Scripture

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

I John 3:17,18

Sudan and Darfur need our help...let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth...

We are part of the global church...our brothers are being murdered, torured, raped, starved, and abused...God help us...

today

I contacted a couple of agencies today...we are longing to be more connected to the needs of our community. CRC--Children's Resource Center and Wood County Office of Jobs and Family Services...I really hope they get back to me soon with some concrete things we can do to serve. Christ is calling us to more...more of a demonstration of His love...

It is amazing to me the level of growth and accountability we have experienced through LTG's...discipleship is happening...growth is taking place...we are being challenged by the Spirit...people are going deeper...people are finding out where they belong...it is the church being the church and a year ago this is what I had envisioned...it is finally happening...

Thank you Jesus...for this life abundant...for being with us...Emanuel...

Good days

This is our 3rd and final week in Isaiah for our LTG...we've only been taking it 22 chapters a week, but it has been good and at times it has been extremely good.

Last week's reading included chapter 42 and it really spoke to me. It is a passage of prophecy about Christ, but then I remembered that Christ IS our life and therefore it describes us...or at least it is supposed to describe us.

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope."

I read this section and was reminded of the gentleness of Christ...it is our gentleness now...he has given in to us. We don't have to scream, cry, moan, yell, or argue...it is his faithfulness that will bring forth justice...Justice is a big deal to Jesus...it should be a big deal to us...justice for the oppressed, the poor, the needy...etc...What are we really doing locally and globally for the cause of justice?

"This is what God the Lord says--he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 'I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.'"

This is our life...he has taken our hand for us to be a light of His glory...The Way of Jesus is not easy, it is counter cultural and more difficult than I ever knew it was before...it isn't comfortable...but at the same time it brings a peace unlike I've ever experienced. Those passages above are telling our story...I want it to me my story...