I pray that the Lord will in some way encourage you with the message that He placed on my heart for this month’s Meeting Point Message.     Linda

Living in the In-between

How many times have your found yourself living in a time of transition? Sometimes these moments are short lived, and at other times they can be several years long. One might be fighting illness, injury, a life change, or possibly a job change that is desperately needed but not yet on the horizon. While we are “short term” missionaries living in Portugal during the school year, we are home at a minimum during the summer months. Upon official retirement we made a major move in order to accommodate this ministry. We sold our home in Iowa and put our items into storage for 1½  years. Each summer during this time period we would return “home” to our daughter’s home and then spend time between our 3 children as well as visiting other family. This might seem like an extreme case. However, the type of thinking that occurs when living in the in-between can be applicable whether long term or short term. It’s natural to start to dream about what the future will look like and consider what might be done if there is a day when we have a house again, when health is restored, the job changes, children are old enough, lifestyle is altered…… and yet, we wait for those moments to occur. We find that certain aspects of our lives are put on “hold”.

Once we moved our items out of storage the next stage of in-between immediately followed, that of connecting. We had the task and pleasure of discovering a “home” church and finding Christians with whom to fellowship. However, we still find ourselves waiting for when we will be permanent, instead of living and ministering between two continents. To pacify our lack of connection during this transition time we have chosen to worship and enjoy our Sundays by taking turns joining one of our two daughters who live fairly close to us. We typically attend church services with family. However, while we relish the family time, this choice comes at a cost. We don’t establish Christian friends in our own new community. Instead, when we do attend in our new hometown, we are always the visitors. We find ourselves waiting to establish new friends, waiting to plug ourselves into our new community. Waiting…. living in the in-between, experiencing the not-yet of our lives. At times I feel that our lives seem to be perpetually “on hold” with one foot on each continent.  We continue our ministry of teaching in a Christian school to children from different nationalities in Lisbon, and we enjoy our time at home where we minister to the needs of our own grown children, grandchildren, parent, siblings and their families.

Finding oneself living in the in-between is not something new to our culture or age. In my study of 1 Thessalonians I find that the new Christians of Thessalonica were also living in what they thought was a time of transition, a “not-yet” time. Paul writes to these early believers who were so sure that Christ’s return was eminent that some had quit jobs. Idleness created problems and turned into a burden for others. Some became busybodies, meddling into other people’s business and creating tension through gossip and misguided teaching. Paul addressed these concerns by first encouraging these new believers. His letter to the Thessalonians spoke of their faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  In 1 Thes. 1:3 Paul commends this group for ”turning to God from idols to serve the living and true God,” and 1 Thes.1: 9-10 “waiting for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” In I Thes. 4:11-13 we find Paul urging these new Christian brothers to “live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” Paul reminded them of those who were watching this new group of believers. While many ridiculed the early Christians for their belief, there were also those who were and would be drawn to their lives of holiness. 1 Thes. 4:4-8 “…that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”

So how do we as sinful people live lives of holiness as we live in the day-to-day or the in-between of life’s transitions? Paul instructs us in Colossians 3:12 “Put on then as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Dear Jesus, Direct my heart into a deeper love for you as I live my life patiently waiting for your return. Help me to remember that each day is an opportunity to be a witness for you in action, deed, and word. Help me to live a life of holiness that others will be drawn to the strength that is within me. Show me my faults and work within me that my actions and words will more clearly reflect you. May my family, friends and new acquaintances see more of you and less of me. Help me to live my life fully each day, realizing that each day is a precious gift from you, that no day is an in-between, but that each day is where you have ordained that I should be. In your precious name I pray, Amen.

I added some pictures to represent the growth that our Lord desires for each of us. May you flourish where God has placed you, and may God bless you throughout the coming week.

Linda