Community

Yesterday, after an absence of several weeks, I went to see my friend Paul at David’s House. While I was visiting him, Paul and I spent several minutes looking at his picture wall together. Paul pointed out a new picture which had recently been added to the wall for him. He said in a sincere voice, “I just love looking at these pictures because they remind me of all the people who love me.” In that moment, I found myself wishing I could give a picture wall, like Paul’s, to everyone I knew.  Paul’s picture wall is” pretty darn awesome” because it reminds him of the community he has around him even on the days when he cannot get out to experience and interact much with his community.

Seeing Paul’s picture wall is a good reminder of both the community we have and the community we should be to each other.

Those of us who are able to be out and around the community nearly every day, should practice extending a sense of community by being the tangible hands, feet, voices, and servants of Jesus.

Those of us who are unable to be out and around the community nearly every day, can still experience the warmth, love, and encouragement of community by way of card, visit, phone call, and picture.

True relationship both comes from and happens in community.

It is important for us to know and think about the ones we love and appreciate.

On days when we feel sad, lonely, depressed, or out of sorts, it is important for us to think on those who love and appreciate us.

Not all may have a picture wall, but almost all are needy of encouragement in some way, shape, or form.

If you have the encouragement and love Christ gives, practice community and don’t keep His love and encouragement to yourself.

If He has shared with you His call to be His hands, feet, and voice, don’t wait to open yourself up

to Him, His will, His life, and His service.

We are designed to bless and be blessed…together in community…together in the bond He so graciously provides…

Truth

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:16-17)

Every good thing bestowed and every gift given has its source in God. This does not include temptation to sin. There is no variation in God’s dealings with His creatures. God does everything for His own glory and His creatures’ good (www.bible.org).

One of my sister-in-law’s does wall hangings and wall art for people’s homes. I should have her write out that winning phrase for me on a wall hanging so that I can place it where I will see it everyday: God does everything for His own glory and for His creatures’ good.

This is one of those phrase reminders I need on the days when I feel I am merely plodding along and the finish line seems yet far off. God doesn’t change, but my human experience of Him does. I need to be reminded He sends good and perfect gifts. I need to receive frequent warnings from the Word of God so that I am not easily led astray or turned away from what I know to be good, true, and righteous.

I know many truths about God in my head.

As times passes, I hope the many truths in my head become the many truths which are lived out in my heart and life.

I have long yearned to be a person of integrity.

If I am going to be a person that models my life after the Way, the Truth, and the Life, I need His truth daily in my head and daily in my heart.

I also need His truth daily in front of my nose.

Thank You, Sovereign Lord, for Your precious, Holy Word. I pray today for those who do not yet have access to Your truth in their heart language. Help them not to be led astray by their own deceptions and vain human philosophies. Enable me to trust You as the Giver of every good and perfect gift. May I not take all the good things You bless me with for granted.

Resistance

“Sinful desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” (James 1:15)

“The ultimate outcome of capitulating to temptation is death, but the ultimate outcome of resisting it is the fullness of life.” (www.bible.org)

Oh, how I pray when I read these thoughts that the Lord would keep me strong in my resistance! I need to vigorously oppose that which is not life-giving in my walk and this calls for me to be vigilant and aware.  I must be more active and less passive in my stance against evil.  When was the last time I took an active stand for the One whom I believe?  When was the last time I really fought against some thing, action, or idea I don’t believe in?

All too often, it is easy for me to comply and not abstain; all too often, it is easy for me to go along rather than turn down. I probably worry more about upsetting those around me than I do about upsetting the Christ who died and rose for me.

I desire the fullness of life that is mentioned here and promised to me in John’s gospel. The heart of the matter is that I can not entertain sin and expect to receive life at the same time. I have to actively move away from one thing in order to rightfully, willingly, fully, embrace the other. It isn’t easy, it requires ongoing discipline and I won’t accomplish it at all without Christ as my Advocate and Counselor.

As I journey along, I desire to host life and slay death.

As I journey along, I desire to welcome life and turn away death.

I desire to nourish life and reject that which could prove literally deadly to my physical, emotional, and spiritual self.

I need to be watchful. I need to be warned and forewarned. I invite others into my journey because I am mindful that I need the encouragement of others in the act of staying the course. I also invite others into my journey because I am aware that they may recognize the struggle for real life in the same way that I do and presently am.

I turn daily to my Deliverer; I invite your prayers that my heart and life would be made right in the sight of Him who is the life. Let it not be said of me that He came unto His own, and His own knew Him not (John 1:11).