MOVEMENTS—you sure you want to be a part of one?

I follow the Catalyst Blog and today's post struck home with me. This topic has been on my mind and I wanted to share Dave Gibbons' recent post with you.
Movements are more than temporary hype; they are meant to be a deep-rooted hunger that drives and motivates change.
Enjoy!

MOVEMENTS—you sure you want to be a part of one?


August 27, 2011

Movements.

One thought emerged as I was running the streets of Soho and Mid-town this early morning sparked by a friend a couple days ago as we were discussing the book of Acts: radical, city-wide, transforming, supernatural movements are not about our innovative, nicely packaged strategies and slick nomenclature. Perhaps not even our publicly bold, loud proclamations or initiatives. They are quietly accomplished by loving people who plant, unseen seeds of revolution in the fertile soil of poverty, suffering, chaos. They regularly water this soil with their own blood.

Death always precedes the true resurrection of a city. Rarely, does one talk about the martyrdom of Stephen being part of a strategic move of God in the transformation of Ephesus. It's not as sexy.

God, how must I die today? Maybe it's apologizing to those I've hurt or seeking human intersection beyond a digital screen. Maybe it means dying to material desires or my culture's idea of success? Maybe it means cleaning that elderly person's house down the street or buying a week's worth of groceries for her? Perhaps I need to share our home with another family or a group of singles and really do "small groups" like it was meant to be done.

Maybe the boldness is not done as much in public today but in a quiet sanctum in the city, one-on-one, prostrate before our God, alone with Him, basking in His luminous grace, grateful for the abundance in our lives, yet pleading for more miracles in our cities.

Perhaps the movement starts to grow as those who love Jesus really live like they love each other without strings. Movements and miracles happen as a result of the Spirit's initiative and as a result of humble, loving activists responding to His moves not initiating it with audacious talk or loud fanfare. Otherwise, the movement becomes like a singular pop of a firecracker not the roar of a blazing firestorm.

Dave Gibbons, Creative and Cultural Advisor. Author of XEALOTS and award winning book, Monkey and the Fish.

Follow Dave at www.twitter.com/davegibbons and www.XELOT.NET

Take joy in Jonah Days

Ever have a week of Mondays? You know, those weeks where it's Tuesday & it feels like it already should be a Friday? Awful week? Long exhausting days when crawling under a desk & crying sounds like the best option?

That's me.

Monday was a "jonah day."  I was exhausted. Stressed out to the point of making myself sick. Worried about the how's, when's & where's. I could not calm myself down. I tried praying. I tried talking about it.  I tried thinking about it. I tried not thinking about it. Nothing was working. As I drove home at the end of the work day,  I turned down the radio and began to pray. It wasn't a long prayer. It wasn't an authoritive prayer. It was simply a plea to my Heavenly Father.

 "Jesus, I need peace. I need inspiration. I need calm. I need wisdom. I know that it will work out  as You plan but I need help in the meantime."

Done-Simple prayer.  And guess what? I didn't feel instant peace. I didn't become instantly wise concerning the future. But I did feel reassurance that it was all going to work out. And it is...
This morning I woke up, still stressed and still sickly, but as I went through my daily devotional time I read this scripture.

18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. 19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. -Psalms 94:18-19

I can take joy in knowing that HE (my Savior, my Deliverer, my Shelter, my Rock, my Fortress) is watching out for me. When I feel overwhelmed by current events, emotional distress, mental anguish...etc. I can take joy in knowing HE is still there, even during my jonah days.

5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. -Psalms 27:5



God-Based Dreams

   Yesterday I heard someone speak about their biggest dreams and aspirations. I listened as they listed a few of the things they would like to accomplish then I realized all of their dreams were God-based. Based, as in the foundation or source... God was the foundation or the source of each dream. Each goal or aspiration was something God would have to do in or through them. So the speaker started me thinking, what are some God-based dreams in my life? Dreams that I couldn't accomplish but through Him.

1. I want to be a part of a miracle. I don't want glory or recognition but I want to know God used me to perform a miracle.
2. I want to be a part of international revival. I want to be there and see the hundreds receiving the Holy Ghost. I want to see their lives forever changed.
3. I want God to use my words & actions to positively change a life. I want Him to do a work though me and because of that work, change someone else.

I want the humanly impossible to become divinely possible in my life.

Matthew 19:26

 ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said to them,

“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

To my Bro,...

   Tomorrow around 11AM my brother, Bryan will leave Arkansas and head down south to Louisiana for a 3 month internship. Yes, it's only three months. Yes, I realize it's only Louisiana, my other home-state, the place I visit monthly. But it's my brother! I'm going to miss him and his cheesy, annoying ways. So this post is dedicated to my brother, Bryan.

Bryan:

Remember that time we climbed the tree next to the house & realized we could swing out onto the roof? Oh, how we would run across the roof desperately trying to get off the roof before Mom & Dad could catch us.

