Community: The release of our the Spirit in our heart

I found some hope earlier this week in the thought that only a few find it (Matt 7:13)....not as a barrier, but as a way of community. God's heart about community seemed worth a few more notes from "Waking the Dead", by John Eldredge. Most of the notes from the book are not ways to achieve salvation, but to fully experience the freedom and purpose to which we are called.

How would you live differently?

How would you live differently if you believed your heart was the treasure of the kingdom? ...Something stronger than fate has chosen you. Evil will hunt you. And so a fellowship must protect you. ...Together we train for battle. Together we plan our path. What makes this community so powerful ? You help me remember my story, my role and where I am. I don't have to carry the burden of remembering alone. "All the believers were one in heart..." (Acts 4:32)

Sitting for a sermon will never expose me, that's why most folks prefer it, but a community will. Do we keep our meetings short, our conversations superficial...a comfortable, anonymous distance? Our we an army that keeps meeting for "briefings", but never breaks into platoons and goes to war?

The "four streams" that lead to the full release of the Spirit (Rom 7:4-6).

1. Discipleship: Walking with God, both in wisdom and revelation
2. Counseling: Asking God, asking friends of God
3. Healing: Restoration, being forgiven, forgiving others...forgiving ourselves,
4. Warfare: Setting captives free

"Be kind, for everyone you know is facing a great battle." (Philo of Alexandria)

WOW, the missing keys in most relationships and community:

• First you know the heart is good.
• Second, we know we are at war.

Finally, community is NOT a substitute for God.

Only He can validate me, appreciate me, fill the aching void in my heart. We go first to God, alone so that we have something to bring back to the community.

Few Find It

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:13-15

For years this verse hung like a cloud over me, because between the lines people had read it to say "It is difficult to find" or "you must work harder than all the rest", "God's kingdom was only ever meant for a few". It was used by more than one group to justify its own small size and exclude others from "true Christianity".

This morning, the cloud broke as I was reading this:

We have stopped short of being an organization; we're an organism instead, a living and spontaneous association of individuals who know one another intimately, care for each other deeply and feel a kind of respect for one another that makes rules and bylaws unnecessary. A group is the right size, I would guess, when each member can pray for every other member, individually and by name.

Brother Andrew, God's smuggler

This is not a rant against big institutions, its just a recognition that those settings by themselves cannot be the place of personal interaction that brother Andrew describes. John Eldredge (Waking the dead) uses this quote to explain how crucial it is to have a small fellowship to walk with you and fight with you and bandage your wounds so that you can live fully the life you were ransomed for by Jesus.

This idea that our relationship with God is bound in a community of believers is one I think most of us recognize in our heart, and lack in our relationships. Thankfully, it is NOT because our Father only wanted it, or expected it, for a few. It can be part of the reason I feel more (or less) connected to the love of God and his purpose for my life. Thanks Bill, Garry, Laura, Kevin, Scott, Tony, DJ, Steve and a few others.

Much, much more to this than I can write now.

Don’t stress: Time Management is not doing more

 

Below are some notes from a Rick Warren Podcast I took for a friend who God has blessed with many, many opportunities. He is a lot like you and me. We never want to be too busy for God.

1. Don’t stress: Time Management is not doing more but doing what God “wants done”
2. Beware the barrenness of a busy life
3. Success is the management of ideas
4. Make a NOT to-do list
5. Keep a time log
6. Group similar tasks in time
7. Learn to control technology instead of letting it control you
8. As a leader, you are constantly disappointing someone
9. Let family tell you how much time to spend together
10. Plato: “Treat life as play”
11. Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff
12. Greatest use of time is love
13. Greatest expression of love is time
14. It’s all about Love, Relationships at Top of to-do list
15. Align to your strengths
16. Learn to use “loose change” time
17. Don’t overprepare
18. Do hardest things 1st
19. I have just enough time to do God’s will

• Relaxed Concern
  I am not God
  Jesus never ran

A great day?

Today was a day I should be grateful for...Sean's first day with a great new piano Teacher, went to visit our bird at the pet store, played a little golf in the fields around New Augusta Academy(I lost 4 balls!). We played video games, did some writing on Dave's Hobbit paper, finished a poster and went for a walk. We wrapped it all up with reading the Bible and praying together.

Despite all that I still find myself getting frustrated about stupid stuff, like it being so hot in the house when it's so nice outside, running out of ice cream, and not getting my business software to work properly. I am glad Father is generous and patient with me. Tomorrow should be another great day.

VIP: Pray for Hearts to be changed

Steve and I were talking the other night and it reminded me of a card I carry in my wallet (from LifeChurch). There are some people that God has placed in our lives to care about, not because we like them, but just because....they need a clearer picture of who God really is.

Maybe they are family, coworkers, or someone you know through another person.

I don't want to forget how valuable a redemptive attitude of prayer can be. When you read this, remember the ones that your heart has been called to.

Who Am I? I am yours

 

"Your identity is your most precious possession. Protect it."
(Elastigirl -- The Incredibles)

I knew there was something about her I liked.  Great idea, simple idea, why is it so hard? 

Something that has really hit home recently was the need to be defined and identified not as a worker, a group member, successful _______ (fill in the blank).  I am defined by one relationship, the child of my Father.  Not a new idea, but a life-sustaining one.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid rock I stand

Who Am I? I am yours..by Misty Williams