Community Building

We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. 1 John 4:19-21 MSG

In today's world, it seems people live rather isolated lives.  Social media becomes our avenue for communication and what used to be a "live" phone call with someone has now become a quick text or email.  We use emoticons to reveal the temperature behind the words.  I'm not saying it's wrong - it's actually quite efficient.  But I wonder if we are letting go of some priceless gifts.

God created us to be in community.  Out of community comes protection, provision, encouragement, growth, and countless other treasures.  In community, we find ourselves stretched to new heights.  We learn from one another and witness the unique qualities God created in each individual.  We discover things about God in one another - His glory, His creativity, His power, His beauty.

Being in community releases the Holy Spirit in us.  The fruit being produced in each of us is released for the benefit of those around us.  Non-believers are introduced to our God.  Believers are encouraged to keep running their race.  We are astounded by the work of the Spirit within us, as He matures and stretches us.  We become intoxicated by the joy that fills us as we live and serve Him in our communities.

Don't you feel good when you help someone?  Don't you feel like you made a difference in the world?  Not because you "performed a task" but because you practiced love.  He wants us to practice His love with those around us. Practicing love is not always easy or comfortable, but it's essential to our faith and life-giving to our souls.  It builds authentic community.  It builds a community of believers that can chase after God together and grow deep roots together.  It builds a community that releases Kingdom qualities - things like joy, peace and love.

I have been deeply encouraged by God showing me the value of community lately, and I want my children to know the value of it as well.  I want them to build community with classmates and youth groups and neighbors.  I want them to see the beauty in it.  I want them to reap the benefits of it.  I want them to learn through their relationships with those that are lovely and those not so lovely.  Each encounter shapes our character.  Each moment we practice love we are transformed into His likeness.  Not always easy - especially when we are rejected or made fun of or the like - but necessary nonetheless.

Our kids look to our example.  They want to see love in action so they know how to practice it themselves.  They want to see what works and what doesn't.  They want to offer their whole hearts.   They want to love and be loved.  I think we are created that way.  When that changes and we become isolated, it might be time to ask what happened to trigger that isolation.  What lie did we begin to believe or what event caused us to shrink back from others?  Often, forgiveness is the key to unlock our hearts once again and release us back into relationship - both with God and with others.

Father, please help us to live intentionally towards others.  Help us not grow weary of trying to build community, but find joy and goodness in practicing love in community instead.  We ask you to impart to us the wisdom for reaching out and staying faithful to our communities and to You.  We look to You as our example of relationship and love.  We ask You to show us when we shrink back and ask You to speak courage to our timid hearts and to help us forgive when we've been hurt.  We ask that You equip us for every good work You've prepared for us to do.  We remember that You loved us first so that we could love.  Thank You, Father.  Thank You, Jesus.  You are everything good!

Be Generous

 Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

1 Peter 4:9-11 MSG

The picture above is of my son looking at two trees who's roots have become intertwined.  The roots reach deep down into the earth to find the nourishment and strength they need to thrive in such an exposed place.  The picture reminds me of "being rooted and established in love" (Eph. 3).  We, too, must grow deep into God's love, where our roots can draw upon Him, for He is our Source.   Deep in Him, we find the ability and opportunity to fellowship with Him, learning of His love and character.  Out of our relationship with Him comes an ability to relate to fellow believers, as well.  We start to look around us and see the others God has placed us in community with.  We begin to look at them through God's eyes of love and kindness.  We look around and realize we are not alone.  Sisters stand beside us.  Sisters we can lock arms and stand strong with. 

I went to bible study with a group of women, yesterday, and was in awe of how encouraging it was to look around the room and see women demonstrating their unique gifts and practicing authentic relationship.  There was an honest need in every woman there for authenticity, transparency, fellowship, and love.  And those needs were being met by the other women around them.  It is a beautiful thing to witness and even more beautiful to participate.  

When our roots run deep in Him, we are strengthened and nourished and can bear much fruit.  That fruit is useful to the people around us.  If we produce love, joy, peace and the other fruit of the Spirit, others can reap the benefits.  Peter exhorts us above to "be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it".  No matter where you go, there is a need for the kindness being produced in you.  No matter where you are, there is a need for the peace that is in you and the joy that is in you.  Not all people on this earth are growing roots into Him.  There are many that don't know the Love that we know.  They need to see where our hope comes from.  They need to see why it is that we stand strong, even when adversity comes against us.

