Where do you see God? Does He ever seem far? Out of sight?
Look up.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
How do you see God? Is He loving? Is He faithful? Is He silent? Is He distant?
How we see God is directly related to how God see us.
To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
Psalm 18:25-26
How does God see you?
May we be found faithful, blameless, and pure.
Today after our worship services we invited our neighbors in the apartments across the street to join us for a BBQ. The event included a children's program put on by BTown Kids of Bridgetown Ministries. The kids loved it!
It was a great time of getting to know our neighbors and being able to bless them with a good meal, children's program, free school supplies, snow cones, face painting, etc. We hope to do a lot more of this in the days ahead.
To night in my fair town of Sherwood was an awesome display of the Church doing what it ought. "Sounds of Hope" took place. "Sounds of Hope" was a free benefit concert for AIDS orphans sponsored by SherwoodChurches.org a network of churches in our city committed to reaching our city as well as the world...together.
They brought in Bryan Duncan & The Neosoul Band and they rocked the park! It was a great night of music with an even greater purpose. The goal was to raise personal awareness about the 15 million AIDS orphans and to raise $15,000 and 50 child sponsorships for World Vision.
It was such a great display of the faith community of Sherwood standing together to make a difference; the very thing the world needs to see more of.
As I spent time alone with God this morning He had me in Psalm 13. David, the author, was amazing. In the midst of intense struggle and anguish, he kept his trust in his God.
There was a period in my life in which I was anguishing in the circumstances that God had me in. They seemed hopeless. Life seemed completely out of control. I recall the times in which I was tempted to thrust my fist at God in anger and just give up; to walk away from the God who allowed me to go through those days of sorrow. I am thankful I chose differently.
How long, O Lord?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
I wondered some of those very things. I shared in David's struggle. When faced with pain, sorrow, and confusion we wonder where is God. Does He even care?
David's conclusion is beautiful.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me.
David did not thrust his fist at God, rather he placed his
trust in Him. May we never forget that God is the potter and we the clay. His purposes are beautiful. His purposes produce glory when we allow Him to mold us into what He desires. May we always trust.
The new Robbie Seay Band album "Give Yourself Away" is being released to stores on August 28, but you can get it now for free! Relevant Magazine is offering a free download of the entire album until Friday. All you need to do is sign up for a couple of newsletters and it's yours! Go here to get yours! Free is a very good price!
HT to Joshua Michael
Community is like a large mosaic. Each little piece seems so insignificant. One piece is bright red, another cold blue or dull green, another warm purple, another sharp yellow, another shining gold. Some look precious, others ordinary. Some look valuable, others worthless. Some look gaudy, others delicate. As individuals stones, we can do little with them except compare them and judge their beauty and value. When, however, all these little stones are brought together in one big mosaic portraying the face of Christ, who would ever question the importance of any one of them? If one of them, even the least spectacular one, is missing, the face is incomplete. Together in the one mosaic, each little stone is indispensable and makes a unique contribution to the glory of God. That's community, a fellowship of little people who together make God visible in the world.
- Henry Nouwen
Over the last year God has really been growing my interest in and compassion for the poor. He has shown me that it is the poor that are closest to His heart, and should be ours as well.
In Mexico we had many thought provoking and challenging conversations about the poor. I am sure I will be posting some of my thoughts in the days ahead.
Below is a great video of Michael Frost offering his thoughts on Jesus, the poor, and the church. Very compelling.
HT to Rodney Olsen for the video.
Most all our Mexico Outreach pictures are now online. Click here to see them. Watch for the video coming soon to a post near you!
Yesterday we returned from our Mexico outreach. To say that I am proud of our team would be an understatement. It was such a joy to see each of them emptying themselves and serving with such enthusiasm. Each of us came away from the experience with a deeper faith, and with a greater love and compassion for the poor.
During our time there we discussed how Christ calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. As we were obedient to God's call in our lives to go and bless the people of Mexico, we took up our cross and followed. We discussed how easy it would be to leave our crosses in the community we were ministering in, or leave our crosses at the border as we left Mexico. Some may even be tempted to leave their crosses at home when we returned. It would be easy to think our mission has been accomplished. Instead it is our desire to see it as just the beginning. God desires that each of us live our lives daily on mission for Him. He drove that home to our team in so many ways over the course of our time. It is our desire to live such lives. Our mission has not ended, it has only begun.
A highlight of our time was constructing a house for a very wonderful and needy family. What a blessing it was to be a part of giving such an incredible gift. The family of five is posing with us in this picture.
I'm sure I will have much more to share in the days to ahead. In the meantime I and the family our now on vacation in San Clemente. We will be spending some much needed time together on the beach and in the surf. If you click here you just might see us.
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