Themes

I have a friend, Lauren, who when she wants an answer from God, she asks for it to be shown to her three times. That's how she's assured that something is from God. In my life, I've found that seasons come in themes. This summer has been so exception. God is always trying to teach me something and show Himself to me in someway. This summer has come with a few themes of its own...

1. Be intentional. In everything that we do, we should be intentional about it. In building relationships, in sharing God's word, in anything, think, act, and speak knowing your intentions.

2. Nothing replaces the Church. Nothing. Not a great small group. Not a big campus ministry or campus outreach. Not Wednesday night fellowship or whatever you do. Nothing replaces corporate worship with like-minded individuals who come together to worship God. Worship isn't about us. It isn't about getting something out of it. Worship is completely about God. Bryan Kelly told us a few days ago that leaving a church should feel like divorce, and I agree. When you leave a church, you're leaving family and parts of the body of Christ behind. You are an important part of the body of Christ. Both parts ache when one piece is cut away.

3. Everyone is learning and everyone is teaching. We all live different lives, come from different places, and see things in different lights. We each bring something different to the table, no matter who we are. In the body of Christ, we all need someone to be constantly feeding us, building us up and encouraging us in our faith. At the same time, we should be sharing those things and the things we know about God with others. We are called to be teachers and students. Children and adults alike.

4. Reconciliation. Since the fall of man, every relationship has been broken. Relationships between God, me, others, and the rest of creation: all broken. Jesus Christ came to reconcile us back to Him. As His body, we are called to continue reconciling the relationships of this world back to Him...the only thing is, we can't. Reconciliation is completely impossible without God, Jesus and Holy Spirit.

These are just four of the things that I have been learning this summer. God is truly doing amazing things through Common Ground and House to House and I am so blessed to have been used by God through it. My prayer is that God's work will continue through them and build up leaders in the community who take ownership of this neighborhood and share God's word and love with others here.

Independence and Dependence

 My family spent the week in northern Michigan for the 4th of July. My aunt has a house on a lake that is just beautiful. The water is clear and the weather is incredible, especially in July. This is my feet on the dock over the lake.

 Before we left, my dad made a list of everything that he hoped to do while we were in Michigan. One of those things was to complete a puzzle. This puzzle had all but one piece and was a picture of petosky stones. The girls are my cousin and her friend from North Carolina.

 This is the lake at sunset from my seat where I read every day while I was there. It was perfect, aside from the mosquitoes.

 My cousins made a fire next to the lake. Don't they look so happy and peaceful?! They made sure everyone ate their share of s'mores.

 This was my s'more, complete with perfectly burnt marshmallow. The marshmallows we used were gigantic, so it required extra chocolate.

 Every year, we make a point to walk down the beach at Lake Michigan looking for petosky stones. The beach is only a few minutes walk away from the house and it's practically deserted. Between looking for stones, my dad and brother would compete to see who could get a rock to skip the most times. It was quite entertaining. This was my dad mid toss.

 I wrote Hebrew words in the sand, but I quickly discovered that rocks are much prettier and last longer. This is selah. I have shalom as my wallpaper on my phone. I might not have been the brightest student in my Hebrew class, but I did learn a lot!

 Words can't describe how amazing it feels to sit in the sun when its seventy degrees outside with a good book, family all around and a beautiful view in front of you.

 This was the greatest float idea. My dad and brother are lounging on inflatable mattresses that my cousins slept on in a tent in the back yard.

 This was the 30th annual Polka Festival. We really go just to watch people, some drunk, dance traditional polka dances to live polka bands. This year, we danced a little bit more than last year, but the band was really good and they made it really fun. Someone always requests the chicken dance, so thats when we get on the dance floor. :)

 On the Fourth of July, my brother looked like a cute little mountain church boy, complete with red, white and blue bow tie and his brand new keens. I made him pose so that I could show everyone how cute he looked.

 This was after we got back to Montgomery. I was driving around town, running some errands, when I saw the sun set. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, when I see a sun set, I cant help but think of God and how amazing he is to give us such unimaginable beauty in the sky. I love it.

 We had some excitement at the community center over the weekend. twelve cop cars and a fire and rescue ambulance...it's a long story, but I chose this picture to remind you to pray for the kids in Washington Park, especially those who aren't involved with the Common Ground Summer Camp.

 Our newest project, and a great surprise for me. On Wednesday, a group of youth from First Methodist Church, that I used to work with, came to help us out. They completely gutted the house of furniture, carpet and trim so that we could get started with demolition next week.

This is the front of the house, I really like it. I think it has a ton of potential. I love being about to look at a house and see everything it could be with a little love. I cant wait to take a picture of it when it's all done!