Reach down deep into the fullness of His love and then reach out.  Be generous with your heart and with your endless supply of His love.  It will not only bless someone beside you, but will bless you with a joy beyond measure.  I will close today with the prayer Paul prayed over the Ephesians at the end of Chapter 3.  I was encouraged by it this morning and think you might be, too.   

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth

"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."

Ephesians 3:14-21

Song for today:  Sinking Deep, Hillsong Young & Free
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UruRQwI8pRE

Encouragement

Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us. If you enjoy these blessings, then do what will make my joy complete: Agree with each other, and show your love for each other. Be united in your goals and in the way you think. In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves. Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.

In your life together, think the way Christ Jesus thought. He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross. So God raised him up to the most important place and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. God did this so that every person will bow down to honor the name of Jesus.  Everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow. They will all confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord,”and this will bring glory to God the Father.  Philippians 2:1-11

Sometimes, we need look no further than the Scriptures to find encouragement.  As we read them, we find an ancient yet current truth that surges through us like a bolt of lightning.  The scriptures are said to be "living and active and full of power".  (Hebrews 4:12AMP)  I believe this to be true and have experienced this personally.  From the time I came to know the Lord, He put in me a love for His Word. There are times that it speaks straight to my heart with such precision and personalization, that I am just astounded, for lack of a better word.  It moves me to tears.  It fills me with wonder.  It challenges me.  It corrects me.  Joy, peace, and love are enveloped by every page.  

Romans 15:5 says, "All patience and encouragement come from God."  If we believe God to be in the hearts of His people, then we have to consider ourselves as an important vessel of encouragement, as well.  Those scriptures that we meditate upon are not just for our good, but the good of all.  There is a humongous space in this world for us to share His truth and be an encouragement to one another.  I have witnessed time and again, the strength of an encouraging word spoken.  It is God's Spirit pouring forth a blessing.  It is timely, personal and uplifting.  It can be life-changing!

Today, I encourage you to reach into His Word and engage the Holy Spirit.  Then reach out to someone He highlights to you and offer encouragement.  It will bless you and them!  

Jesus, You are the most encouraging One I know!  Help me to lift others up like You do.  Help me to notice the ones that are in need of a "leg-up" and help them back in the saddle.  You are so full of joy and peace and love, and I come to You as my source of all I need.  Pour Your Spirit into me so that I serve with the same humility and grace You display.  

Learning to Love Like Jesus

Amanda Cook sings a song that is called "Pieces".   It grips my heart when I hear it, because I believe not only is it the way God loves us, but how we are to love Him and others.  His commandment to 'love Him with all your heart, soul and mind, and to love others as yourself' (Matt 22:37) comes alive for me in these lyrics.  They provoke me to want to live more intentionally and more unreservedly towards Him and towards others.  To offer my whole heart - not just pieces of it.

Unreserved, unrestrained

Your love is wild, Your love is wild for me

It isn’t shy, it’s unashamed 

Your love is proud to be seen with me

You don’t give Your heart in pieces 

You don’t hide Yourself to tease us 

Uncontrolled, un-contained 

Your love is a fire burning bright for me

It’s not just a spark, it’s not just a flame 

Your love is a light, that all the world will see 

You don’t give Your heart in pieces 

You don’t hide Yourself to tease us 

Your love’s not fractured

It’s not a troubled mind

It isn’t anxious, it’s not the restless kind

Your love’s not passive

It’s never disengaged

It’s always present

It hangs on every word we say

Love keeps its promises, it keeps its word

It honors what’s sacred, cause its vows are good

Your love’s not broken

It’s not insecure

Your love’s not selfish, Your love is pure

'Cause You don’t give Your heart in pieces 

You don’t hide Yourself to tease us 

As I hear this song, I am made aware of how God offers His whole heart to us.  He holds nothing back.    It is this faithful, trustworthy love that reaches deep into our own hearts, beckoning us to come close.  I want to love this fully and fearlessly.  I want to realize that because of being connected heart-to-heart with Him, I can begin to love this way, too.  I want to be so fully convinced by His love, that it's my automatic response to love Him and others in the same way.  "We love because God first loved us." (1 John 4:19).

Community is all around us, and yet so many of us fail to take part.  We fear rejection or hurt, and so we end up living isolated as a way of self-protecting.  And yes, some people have and will mishandle our hearts.  It is inevitable that we will experience this in a broken world.  But that is why we look to Jesus as the example.  He gave His whole heart to the will of His Father and for us on the cross.  He cried out forgiveness over us as He did so.  His forgiveness, like His love, is complete.  And He beckons us to live in this same way, living in this same kind of love He revealed.

