The Lord has had me in what I like to call an “emotional bubble” for the past few years - this to allow me to heal and to grow. My life has been pretty much devoid of any trauma – relational or otherwise – for around 3 years. Well… said bubble has burst.
It’s not so bad, really. I was wondering what it would be like, but even though some pretty intense, tough things have happened lately, I really am ok. He has brought me through it all, and I am transformed – changed – made more into His likeness – and that is worth the cost of it all. In less than 2 weeks, lives have been lost, friendships have been strengthened and affirmed, and most importantly, He has trusted me to be obedient in some seriously intense situations – and through that obedience, lives have been touched and changed by Him. My relationship with Him has changed. It’s grown and deepened and gotten way more intimate than I anticipated. But intimacy with Christ is what it’s all about, right?
This thought has been circling in me for 3 days or so – and was beautifully summed up by my pastor in prayer tonight at the Ring. We are praying to be burdened for the lost within our community – for opportunities to be Christ in the lives that we are allowed to touch. Josh prayed that he realized that when he withholds his love from others, he is actually withholding HIS love from others. Puts things into perspective, don’t you think? I could not stay in the bubble and be all that I am to be in the lives of those I love, in the lives of my coworkers, in the lives of my neighbors. Our love for others is an overflow of our love for Him:
Mark 12:30-31
30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'[f] 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[g]There is no commandment greater than these."
Matthew 9:35-38 is the reference point:
35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
In case you have noticed the countdown, and don’t have a clue what it’s about – please allow me to fill you in. We, the Ring Community Church, are bathing the last 30 days leading up to the official launch of the church in prayer. Will you pray with us?
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