peace

I see the church operating in freedom and security because of the strength and generosity that comes with knowing Him intimately. I see the body of Christ embracing everyone that needs Him, not just those deemed acceptable to show up on Sunday mornings. I see those with a diversity of opinions/backgrounds/lifestyles still breaking bread together because "we're all baptized by one Spirit into one body." 1 cor. 12:13
"This is not a time for peace-loving, but rather for peacemaking, which is much more demanding. And peacemaking is, finally, less a position than a path--the path Jesus has clearly instructed us to take."
Jim Wallis
...on the journey

attitude

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same..."
Phillipians 2: 1-5
Unity and devotion?...the mind of Christ. Pretty much says it all.

weighing the cost

"The trouble with deep belief is that it costs something."
Donald Miller
I think the problem with our mindsets much of the time is that we think in temporal rather than eternal values. If what we believe is what we do, then it only follows that we still need to learn in our deepest being what is truly important.
Lord, make our hearts one.

burnout/bailout vs. getting it right

Hooray for the in-laws! Jethro was one smart dude. I have seen this truth played out in several ways. As a preacher's kid, I know the damage that ministry overload has on leaders and their families. As a life-long church goer, I've seen the extent of the burnout that 20% of the congregation doing all of the work has. As an individual with past tendencies of isolation and independence, I know the truth that I need other people like I need food and water. And as a member of our local body of Christ, I agree that it will take every one of us functioning according to our calling to accomplish the vision. But what an exciting prospect!
Romans 12:4-8

One

Why do churches "fight" against each other? If we are all working for the same cause, spreading Jesus' message, should we not all be on the same team? Yet as we go through this life we hear about churches who split over petty things. Carpet color, the pastor uses the wrong translation of the Bible, the pastor wants his own house, and the list could go on and on and on. Are these the thing the church needs to be concerned with? Probably not. If we are all living / working for the same God then we are all on the same team.

It is like a baseball team. Each player has a specific roll. A player specializing in one area, 3rd base left field, pitching, etc. He does not try to do it all, and he depends on others to help him. If he wants to win he helps to focus everyone on the same goal.

It is the same with churches. Each church has an area that they do better than other churches. We all form a team that is playing of God. We should all be working together for one cause, to reach our cities for the KINGDOM!

Go

Jesus commands his followers to go and make disciples. Where is one place I go regularly? ...to the grocery store. Who could I tell? ...neighbors. I need to be kind and loving in my interactions with people at the gocery store and with my neighbors. Those that see me know me by my actions. I can share God's good news but only if my actions are louder than my words.

the normal christian life

I've noticed these devotions talking a lot about sacrifice.(right?--recurrent theme, hard to ignore) And I get that I need to be pushed out of my complacency. But it also feels like sacrifice isn't even the right word. I mean, if we're Christians, we've already given our lives to Him, right? We belong to Him. It seems to me this is just normal stuff we should be doing without even thinking about it.
Yes, of course my life experiences--specifically God's work through those life experiences--have made me the person I am. And yes, of course I'm better off for God having done (and hopefully still doing) His work in me.(partner in the benefits of the gospel) What comes next (and next and next) is always up to Him. There is no turning back. I wouldn't want to if I could. There's no way I could ever outgive God. How absurd.
"There can only be two basic loves, the love of God unto the forgetfulness of self, or the love of self unto the forgetfulness and denial of God."
Augustine

the least of these

Visiting the sick is what I do. It's my job. But recognizing that I'm serving Jesus while I'm doing it is another story. If I'm just going through the motions, how can I be engaging God or consequently sharing His love with those whom I serve? I have found that serving those less fortunate is something I have to be very intentional about. If I don't pursue it, it won't get done. And if it doesn't get done, then what am I even here for?
"It is a great mistake to think that God is chiefly interested in religion."
William Temple

Day 22 - The Forest for the Trees

As a "church goer" of most of my life, I have heard may messages and many lessons on the latter of the three parables. However, 99% of them have been on the younger brother coming home. But the focus on the older brother made me take a look at some of my motives. I say this because, the older brother was upset because he was not getting "fair" treatment. What is fair treatment? He had a roof over his head, food on the table, a job and clothes. He may not have had any need, I am not sure. But he was so focused on himself and what he thought he was missing that he did not realize all the blessings he had. He could not see the forest for the trees.

What was he missing, we are asked? He was missing the Father's eyes and heart. Three times in the passage Jesus said, "There will be more rejoicing over one sinner who repents...." What does it take for us to gain the eyes and heart of the Father? Surrender and suffering. We have to step out of ourselves and step into our Father who is waiting. We have to be like the younger son. We have to be willing to come before our Father and say, "I have sinned against you and I am no longer worthy to be your son [or daughter] ", but will you still use me to further your Kingdom. Then we have to be (as my favorite musical group says), "put on our backpack and throw out [our] road maps!"

day 19-afflictions

First of all, the word "suffering" sounds so melodramatic, I had a hard time relating. But I looked up afflictions..it is defined as "the cause of continued pain or distress." Lots of things could fall under that category..loneliness, being wronged in any number of ways, discouragement r.t. various circumstances,etc. I don't know that I can honestly say that I rejoice in these things. But maybe I'm not as afraid of some of them as I used to be? Because I can see their value in drawing me closer to the Father.
Thank you, God, for always seeing the big picture and guiding me through even when sometimes I don't really want to go. (Good dads are like that.)
"The things of the kingdom aren't worth comparing with words like 'easy' and 'hard.' Whatever God has called you to is going to be hard..if you're where God has called you, you can be sure that it will be both difficult and rewarding. This is the way of the kingdom. It is a pearl of great price, so that a man sells all that he has to buy it."
Brian Sanders