We needed His whole heart.  We needed His forgiveness.  We needed to witness a heart fully awake to God and fully awake to us.  Now that we have, what will we do?

I thank You Lord for teaching my heart to trust and move toward relationship - with You and with people.  Thank You for showing me what it looks like in Your Word and even in the songs You inspire in Your people.  Continue to teach me to pursue, to engage, to be transparent.  Show me how worthwhile it is.  Show me the people out there who need to witness this kind of love.  Equip and empower me to reveal Your love to hurting hearts, so that they will turn to You, fascinated by Your glory and goodness.

https://youtu.be/P0FW--zidYA

Partners

We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works. We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other.  Hebrews 10:24-25

Over the past weeks, we have moved our family to a new territory.  While it has not been easy to transition to 'all things new', it has been good.  I hate to say, but I was surprised by how smoothly the process has gone.  I shouldn't have been surprised.  I should have known He would come through for us.  I'm supposed to have more faith, right?!  But I didn't.  I was in the boat, storm raging, and a big scaredy-cat.  Funny how things seem much more frightening (waves seem bigger) than they truly are at times...

Well, truth be told, I am downright surprised that it has gone so well (oh me of little faith!).  The Lord has provided so faithfully and graciously, as is His nature.  He has met us at every step - the grief of leaving "home", the loneliness of living in a new and strange place, the apprehension of engaging with all of the "new"…   God has been so faithfully present through the whole experience that I prefer to think it was nothing short of miraculous.

The thing I love most about this miracle is how God chose to partner with people on our behalf.  We have been held together, encouraged and loved so well through our transition.  Family and friends have prayed fervently for us and encouraged us to continue walking in faith, believing and anticipating that the Lord has something new and delightful for us here.  Let's face it, there are moments in the midst of change or troubles that you need someone to remind you of the goodness of God and His plans for us.  Moments when you accidentally shift your focus off Him and onto the waves.  The Lord was so kind to knit our hearts together with these friends over the years.  I will forever be grateful to them for loving us so well.   There is nothing like knowing that there are people out there that know your heart and love you.  And to think we have a God that knows us and loves us even more so!

Coming from a community that loved us so well has set my heart upon deliberately seeking the same here.  We have seen the intrinsic value of living in community and how it shaped us.  We would not be who we are today without those relationships.  They walked beside us amidst loss, trials, joyful times…the good, the bad and the ugly.  You just cannot put a price on that.

As we engage in this place we now call home, I find the Lord ushering us into new relationships.  We have been blessed by many on this side of the move already - people that have invited us to participate in their communities and reached out to welcome us.  I am aware of an intentionality in my own heart to pursue relationship and to actively engage in community.  There was a time when I wouldn't have taken the risk, or at least would have taken longer to reach out.  In years past, I might have shrouded my heart in layers of pretense even, out of a fear I might not be accepted.  Here in this new place, though, I feel the Lord calling me to reach outward with haste and confidence and with a raw honesty.  

We have to pursue this connection with others.  And not just for ourselves but for others, too.  It's reciprocal.  I have to remember that God is in me and wants to use me, as He does you.  He has things to say and might just choose to use my mouth to say it.  He has people to comfort, and my arms just might be the ones He reaches out with.  He has love to give and I might become the vessel He uses to embrace.  It's a humbling thought.  That the Creator chooses the created to accomplish His purposes.  He lives within us to reveal Himself throughout the earth.  That every soul would see that He is good and He is God… We just need to make ourselves available to Him and be willing to serve!

God, You are a triune Being.  You are in perfect relationship as Father, Son and Spirit.  You model for us what community looks like.   Lord Jesus, You revealed to us the remarkable communion of God and man, making a way for us to be restored to right relationship with our Holy God.  We thank you for Your sacrifice.  We thank You for being our Friend and teaching us how to love.  Empower us to engage in our families, our churches, our neighborhoods, and schools as people who love well and encourage one another.  Reveal Your heart through us and use us to display Your glory.  It is in You we live and move and have our being...   

And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories. This was so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.  For in Him we live and move and exist [that is, in Him we actually have our being], as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Acts 17:26-28 

Moving in Him

This marks a busy season for my family.  We are moving to a new state next month - a week before Christmas!  Most people look at us like we are completely nuts!  Moving in December??!!  And it does seem a little crazy.  Maybe a lot crazy.  Nevertheless, we are trucking our household across the state line to start life in a brand new place.