Boasting About Tomorrow

I usually like to share things because I feel like it can help other people, but today, I want to share because it's something that I've always struggled with and am now starting to change in my own life. Our devotion this morning begins with James 4:13-17.

We are nothing more than a vapor in the wind; our time on earth is nothing compared to God and the work that He is doing and will continue to do after we are gone. What this passage tells me is that God, being outside of earthly time, knows the path that He has prepared for me, and I need to trust Him to direct me. We can make plans all day long, but God is the one who determines the steps we take. The passage ends with a heavy statement, "Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it sins." I know everyday I avoid things that I know I ought to do, but I don't tend to think of it as sin; it is.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust God and lean not on our own understanding. In everything we do we should acknowledge God for His grace, mercy, and the blessings He gives us. When we do that, He will make our paths straight. Proverbs 16:9 says that, "In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Isn't that a great thought? God knows each individual step that we are going to take, not just the major events of our lives. How can you argue with predestination with verses like this one scattered throughout the Bible? Maybe we should call it "predetermination."

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I've always been a planner. I like to know what to expect and plan out all the little details of everything that I have any power to control. Over the past couple of years, I've learned that sometimes it's more exciting, and definitely demands more trust in God, to just go in faith believing that God is going to direct you on your path and lead you to greater things than you could have ever imagined. I'm guilty of over thinking and over planning when I could already be living even greater things out if I had just trusted God in the first place. This summer is an example of that in my life. My internship with House to House was something that had never been done before, and I wanted to know the details of exactly how everything would work out. I had been praying that God would do something great in my life and just let me see His will for my life...but I had been planning things out so much that there wasn't a whole lot of room for God to work in my own plans, but of course, He did. God put people along my path who have taught me about being faithful and how it is important to have accountability and someone to disciple you along the way.

Father,
I thank you and I praise you for this day that you've created and for every little detail that you have already planned out for me. You are so great and your plans for me are beyond anything that I could imagine for myself; help me to trust in you and live out in faith that I wouldn't do anything that I could have done without you. Use me for your glory and your kingdom.
I thank you for each of the individuals that you have placed along my path, especially this summer, and for the amazing impact that each of them have had on my heart and my faith in you, Father. I thank you for my family and for the support that they give me, as well as the discipline they provided that shaped me into the person I am. I thank you for the Common Ground Interns and their passion to serve you this summer. I ask that you would continue to give them patience and strength to handle every situation they face in the next two weeks. Father, show yourself to the kids at summer camp and allow them to fall in love with you and fear you. That is my prayer for myself, as well, that I might fall deeper in love with you while still fearing you and being in awe of your name and your power.
Father, without you, I am nothing. Forgive me of my sins against you and guide me to renew my heart and mind each day so that I can live to the best of my ability to do your will and glorify you in everything that I do in you.
I pray these things in the name of your son, Christ Jesus. Amen.

Do Not Love the World

Today's quiet time was, again, something I felt that I needed to share, I think more so because I struggle with it so much.
I John 2:15-17 tells us not to love the world because if anyone does, the love of the Father is not in them. The desires of the world that we have will eventually pass away, but the person who does the will of God will live forever.

Matthew 16:25-26 is a simple but extremely difficult concept for us today. If we love Christ, we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. It sounds simple, but each of those are incredibly difficult when you are attached to the world. Denying ourselves means that we set aside our fleshly desires and focus solely on God's; we have to recognize that God sees the bigger picture, whether or not we understand it. Taking up your cross is something that, I think, everyone struggles with (at least in North America). Take up your cross, or any deathly torture device you choose, and follow the one, true God who laid down His life for sinners. Following Him sounds easy enough, but to follow Him during His lifetime meant leaving your loved ones, giving up everything you owned and literally following Him, so that you could learn from Him and serve with Him. Today, I don't think our calling as Christians is much different. We are still supposed to spread the news of the gospel to the nations, and in order to do that we have to forget about the things of this world and go where He sends us.

Romans 12:1-2 says that we should offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. His son sacrificed His life for us and he asks that we do the same in return. If our reward in Heaven is greater than anything we can ever imagine, how is it a sacrifice that we would give up the things that pass away to gain something that lasts forever?!

As you consider these things, I hope you'll pray with me...

