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Community || These Days

November 12, 2014
What would this blog be without some of my favorite people showing up now and then on here?!?! Meet the community group – at least the ones who made it into this picture. We started four years ago and have continued gathering every Tuesday night since then. 
We have had our good fill of sweet moments – engagements, weddings, pregnancy announcements, birthday parties, baby showers, home warming parties, hospital visits the day the newest members joined the study, and baby dedications!  
But we have also had our bitter moments – job frustrations, miscarriages, deaths of loved ones, home disappointments, financial woes, and heart aches. 
Guys. Life is beautiful and messy and new and broken all at the same time. The sweet moments should be celebrated and enjoyed but the bitter moments shouldn’t make us forget the sweetness. The beautiful thing about the Lord is that He can use those bitter moments to grow us, to heal us, to create beautiful things. 
Life is not easy but when you have people who are there in the sweetness and the bitterness, it is not as hard. This is what the body of Christ is meant to be – what we are called to be fore each other. A support system, who rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. 

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. – Romans 12: 9 – 16

My prayer for you today is that you open you heart to be hospitable. That you seek friendships and community in the people around you. You need them and they need you. Together the body of Christ is strong & untied. Praying that your eyes will be open to the people around you, that your heart would be softened, and that you will live in harmony.

None of us in this community group are perfect. We are flawed and daily need God’s grace. But we are dedicated to each other and dedicated to the Lord. And even in our brokenness, the Lord can use us to shine Him. What a beautiful thing redemption is!

HERE’S TO PEOPLE THAT ARE MORE LIKE FAMILY
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Samara
10 years ago

Have you heard of Soma Church? They're all about Missional Communities as a way to introduce people to the love of Christ and support one another through life. They see small groups as more than just meeting once a week but actually sharing life together- it sounds kind of like what you guys are doing. I thought you may find some of their teachings helpful (if you haven't heard of them before)- their leader Jeff Vandersteldt does some great sermons over at wearesoma.com

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Amanda G.
10 years ago

Thank you for your beautiful words about community. I loved how you said its beautiful and messy all at the same time and the people we choose to share everything with only helps us grow in God's grace. Exactly what I needed to read today 🙂

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Kendra Castillo
10 years ago

You are so right! There is nothing better than community. We have been with our group of friends for 5 yrs and now are moving. Which is painful to say goodbye but exciting to know that those people that you have shared life with will always be there.

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