Musings from Hartley

Idle Thoughts

Have you ever sat in a church, waiting for the service to begin, and felt the Spirit of promise gently wrap itself around you, filling you with anticipation of that which is to come, a promise to be fulfilled, never failing?

Have you ever stood at a historic site and considered the things that had happened there, when suddenly the Spirit warms your soul, as you muse over in your mind the sacrifice those Saints had made in that far gone day?

Or seen an old friend who greats you with "The Lord told me," and to your surprise you find a confirming burning of the bosom? Or heard a stranger, a person you never met before, tell you of your life, gently and kindly, as if he were a lifelong acquaintance?

Have you ever found a place in your life where all your dreams, all you have worked for were gone, even those called to minister to you forgot you or fled away. Then an Angel came and took you out into a universe where never man has been? Where you are shown God's perfect creation as never before imagined, a comfort unimaginable at that time?

Have you ever seen the heavens open, heard the voice of the Father, been taken to the gates of Hell and seen the sorrow there? Shown the hearts and minds of the people in a church in the city destined to be called holy. Told your ministry was unacceptable as it might cause rifts of jealousy, anger and disbelief?

"Social skill," "mending the Church," intense and determined men, sometimes forgetting, or ignoring their assault on tender wounds of their brothers' past experiences. Assigning schedules, peoples, according to their wisdom; self will, determination and "spirit within." Any question met with a barrage of intense hostility, the gentle feeling hoped for—gone. Talking of Christ's Church, soon you are accused of attacking their forbears and aunts, uncles and cousins in surrounding communities.

Where did that come from?

If ministry is there, I am missing it. I need ministry. I would love to attend a meeting where all were humble, loving, engaged in the holiest of ventures. Where that Holy Spirit would greet one at the door and usher one in—before song, prayer or sermon, with that Holy Spirit of promise. Without counsel, without assertion of men, then I would know I am in the one true church
of Jesus Christ. Don't ask me for tithing, ask me for all.

Hartley Stanbridge