threads..
When it comes to people one thing is for certain..
We are frail creatures, when not rooted or connected together..
Without relationships we are but a passing shadow..
It is the people and community around us,
that stitch us into the seam of life..
If Christ purchased the church with his blood..
Why are we not willing to live and die for the people around us?
Our investment in the body comes from Christ and his investment in us..
Yet our consumer mentality creates a notion that our church is for us..
Rather us living and dieing for the church.. Yes, the church is not perfect..
But it is for that reason that we need each other to grow..
broken pottery
Man (the species not gender) is futile.
Our hearts can only muster a faint amount of strength on our own..
We search constantly for amusement or fulfillment in order to pass our time..
Yet when all things fade away.. we are left bare and depleted.
Its easy to be disillusioned, by the temporary..
People have spent forever, searching for ways to mask the pain of humanity..
So often I find myself.. pushing, looking, wanting, trying, doing, and failing…
I am easily reminded of my feebleness .. my value lacks the luster of a shiny new coin..
I am tainted, I am bruised, I am broken, I am weak, I am wrong…
Yet in my weakness, I find strength…
A solemn surrender consumes my inner being..
My lack is met with His grace..
As His light burst thru the cracks of my broken pot..
Sheep Dogs
God has been burning this vision of Acts 20:28 on my heart..
During my time as an intern on a Church planting team.. I was able to experience shepherding and discipleship in its purest form. It was understood by the church, that these were responsibilities of everyone. Not just a specific leader or elder, rather each member was expected to look out for one another, and speak in love thru fellowship with the body.
It was amazing to say the least.. I fell so deeply in love with the Church, that I vowed then to be one of the “dirty” workers. The servant that has to get his hands dirty and be ready to act when no one else will.. Thats my heart.. I am a servant to the bride, on behalf of the Bridegroom.
So now, I fast forward to my church of 250+ regular attendees. We have a Pastor, but he is not able to care to the flock as one should. Judging simply by numbers it isnt “impossible” but still unlikely that he can do so in an effective manner. Yet the issue is still their..
People come and go, but who are they? Who knows their names? Who is caring for the couple that recently separated? or the navy wife that just sent her husband off over seas?
These are questions that cant be answered due to lack of knowledge…
As I pray about this, my heart begins to ache… Ive been crying out, that God press His heart for His people onto mine. I want to feel the pain he feels, and experience the joy as well..
So with that said, I have set out to find a few good men. I have been praying to God to lead me to people with the heart for people. I want to meet in a small group structure with the purpose and intent to mobilize leaders to help shepherd the flock.
Tonite was our first meeting. I challenged both men that met, that our purpose is to be “sheep dogs”. A sheep dog is obedient to the Shepherd and acts only on His commands. The role of a sheep dog is to help flock and gather the sheep and lead them to follow the Good Shepherd which is Christ.
I am psyched about this.. and eager to see where this takes us.. but one thing is for certain..
A “Sheep Dog” ministry has begun. And as long as we meet I will challenge everyone that attends to get serious about the Church and shepherd the Community God has placed us in.
So..
Let me start by sharing cool stuff God has let me be apart of…
First off, I am a Youth Leader. I have been involved in my local Youth ministry for about 5 years. About as long as I’ve been in Rhode Island. It has been an awesome experience for me. God has given me a deep love for these teens. It blows my mind to see them mature into Men and Women of God… simply amazing.
I have had the honor of working with Ed (@epichette for twitter folks) who was recently put on staff to be our Youth Pastor… I have seen God grow the ministry in so many ways.. its unbelievable. But things in the Youth have not always been easy. Recently we have decided that the youth needed a change in how we were doing things.
We sensed a stirring of unrest, and a spirit of chaos underlying everything we were trying to accomplish during Youth night. We have since met this resistance with force. Making drastic changes to the way things operate. And crying out to God for His spirit to bring reverence and order to our Youth night.. .. and as always.. God is faithful.. the past 2 weeks have been a good turn around for our kids..
My heart for them has been, to identify and disciple key leaders in the group.