Remember the time Disney hosted some sort of music marathon and the three siblings danced like the crazy fools we are. Dad & Mom captured each move on video camera. I wonder what happened to that video? I'd pay money to see you dancing like a Russian across the living room only to accidentally kick J in the head. Oh, poor J... all the times we picked on her and still do. *fist bump*

Remember the time you found that piece of calf? .... *snicker* Remember Mom's face?

Remember when we called (and occasionally still do) you Chubbers Horatio Verdabelle?

Remember the time I told you Ben-Gay was just the thing to take care of a wicked sunburn? And you believed me? Sorry for laughing during your pain... It's a genetic disorder I inherited from Mom.

Remember the night we stayed up late watching movies (sappy chick movies) and wore facial masks. Poor Dad,... I'm sure we (by we I mean you) concerned him.

Remember that night you walked into my room and sat in the ugly chair and talked for an hour or more about the girl of your dreams, some chick ? See...told 'ja it would work out.

Remember the talks we had regarding my relationships? Thanks for all the advice and for not calling me an idiot. Well, I take that back,... you did call me an idiot. But thanks for listening to me whine about boyz (yes, we said boys with a z).

Remember when I officially asked you to be my future Man of Honor? You cried accepted graciously.

Remember the time you preached for the first time? I cried. I was that proud. And I still get slightly emotional each time you speak because I'm watching you live out your calling and dream. Not too many sisters best friends get to see that happen.

Remember how you came & told me that you were going to apply for the POA Internship? I was (and still am) so happy for you. But I must confess that I was also slightly jealous and sad at the same time. 1) Jealous because you are going off to live your dream in one of my favourite places in the world and 2) because you won't be here,...and I will be lonely.


Thank you Bryan, for being the best big, little brother/best friend any sister could ask for.
I'm excited for you, Beau. Now, have fun at POA and kick tail... well, as much tail as you can kick at a ministry internship...

Love you much,...
-Rae

Hymns

    I love old things. I'm a sucker for flea markets and antique malls. I can't help myself.

Books, clothes, glassware and music... I just love the old (current term is vintage) things.

With all of those things I've mentioned, I also love old hymns.

Those hymns bring back memories of those who have gone on before...

of  Evie Williams and her love of hats,

of Mr. Burrows and his warm smile,

and of a small country church in Clinton, AR.

Those hymns remind me of hot camp meeting nights,

of tambourines and a passionately played piano,

of hand-clapping and toe tapping,

and of bobby pins and liberally used cologne.

The sounds of those hymns recall to mind,

the tinny notes played during the introduction of  "I'll fly away",

the enthusicastic wheezing of an old organ during "Just over in the Gloryland",

and the whole-hearted singing of a congregation during, "At the Cross."

Yes, I love the old hymns.

They feel me with a heavenly hope.

The same hope once felt by the elders of old.

The divine pull towards a home on another shore.

Until that blessed hope is realized, I will continue singing,...

When we all get to heaven,

what a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus,

we'll sing and shout the victory!

Hypocrisy: a lie in action

"Hypocrisy: a lie in action- the legacy of indecency."

No one likes a hypocrite. No one enjoys a two-faced character. No one wants to be lied to.

  Last week I listened as I heard a couple of individuals discuss a person they felt to be a hypocrite.This person professed to be a Christian but acted unchristian. Because of this proven reputation, the person has damaged any chance of successfully influencing those around them. As I listened to their words regarding this particular individual, all I could think was, "God, don't let me ever become like that. Check me if I start to become a hypocrite." 

 In Matthew 23, Jesus talks about the hypocrites during that time and he warns that we need to worry about the "inside of the cup" as well as the outside. I need to worry about my spiritual state rather than what everyone can see.

Matthew 23:1-7

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

Matthew 23:25-26

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

I can't get caught up in acting the part. There can be no acting, just an authentic walk with God. I must be the God-follower I profess to be.  Real. Raw. Authentic.

Abide in the Vine

Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV


11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

This passage was my Thursday Word for the day,... and it's wrecking me. It frightens me because it applies to me. "you no longer try to understand,..." OUCH! Have I stopped searching, learning, yearning after the Word and the Creator of the Word? Am I where God intended me to be in my spiritual growth? Am I still in infancy when I should be in adulthood? Have I stunted my growth?

Last night in Element Service, Michael Cena spoke to us about "abiding in the vine." You are either apart of the Vine or you're not. You can't have it both ways and the Word is plain on what happens to branches that fail to produce the fruit of the Vine.

John 15:5-6

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
I can't allow myself to be stunted. I have to kept growing and nuturing my walk with God. I must grow into the Vine and not allow anything to uproot me. I cannot become useless. I must keep growing... I must keep trying to understand...