The right people

Well today at "church" we talked about two of my all time favorite Bible stories. Jonathon and his armor bearer and Moses with Aaron and Hur. Both really good instances of God's people coming together.

That is something that has become very important to me. There are instances throughout history that God did something that was all on His own, pillar of fire, burning bush, those things. But more often we see God doing miracles through His people. I have seen people do things that are not normal, they are weird in a God way.

A point driven home in this mornings experience.

Who are the top five voices speaking in to your life?

When the right people, gather together for the right reasons, God shows up and the right things happen.

I believe one thing to remember is we have to be intentional about these relationships. We need to pray about them, that God would use our relationships. That we would not take them for granted, even when words might not be what we wanted to hear. Relationships require effort, pray God would give us the time to get together, to allow many opportunities, Facebook, twitter, or texting, to hear these voices. That God would open up our hearts to hear, and understand even the deep things of God.

The "Church" needs to realize that its not the building you meet in. The church is meeting all the time. When you get together at someones house, at the coffee shop, when you're shopping and run into a brother or sister in Christ. The "Church" is together.

More churches should push people out of the walls of buildings and into the world to meet. To be an example to our neighbors, to our friends, to the world. We do not hide our Christianity behind the walls of a building like it's some supernatural club.

Our church has a saying.....

We are spiritual contributors not spiritual consumers. The church does not exist for us. We are the church and we exist for the world.

Hope you all have a great week. Love- David.

God only knows....

Over the past few weeks I have seen a lot of things change around me. And I don't "DO" change. But we all must face changes throughout our lives. Why somethings happen the way the do we'll never know, at least til we see God.

If you have ever been around a serious professional cabinet maker they are meticulous. It is almost annoying the level of perfection that they shoot for. An 1/8 of an inch variance is too much. They have a design that is custom built for the specific location, in a specific room, with no tolerance for error. In the process of making the cabinet every thing is thought our, drawn out, measured twice, cut once, laid out, finish sanded, then stained. It is amazing to watch the process from start to finish. Many times the things being cut don't even look like they belong to what they are doing, but they bring it all together.

I am watching friends struggle through circumstances that seem almost cruel. When we serve a God that can take care of any problem, why does this go on? Whether it is the slow, painful loss of watching the aged or the sudden loss of an young army Specialist. Why do these things go on?

Earlier I said, "Many times the things being cut don't even look like they belong to what they are doing, but they bring it all together." We have walked smack dab into the middle of a cabinet being built by the best of the best. There is no error made. But when I look in to the situation I cannot tell the good from the waste nor the top from the bottom. All I can see saws cutting, nail guns being fired. wood being piled up. I don't know whats going on. I can even go look at the plan, but still might not understand it all. Except for, maybe, the picture of the finished product.

Much the same is our limited view of what God is doing here. What he is doing in your life. We have such little understanding and our perception is not always accurate.

I would love to pray for you specfically in what circumstance you find yourself in. Comment or email me. Love in Christ-David. lyonsseeking@gmail.com

Ephesians 2:10¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1 Corinthians 3:9⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Why do you?

Most of you know that my wife and I attend Lifechurch.tv. We, our whole family, love it there. It is quite the atmosphere. We love the people, we love the worship, we love the opportunities to serve.  But today something odd happened.

Every week my family and many others, greet people, welcoming the masses on to the campus of Lifechurch.tv-Stillwater. After we are done with this "greeting" we have a "huddle". All the Host Team (other greeters, people that drive golf carts, make drinks, etc.) gather around for a word from our leader, prayer requests, pertinent information, and summed up with a prayer. But today,,,,,,,,today was different.

Today we were given little cards about the size of an index card 3 x 5 inches. On one card was simply to update our contact information. The second, and what gets this blogger's attention was for this. "Write down why you serve." Hmmm, all on one card, can I do front and back, and  by the way I need time to process that question! Were all the thoughts that raced through my mind. Did I mention I might over analyze? Out of the dozen or so people in our huddle, 8 were done by the time the short little prayer was over. That left the awkward 4.

I searched my limited vocabulary for the words I needed, my train of thought was still at the boarding station. I was able to respond with "to demonstrate the love of Christ through action, and to teach the importance of serving to our family."

But there was this scripture that immediately came to mind.

1 John 3:16-18

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Love in Action

 ¹⁶ This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us.

We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. 

¹⁷ If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion ⁽from him—how can God's love reside in him? ^(G)

    ¹⁸ Little children, we must not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth;

Now I am not standing at the doors handing out things of mine to the people that walk through the doors. But I do have something, If you're reading this I hope you have it too. The love of Christ. 

I like what Peter says in Acts.3:6

 ⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

That's where I want to be in serving. Meeting the needs of people they don't even realize they have.  To be bold with the love and power of Christ our risen Saviour.

Love in Christ- David