Lonely

So often I hear about 'loneliness" in the body of Christ. I often find myself lonely. I often find myself thinking about how few friends I have. I find myself thinking "is this ever going to end?"

 

As the internet progresses and it's easier to find a "friend" but never have an encounter, I think the human need to be connected is either going to go cold or get stronger.

 

And the Lord has dealt with this in me to some extent. There are now 8 people living in my home.

 

Some of you will not remember that program of 25 years or so ago. Eight's Enough. One of the stars was a man named Grant Goodeve. His father in real life was our bookkeeper. The basis of the show was 8 children in one home.

 

As I was showering this morning, (My present retreat.) I was reminded of that show. In my case, it is now myself and Tina, Cass, Matt, Alyssa and 3 grandchildren. the two bedroom house is full. Alyssa and her children occupy the living room and we might have room for one more child in our kitchen. Yesterday, they left for a few hours to go to the library and I turned up the worship and spent that two hours with pounding drums and bass lines and songs of revival and deliverance. I am a rejoicer. But I still need my "quiet" times.

 

So, is eight enough? For this little house on the mountaintop, I would say it is. Ironically, the Lord gave Tina a word about getting a big house, because the children would return. I do not think she saw it like this. Loads of laundry, dishes and food. Constant activity. I am waiting for the Beatles song, "Here Comes The Sun," so that I can take off here and there! My grandchildren love to rough house, so one must accommodate them.

 

Eight is often seen as the number for new beginnings. With the selling of the store this week, I feel I have a new beginning. I have received a flurry of prophetic words describing this time to come. All of them run the same thought process. But the reality of it is we all have a new beginning, each and every day. His blessings and mercies are new every day.  That is what HE says. The question is whether we will go with God or with what our feelings are. I choose God on this one.

 

My house is full with children, grandchildren and my wife.

 

Lonely. Not right at this minute. But, being lonely happens for a couple of reasons. One is that we have not sown into other's lives. We are always expecting others to come to us. In my life, this was self centered approach to get me to feel better. But what if I sowed? What if I made the calls or the visits? Just this morning I sent out a bunch of letters and got a bunch back. A friend of mine is starting a company. It is called ME. Why? Because he said "it is about me," and he meant it. He is in pre-Christian mode, so I indulge him.

 

Sunday, a friend I have ministered to for over 10 months showed up in church. He needed a friend...and prayer.

 

So, we can fix loneliness by sowing into other's lives. And we can always change loneliness by developing a perspective of "how does the other person feel?" When I treat others as I want to be treated, I will develop something called humility. Humility is not "what I have been through and all the horrible things," but living my life as the Lord intended it. Doing His will. Serving others for Him. Saying to the Lord "NO" tells the Lord I am not His. He is not my Lord. It is when I come under His yoke that change comes.

 

And with serving others, anxiety disappears as well, for what is anxiety but a case of "me" and "what if the Lord does not do things my way. So many I meet are anxious, because they think the One who will get them to heaven "cares so little" as to make them complete.  I know over 50 Christians popping anti-anxiety meds. I think it is about trust. The Lord commands or addresses the issue of anxiety when He says "be anxious for nothing."

 

I am still in the process of getting me out of the way. Doing all that He asks of me. I need to invest more in other's lives. I know that. I have the ability to bless others. To help. To change the atmosphere. And in that relm I have no anxiety, fear, shame or loneliness.

 

 

Blessings,

Lee