Do you have time to grieve?

Grieving - is it an emotion? I called it such in a comment to Jason's blog. Maybe it is more than a feeling that comes as a result of a loss. I am usually sad or upset when I lose something or things don't go my way, but I usually don't grieve. To me grieving is much deeper than just being sad, consequently it must be the seriousness of the loss that would cause grieving.

Is it just a loss that would cause me to grieve? What about an action or lack of action as the case may be? Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians that certain actions of ours can grieve the Holy Spirit. Wow, if an action of mine can grieve God then wouldn't it follow that upon reflection it should grieve me too. I don't know that I have actually grieved over very many of my sins. Maybe if I took them more seriously, I would actually grieve over them and realize how terrible they really were. I am afraid, saying, "I'm sorry," has become meaningless too often. We make our little kids say, "I'm sorry" when doing something wrong. But do they mean it? Many times they don't, but we make them say it anyhow. When we sin, is this how we are? A quick "I'm sorry" and I am moving on. It's a sad commentary but I think our society doesn't leave time to grieve. Our multi-tasking lifestyle is just too fast paced for reflection. When is there time to grieve?

Using beliefs to make choices

Two standards that I am trying to live by are,
(1) loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength,
(2) loving my neighbor as I love myself.
When situations come up and choices have to be made, I am trying to use these standards to make my choices and I am trying to encourage others to do the same.

In our group we are considering whether to have a preschool in our building. It will be run by one of our members but not officially associated with our group. We will "rent" them space for the extra cost of utilities, insurance and other obvious expenses. If we do this it will require giving up some space and other things I am sure we haven't thought of. Of course some are all for it and others are hesitant. No one has come out absolutely against it, not yet any way. So I am thinking how do my standards apply in this case, or do they? After thinking about it I am going on the premise that they do. Will the preschool promote the love of God? It can and I firmly convinced the woman running it will make that a priority. It may be a way to provide us opportunities to show God's love, by loving others.

A vital issue we will have to deal with is - how our group handles the questions raised about the preschool. Will the questions be asked in a respectful way and will they be answered without defensiveness? Whatever is decided will work, if we seek to match our desires with God's.

Who Is In Control?

When did satan become the prince of this world? God created this world and all that was and is in it, and He certainly didn't give it to satan. So who had control of the earth? Genesis 1:26 says God gave rule over all the earth and everything that goes along with it to mankind. Well, how did Adam and Eve lose control?

I believe the answer is in Genesis 3. God had told Adam and Eve they could not eat of the tree of knowledge or they would die, but as we know they believed satan instead when he lied and said they wouldn't die. This choice put them under satan's control and consequently gave him control over the earth. God was and still is in ultimate control, but to the extent that man was to have control over the earth satan assumed that control. This what I believe Paul is discussing in Romans 8.

• Rom 8:20-22For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
  22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.NIV

Paul then goes to say that as we have been freed so creation can also be freed and revert back to its original intent. Just as the cross and the resurrection has allowed us once again to be in union with God and have community with others, our relationship with the earth can also be restored. Jesus' words in John 12 sums it up.

• John 12:31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.NIV