God has stirred my heart to raise up leaders. Especially in the youth, so that they may grow in ownership of the Ministry. Their are kids that lead weather they realize it or not.
If those leaders care, the people around them will follow and also care about what is going on. And the same leadership works in reverse when they choose not to care.
My biggest concern is that the problems we are dealing with in our youth, stem from the adults. Our youth can be used as a spiritual barometer to measure where we as adults are at spiritually.
You
Past few days God has been pressing on my heart a specific vision..
My overall vision is that God consume His Church “big C” with a passion for Community.
Community which consist of each person connected with one another thru the Love and Sacrifice that Christ has on our behalf. A connection that cuts thru the superficial motions of sunday morning or weekly gathering. Rather digs into the everyday joy and hardships of each others lives. Cultivated by authentic relationships with one another that are built on our genuine love for Him.
My focus for this vision is simple… Its starts with You.
I am going to commit to labor in prayer for You. That God will continue to work in your heart drawing you closer and closer to Him each and every step you take.
I would like to meet with You, have coffee, share a meal, pray for one another, laugh with one another, and sacrifice for one another. . ..
I am convinced that if Our lives is set on fire for God, He will carry us unto the ends of the earth. But it must first begin here and now.
delight
Tossing and turning..
looking and searching..
wanting and needing..
There I find it.. under a pile of stuff, burried in the corner of a closet..
I take it out, and gently clean it off.. Inspecting the exterior for damage..
As I gently open the cover, I reminisce of the moments I spent so dearly with it..
The time and heart I vested was sacrificial, but the reward was immeasurable.
As I open the cover, and turn the pages I see marks and milestones that recorded each battle and victory… I see comments of comfort, followed by scars of pain..
Light fills each page.. Words drip with life..
powerful, immovable, refreshing…
Its all about changed lives..
A few friends from church sharing their testimony.. 
everything?
Days grow thin.. time closes in..
I reflect on the events of the previous year.. and am greatly humbled..
I hear the words of Solomon.. “Everything is Meaningless..” and I think to myself..
everything?
The only worth we have, in life is found in Him.. to live any other way is meaningless.. I want to strive for hardcore discipleship.. radical transformation.. revolutionary love.. I want my heart to be a burning bush.. in which God cries out.. ” I AM”.. this is my heart ..
Im tired of pettling in meaningless affairs.. or endless sin cycle.
I am desperate.. weak.. feeble.. my life is nothing on its own.. I am but a breath.. a passing shadow.. from earth we were formed.. and to earth we will return.. Our time on earth is but a fraction to eternity..
So I find myself.. in a state of confused surrender.. knowing I am powerless.. but unaware of what to do.. as I lift my head.. I see Him.. beckoning me.. extending His hand in exchange for one thing..
my trust
light
So tonite while in prayer during our Youth Meeting..
A light when on in my head..
“Purity gives you Freedom to share Gods Love and Joy.”
It hit me like a ton of bricks.. only cause freedom is something that we long for from sin. Yet sin has a way of sticking around.. no matter how hard we try, it is always there. Only because it is apart of our flesh, and it wages war against our spirit.
Freedom for me has been something that is always on the forefront, and never something I have lived perpetually in. Yes, I share moments of freedom and revelation.. but still I manage to somehow fall.. weather it be through anger, lust, bitterness, skepticism, pride.. There are so many ways to sin, and only ONE way to be saved.
I guess this thought gave me hope.. only because the freedom I need, is the freedom to love. And Sin gets in the way of that. So by being pure of mind, and heart.. I can freely express that which God has given graciously to me.
I can imagine the countenance of the pure of heart, and I hear the psalms echo in my mind.
What joy awaits for those who are pure of heart.. who takes His Word as their delight. Blessed is HE says the Lord.. He shall not stumble, nor shall he want. His heart shall be steadfast upon the Lord.. meditating day and night on HIS principles..
The contenance of this man, is one of peace, love, strength, and humilty.. Like a tree planted along the river, whose roots grow strong, one whos leaves shall never weather, one that will bear fruit in due season, and one prospers in all that he does..
