He has pursued mankind throughout history. One of the consistent threads throughout the Bible is God’s pursuit of us and desiring a personal relationship with us. In fact, a very profound word study is how often God mentions His desire is to be WITH us. Not above us or ahead of us, but WITH us. How do we let our circumstances be used by God and navigate them WITH God? How do we allow the hard circumstances to change us rather than become bitter and angry?
Our faith will shrink if we view circumstances as something God is doing “to” us. However, if we are open, teachable and allow God to do things within us, we will grow and be transformed and refined. Otherwise, we risk becoming bitter and our faith shrinks.
INVITATION: How might God be inviting you into a deeper and richer personal relationship right now? Are you possibly in a pivotal circumstance that God can use to grow and mature your faith? How are you responding? Join us this week as we navigate how to increase our faith regardless of our circumstances.
MONDAY: Philippians 1:6: This is our theme verse during this series, so you will see it multiple times. Oswald Chambers wrote: “You have to work out with concentration and care what God works in; not work your own salvation, but work it out while you base resolutely in unshaken faith the the complete and perfect redemption of the Lord….God is the source of your will, therefore you are able to work out [God’s] will.” God IS going to continue working on you. You are a “work in progress.” How can you willingly join in this work today and this week?
TUESDAY: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” (C.S. Lewis). Is there any pain in your life right now that might be brought into the light of God’s grace in order to begin listening in a new and different way?
WEDNESDAY: James 1:2-9: The word “endurance” appears often in the book of James. The meaning of the word in Greek has to do with “rising above” a circumstance while at the same time “holding on” within that circumstance. The exercise of perseverance is central to Jame’s lessons on faithfulness. What are some circumstances in your life or perhaps in the life of your church in which the practice of ‘rising above while holding on” is called for? What would it mean to regard these circumstances as “pure joy”? When in the past have you persevered in a difficult situation and found that it bore the fruit of joy?
Rockhills Church will be streaming live with full set up this coming Sunday (June 7) and then have our first official service in the new location on June 14, albeit with Covid 19 protocols in place. There are many differences of opinion regarding the timing, the protocols and everything else regarding this entire situation. How can you re-enter in a way that is God honoring and with “pure joy” as James talks about? Perhaps you are not even ready to worship publicly yet. That is fine, and we support you in that decision! You might want to continue watching us online each week, or perhaps you might consider hosting a watch party in the comfort and safety of your own home and invite a few people over? However you feel inclined and led to move forward, we want you to know we are grace filled and will be happy to see you in person or interact with you online!
Having said all that, we will need volunteers to make our opening smooth and safe as we open our doors to our Rockhills folks, as well as to our new neighbors around our new location (many of whom have been watching us online in recent weeks!). Please consider e-mailing pastor Adam if you are willing to help in the next few weeks: Adam@rockhills.com.
THURSDAY: John 11:1-6: Jesus heard Lazarus, someone he loved, was sick and dying. Yet, he stayed where he was two more days. Don’t you suppose Mary and Martha - as well as others - probably had some differences of opinion about how Jesus was dealing with this crisis? Do you think they may have thought he was insensitive and lacking in compassion? Pastor Adam pointed out that Jesus did not do what we would expect him to do. How do you react and respond when Jesus doesn’t do what you expect Him to do in your life and your circumstances?
FRIDAY: John 11:20-35: Jesus wept. The Word made flesh knows the pain, loss and wounding that comes into our lives. He does not minimize our feelings. He knows about our grief and suffering and is with us. There are situations abounding in the news right now that are likely causing you grief. How might you share that grief with Jesus as you pray today? Imagine Jesus sitting or standing or some other way being with you and listening to you as you share your grief with Him. Invite Jesus to “come and see” (v. 34). How does He respond? Ask him to bring his resurrection life and light to the places where you are experiencing grief. Just as Mary and Martha trusted Jesus to know what to do, how might you trust Jesus with the grief you are carrying?
SATURDAY: John 1:41-43: There was more going on in this situation than meets the eye, or even the logical mind. There were unseen and supernatural elements to all this. Can you rest in the possibility there might be more going on in the world right now than meets the eye and your logic? How can you pray today - for yourself, for your church, for your city, state and the world leaders?