We are filled with anticipation, yet at times experience moments of doubt, fear, and sadness.  It's hard to leave our community of 15+ years.  It's not so much the actual packing up that's hard, but what we leave in the rearview mirror.  It's our friends, our church, our school - our people.  This is where I found Jesus and grew up in the Lord.  It's the physical place we found so much spiritual and relational healing.  Words cannot convey how much our church body has meant to us.  It feels like we are leaving the nest, which is not altogether comfortable.   

Still, we know this is what the Lord wants us to do.  Comfortable or not, we are being obedient to Him.  I am so grateful for the voices of friends and family that remind us God is with us, He has good things in store for us, and will provide for our every need.  I'm thankful that the Spirit is also reminding me that we are moving in Him.

That feels right - moving in Him.  All of this is so much bigger than we can see.  We are having to exercise our faith and adjust our eyes to try to see through His.  It hasn't been easy, but at the same time it's easy.  Sounds ridiculous, right?  But have you ever known that you were doing the right thing and felt such comfort in that - yet at the same time, felt it was still the hardest thing to do?  

When I was reading yesterday about the arrival of the Savior on Christmas, I realized how many times God moved Mary and Joseph from place to place in preparation and protection of the Babe they carried.  They traveled from home to Bethlehem, on to Jerusalem, back to Bethlehem, off to Egypt, Judea and finally home to Nazareth.  I'm sure that wasn't comfortable.  I'm sure it was a little frightening at times, considering all the circumstances.  Yet they moved with God each time He asked, and the Lord was with them.  He directed their steps and gave purpose to each one.  

We are all learning to trust God at a deeper level.  The beauty of the journey is knowing that we are moving in Him.  That is where I find my peace.  That is where I find my joy.

Vessels of Good News

I LOVE Christmas!  I love the smells, the sights, the sounds and the Reason behind this season of festivities.  I love the wonder of it all.  I love getting the tree and listening to Christmas songs.  I love wrapping gifts with my husband on Christmas Eve and sneaking them under the tree, hoping the kids aren't awake and peaking over the balcony.

These days as we anticipate the arrival of the Christmas season, we are inundated with messages of "hustle and bustle" from the culture around us.  Already the commercials and advertisements for the latest and greatest "favorites" and "wants" assault our eyes and ears.  It's hard not to get caught up in it all…even the silent competitions of who can pick out the better gift, make the best cookie, decorate the prettiest tree, or create the cutest family photo card…  Sometimes, we can find our peace and joy dwindling away and being exchanged for stress!  There's a lot of pressure - on moms especially - to get it all just right.

And so I sit this morning and think about how I will fit it all in this year in the midst of moving our family to a new state.  And the reality is - I won't.  It's that simple.  And that's okay.

I am drawn to consider, instead, the privilege of sharing Jesus.

"Jesus You're the sign, Jesus You're the wonder, You're the miracle - there is no other!" 

-- Harvest Bashta 

We are now His vessels to spread the Good News the angels sang about in Luke 2.

Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest [heaven], And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying one to another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this [wonderful] thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us"...  So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the Baby as He lay in the manger.  And when they had seen this, they made known what had been told them about this Child, and all who heard it were astounded and wondered at what the shepherds told them.  Luke 2:13-18 AMP

The Shepherds' response to this angelic message was to go straight to Bethlehem to see what they had heard about.  A Savior born.  And once they had seen, they began to share.  They began telling others about what they had heard and seen for themselves.  And people were astounded and full of wonder.  

And so questions pepper my thoughts as I read these beloved scriptures… Now that I am found, am I stewarding my commission to share with others Who found me?  Is heavenly peace and joy emanating from me in this celebration of the Savior's arrival?  Is there a sense of devotion to tell others why He came and what He offers?  Am I allowing this high-priority purpose to be shelved in order to appease cultural demands?  

Lord,  It's the perfect time to tell others about You.  To let our traditions and celebrations be signs that point to the Savior of the world.  Make us vessels that reveal Your mysteriously beautiful love for us.  Let our homes be a place of encounter for the lost and broken.  Infuse our traditions and celebrations with Your love, joy and peace and let Your presence rest upon us.  As Brian Johnson sings, "For the sake of the world, burn like a fire in me.  Light a flame in my soul for every eye to see."  Amen.