I know... it has been so terribly long since we have written you, and to our defense, I can honestly say that we have been so BUSY! Please forgive us for the long delay :) we are back now, and will do much better at updating you on current happenings. Just wait... we shall make up for the absence of last couple of months.
First of all, I pray that this letter finds each one of you happy and enjoying the blessings of the Lord. Even if you are in a trial, there's nothing to keep you from being happy. We're Christians, brother/sister. We can smile in the trial! Really, it's much more rewarding. Did you know, that when God gives you a trial, it can actually be a blessing in disguise? Of course it can! It wouldn't have happened if He hadn't first allowed it, therefore it must be for some reason. I'd be more worried if I had zero trials in my life. That would cause me to wonder, because we are all made perfect through suffering. Since I accidentally stumbled upon this lovely subject of suffering just now, which by the way was by perfect accident, I'll just go ahead and add a few scriptures on that below. Anyway, just some thoughts.
Perhaps some of you are familiar with the event “Harmony in the Desert.” If you are, and you actually were there this year, then we might have had the privilege of meeting you! God bless you, it was very nice being there with you, and we hope to see you again soon, Lord willing. If you are among the group who do not know what “Harmony” is, then I will give you a short description: Harmony in the Desert is an event taken place annually in Tucson, Arizona, where believers from far and wide gather together for a 5-day gospel singing! Some singing groups come every year, but this time was our very first! It was wonderful. We all had such a lovely time, and enjoyed listening to so many wonderfully gifted saints using their God-given talents in leading a full room of sometimes over a thousand people in endless worship. Thank you, singing saints, for sharing with us that which we love so, and thank you also to all the other precious saints that graced us with their presence and unsurpassed benevolence. There were many “behind the scenes” people who really made everything happen, and we were greatly impressed by the effort behind it all. May God bless you all. One thing that I must regret... with all the brand new faces we met, I fear we will never be able to remember all the names!! It is so embarrassing and frustrating to love people so much, only to find that you can't come up with their names! Facebook does help with this, so hopefully in time we will come to recognize everybody :) even if we don't, please don't take it personally; we love you very much just the same, even if you don't have a name, and besides that, hopefully we'll have enough time in our Future Home together to further match names to faces.
So the trip to Arizona was interesting! What a beautiful place Arizona is. We are still here, and very much enjoying the vast deserts, the majestic mountains, the supreme... dryness?! Yes! Remember, this is coming from a people who were recently in Oklahoma for a number of very consistent years. We're not used to this lack of humidity. It is a beautiful thing, this weather. We could get used to this, until our travels take us elsewhere. We pretty much just go where the Lord is leading, and let me tell you... that is FUN. There is nothing like resting on the Will of the Lord, and letting all worries just ease away. He has it all under control, just do what He tells you and you will never go wrong. Sure, He brings you trials, but they are to test you! He wants you to prove that you are what He says you are. I'm sure it makes Him smile so big to watch you struggle through some trial, only to gain your ground and praise Him in the midst of it all! Doesn't it say in Isaiah 53 that it “pleased the Lord to bruise him”? That was Jesus! We are little Jesuses. We can't get out of suffering; no way! I wouldn't even want to if I could! We must suffer to reign.
It is so easy to forget that. I know, telling others that that is the way to be is also very easy. It's even quite easy to act like you have it together and then tell them how good you are at it. Makes you feel real big and "together." These are just some thoughts; I'm not trying to act perfect or anything, but just think about this... when a moment goes by where you were just really upset, or so very disappointed that it caused you to take on an ungodly attitude... when that moment goes by, it is just gone. That's fine with us, right? That little moment goes by, and we can forget about it, maybe go back to our happy ways and praising God in the good times.
Note: There is nothing lasting that can be accounted to your credit in God's eyes for that little moment (for it is a very, very small moment in time in His eyes).
However, if we were to turn this situation around, perhaps we can do one little different thing. Stop. Stop everything you are doing or thinking, say nothing negative or demeaning for just a few seconds, and simply look up and let Him know that you trust Him. Give it to Him. How different the situation looks from there on! It is so simple, and yet it is one of the easiest things to forget! Just try to remember that nothing EVER happens unless God first allows it, and then take another look at your situation. I don't care how great or small it is, God is still in control of it, and He's watching your reaction to the action He has just placed before you. There are no breaks; He's not going to give you a recess where you can trust to get through a period of time totally confident that He's not watching you to see how you respond to things. You're in this full time! It's not a bad thing, I'm just saying that we can't control when or what these things are to be.
Do you know what part of all that is my favorite? When that little moment passed by where I responded negatively, I saw it, and asked for forgiveness. I never wanted to remember it again, because... come on, admit it, sometimes you look back on how you acted and you wish you had done better. God forgives you for it; in fact, He never remembers it again. There is no reason why He would want to dwell on that little moment where you failed, and neither should we.
Okay, but the best part, and my favorite... when a hardship comes, and you remember to look to Him instead of the circumstance...
..that moment is lasting.
It goes down in history. God sees it, and He brags about it! Honestly!! If you don't believe me, look at Hebrews 11 where He goes on and on about all the times where His children looked at the Promise, and TRUSTED HIM. He never once mentions the negative times where they struggled through something in disbelief or weakness.
(Notice, for example, when it speaks of Sarah, who “by faith” had the strength to bare a child as an old woman. We all know that she had a moment of negativity, where she disbelieved God and laughed in her heart, but God didn't include that in amongst His bragging records. She “judged Him faithful Who had promised.”)
Everybody has their "moments" where things seem too hard to bear, and I'm not saying that you are a bad Christian AT ALL for failing to be positive when the going gets tough, for that is not and will never be my place in the least to judge... but if I could but console and encourage you in the smallest manner, I would say this: place your name in that 11 chapter of Hebrews. When you're at that moment of truth, where you can either make a decision to give in to your feelings of the circumstance, or tilt your feeble head upward to Him and proclaim that He knows what He is doing, just imagine your name among those heroes of faith before you do anything! Abraham staggered not at the Promise of God; I believe that you can do likewise.
Anyway, I had an inspiration to share some of my thoughts since we all struggle with that many times a day. Please remember that anything you read here might many times be directed to the writer herself!
As a side note, all of Parousia members are sick! We caught a sickness from a friend in Tucson (you know who you are) and are just now slowly recovering. We are planning a nice thank you letter to send to this friend in our appreciation of the kind gift. Thanks... a lot. We do not like you any less for your deed, but let's just say that this has been quite a combination of delightful illnesses that we shall never EVER forget :) nor have a desire to explore again. Every new day ceases not to amaze us as some new curve of creative symptoms in this flu rises up to greet us and show all the fun things it has in store for the day. It wouldn't have happened unless God had allowed it! Right?! Very much so, and we shall stick to this theme with all the *cough* *sneeze* strength we can muster!
God bless you, and thank you so much for your undivided attention in reading this little article of thoughts. Once again, we are sorry for “disappearing” on you, and hope to make it up to you very soon!
Your sisters in Christ,
Parousia
P.S. We changed up our website a little for a new look! Please come see :) and we have a lot of new pics on our facebook with more to come!
Here are a few lovely verses on suffering, just in case you need some encouragement. What better than God's own Words on it :) these are very beautiful; I know you will enjoy.
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1 Peter 1:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Romans 8:17-18And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (a personal favorite)
1 Peter 4:12-13Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Amen to all of that! God bless you, and have a beautiful week. Keep your focus on Him!! All else shall fade away.
