The Church

        I have been blessed by the Church.

After the fire I was immediately surrounded by family and friends and supported in a way I’ve never experienced before.  There is so much I want to say and so many things to be thankful for that I’m finding it hard where to begin...

There’s this crazy thing that God does - He sets people apart.  Set apart.  From Adam and Eve to Noah to Abraham and onward, God is pursuing a people who are devoted to Him.  In the Old Testament we had prophets and kings and messengers to tell us about God.  Jesus came and told us about God directly and then he mobilized his disciples and told them that there was work left to do.  He sent them out and they reached as far as they could, sharing with as many people as would hear.  The message spread like a wild fire.

Before long these followers of Jesus earned a nickname - “The Way.”  They were following the way, the truth, and the life, and they were experiencing the power of God.  It was the power to change them and to change those around them.  Two thousand years later, nothing has changed.

God’s grace and love are seen powerfully in the church.  Whether it be leading missionaries across the world or changing the life of a repentant heart right here at home, God’s love is redeeming His church and empowering them to stand together as a people “set apart.”  The Church is a city on a hill, a great light in the midst of darkness.

There are many things wrong in this world, but we have the power to make things better and to shed some light and truth to even the darkest places.  If our relationships with God were only meant to be personal business we would lose the Christian community.  But since we have been commanded to love others and share God’s love with them, we can form that Christian community everywhere - there are no boundaries - it’s for everyone everywhere!

The support I received this week was an extension of Christ’s love.  It’s as simple as that.  When I was in need, you supported me.  I am unspeakably grateful.

I think there must be some bit of blessing in every bit of suffering.  God won’t waste a struggle if you respond to what He is trying to do with you.  Treat everything as an opportunity to be faithful.

Because of the FIRE, I learned that nothing is as valuable as a soul.  It’s the only thing we keep with us and our treasure in heaven far outweighs our trinkets here on earth.  God provides for us here but He is always drawing our gaze heaven-ward, back toward Him.

Because of the CHURCH, I have been reminded of how good God is.  It’s the truest form of love when you look to others before yourself.  It was hard for me to accept some of the help I was given this week.  I don’t like admitting that I’m in need.  I wanted to give something back (but only because I didn’t want to feel like what I was receiving was unmerited).  I will always give back to the Church, to the people, whenever I can, but this was a time for me to receive, and that was difficult at times.

Why is it difficult to receive such generous help when I’m in need?  I think the answer may be the same reason I can struggle to accept God’s grace - It’s unmerited and it was given to me without me choosing it.  In the end, I needed it and it was given in faith.  Just as God is always faithful, we extend His love by practicing our faith.  It takes faith to give but it also takes faith to receive.  That’s what I learned.

Thank you for the love and support you’ve shown me.  That fire was nothing compared to your love, to God’s love.  The love you showed me will never be forgotten.  Our treasure is always in heaven.

I pray you’ll be encouraged.  Treat everything as a chance to be faithful.

Don’t just go to church.  Be the church.