Abba, Father, You are the Lord of all creation and still you know how many hairs are on my head. You know the sins of my life, but still Your son died for me. Lord, I am so unworthy of your love, much less your sons life. Forgive me of my sins against you; forgive the corporate sins of society. Father, I pray for the world; I pray that as Christians we would be reminded every day that this place is not our home, but that our home is with you. Guide us take up or crosses, whatever they may be, and to follow you wholeheartedly everyday of our lives.
Lord, I pray for myself, because as much as I believe the things I share with people and as much as I know about your word, Father, it isn't enough. So often, I get consumed by the desires of this world and I lose sight of your will. There is so much corruption and so much sin in this world, that it is so easy to give into temptation and evil; please help me to focus on You and to constantly do your will, not my own. The insecurities I have are just the world's influence on me, but they are so influential to my life everyday; I need your love and your grace to surround me, to help me to see that who I am is your child, your servant, not someone who has to live by the ridiculous standards that the word sets.
Lord, God, guide me everyday in every breath I take that I might be growing to know you better and to serve you and love others without condition. Search me, and know my heart, pull me closer to you and use me as I strive to follow you in every step I take.
I love you Lord and I long for more of you.
I pray in Jesus Christs precious and holy name. Amen.

Peace in Relationships

Every morning, all of the interns do a quiet devotional as we prepare our hearts and minds for the day ahead. This morning, our devotion is about peace in relationships. I thought I should share it, seeing as we all have relationships.

I Timothy 2:22-26 tells us that we should flee from the desires of youth. Instead, we should pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. The desires of our flesh do not produce fruits like the fruits of the Spirit. It says that we should call on the Lord out of a pure heart and avoid foolish arguments. Ultimately, we should be kind to everyone, be able to teach and avoid feeling resentful toward anyone.

Hebrews 12:14-15 says that we should make every attempt to live in peace with everyone. It says, "see to it that no one misses the grace of God." That is our responsibility, to share the love and grace of God with others in a peaceful and compassionate way.

Matthew 5:9 comes from the beatitudes. It says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

I Peter 3:8-12 tells us to live in harmony with others, to be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate, and be humble.

Ultimately, the characteristics that we, as Christians, should posses are righteousness, faithful, loving, peaceful, kindness, sympathetic, compassionate, and humble. These are the things that I desire for the relationships in my life.

I always end my devotion time in prayer, so I thought I should share in prayer with you...

Father, God, I thank you so much for this new day that you have given us. I thank you for the air in my lungs and the blessings that you have surrounded me with. Lord, I adore you and I seek you with my whole heart. Reveal yourself to me today, help me to see you in the people and creation you surround me with. Father, I thank you for giving your son to die for me. I know that I don't deserve it, Lord, I don't deserve your love, but still you give it without end. I thank you so much for that. Thank you for setting the example for me to live everyday. Guide me to live in a Christlike manner so that others around me can see your light and your glory shining through me. Use me as an instrument for your work and your peace. Lord, I know that you were here long before I was, so I remember that my work on earth is not about me, its wholly about you. Lord, make me less so that you can become greater in my life. Grow in me and help me to always be the servant that you would have me to be.
Father, I ask that you would be with the interns from Common Ground. Guide their relationships with the kids and the other interns and help them to be peacemakers. Lord, give them strength and patience in every situation so that they will know how to face things in a way that you would have them to. Lord, use them and direct them to be instruments for you.
Lord, please be with my new friend, Donald, who I met Sunday. Keep him safe, Father, and protect him from the evils of this world. Lord, I don't know what it is like to not have a home or food to eat or loved ones to fellowship with, but Donald does, and I ask that you would introduce more people in his life who can help him to find those things in you and to restore his relationship with you. Forgive us for the corporate sins that we commit against others, God. So often, we don't even think about them, God, but not doing anything is just as wrong as doing harm. Forgive us.
Lord, please be with the kids and the families in Washington Park. Help the kids to learn more and more about you from summer camp and then use the things that they have learned to teach their families about you. Lord rain down your love and your mercy on this neighborhood. Show us your power to completely turn a community around for your glory.
Lord, our purpose on earth is to glorify you and enjoy you forever, and I ask that you would help us to do that because we can't do anything without your help. Without you, God, we are nothing.
Guide us, strengthen us, and protect us as we attempt to do your will in each step of our lives.
I pray all of these things in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

We're Blessed!

This afternoon, I had a song on my heart that really reminded me of how often I forget about how amazing God is and how blessed I am. I was struggling with some things that were on my heart and this song just came to me.I was a part of a mass choir from Montgomery's public schools in high school and we sang this song with the Alabama Boys for the Melodies of Hope performance we did together. It was an incredible experience for me. I love this song and everything that it reminds me. We are so incredibly blessed, where ever we are. Even more than that, the devil is defeated and God has the power to turn any situation around for His glory. We're blessed!