Worship...that's what's up.

I am pumped.

Tonight is Relationship Church's first official youth group worship night.

My life group - which meets on Wednesday nights -gets to jump in, help serve, and worship with this group of teenagers.

Being a part of a church that just launched a year ago, I love being able to serve and watch as God blesses and grows Relationship Church. Tonight will just be another example of His faithfulness.

I would love for you to come visit us at RC. We're just sinners saved by the grace of an awesome God who sent His Son to die for us and rise again so that we can have a daily relationship with Him. We're just trying to help people follow Jesus.

How do you SERVE?

At this point in my life, I realize fresh each day that my life isn't just for me. I need to use each day to make a difference in the world, to encourage, to build up, to serve...To make an impact for eternity. It's easy when it's easy. But when it requires me to reach out of my comfort zone or give up my time it becomes a little harder.

So I'm always looking for ways to serve. Opportunities to minister. Little moments throughout the day that God puts in my life to use me. A smile. A kind word. A listening ear. A prayer of support. An opportunity to give. A chance to show mercy and grace.

So many times I miss those moments. I throw away opportunities. I chicken out. I don't feel like I serve enough. I'm still far from giving my life, my time, my resources for God like I should...

So I want to know more ways to serve. I'd love to hear how you serve. In your church. In your community. What organizations you serve with. Creative ways you serve. Every day. On occasion. Using your talents. Giving of your time.

Leave a note below or comment on my facebook post. How do you serve?

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, 

faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 

1 Peter 4:10

Pray big.

I realize I write about my relationship with God a lot. And I have to take a moment to say that yes, I write about it a lot. It's important to me. And it's important to me that I do my best to let Him speak through me to others. It's my voice of ministry.

But I want you to know that I'm not a great Christian. Sometimes I question Him. I debate with Him. I am confused by Him. I don't know Him like I should. I don't feel Him like I should. I don't read His Word like I should.

And I don't talk to Him like I should. 

I don't pray like I need to. And when I do I get distracted. Or feel like I'm not going deep enough. Praying specifically enough. Praying hard enough. Not putting enough heart into it. Not believing enough, trusting enough, caring enough.

At church this month we're reading The Circle Maker, and our sermon series is on the power of prayer. Encouraging us to pray bigger. Pray longer. Pray harder.

Knowing that I fall short in this area and feeling the need for Derrick and I to both focus, pray big, and connect spiritually, I came up with a weekly prayer calendar for the next 28 days. Just a few days in, and it has already been such a blessing. Just hanging out with God together, talking to Him together, verbalizing our thanks, our praises, our fears, and dreams together...

I encourage all of you to set aside a time to pray specifically - alone, with a friend, with your spouse, with a family member. Pray big. He's bigger.

 

I've included our weekly prayer calendar for inspiration. Feel free to steal the idea! 

Sunday 

 Pray for work, our jobs, our careers, and the week ahead

Monday 

 Pray for our marriage, our home, our family

Tuesday 

Pray for the Jones'/Greens' Family

Wednesday 

Pray for unsaved family and friends, for spiritual growth

Thursday 

Pray for the Johnson Family

Friday 

 Pray for our friends

Saturday 

 Pray for Relationship Church, for church growth, for our church family, for the sermon the next day

The same Father...

I am blessed. I never doubt that. But this weekend I was reminded of a blessing that I hope to never forget. A blessing I would wish upon everyone.

The blessing of Christian friends. 

There's an awesome connection with Christians. When those who truly love the Lord come together. When you meet someone who gets it.  Who has been redeemed. Who has a relationship with the Author of life. Who understands that our purpose is bigger than just us. Who love and is in love with their Savior.

I think it's because we have the same Father. We're brothers and sisters in Him. We understand a different purpose. We're redeemed and called by Him. And - another really awesome thing - we'll get to be friends forever (and not in the 5th grade bff kinda way). No matter where this life takes us, we will meet again.

I feel this connection with my group of high school friends. Life has taken us down many different paths, but we are always joined by prayer. Purpose. Memories. A deep love for each other. We see God's hand in our love stories. We pray for patience through Him as we struggle to find jobs. We cry together but know that this isn't the end when we suffer loss. And we rejoice when miracles happen.

I felt this a few years ago when I was meeting a whole new group of people to celebrate a friends wedding....and, despite not knowing them, I felt at home when we joined together to pray blessings on her upcoming marriage.

I feel this every time I get together with my church family...To pray. To hang out. To worship. To laugh and share. No matter what we're talking about - God and His purpose and His provision naturally fits into the conversation. We know there will be struggle. There will be tears. There will be pain. We we know He works all things together for good for those who love Him.

I feel this when Derrick and I have dinner or go boating or meet up after months with our best friends. There's an understanding of church family, an understanding of ministering to others, an understanding of the frustrations and freedom and blessings and God-things that come from being a child of His. We have fun together and make memories together and have crazy conversations together - but never feel pressure to conform to the world. Just freedom to live our lives. It's more than friendship. It's family.

All of this leaves me in awe. I didn't have a steady church family growing up. And my extended family wasn't the "let's get together to pray about this" kinda family (not like Karen Kingsbury's Baxter family).... I pray for them constantly, because I want them to know this joy. I want them to be a part of my bigger family. My forever family.

I'd dare say this is one of the reasons God ordained the church. Yes, it's a place of worship. Of dedication. Of growth. Of service. But it's also a place of family. Of comfort. Of support. He wanted His children to lean on each other, love each other, pray for each other...work together and play together. 

What a blessing it is to know Him! And share Him!

But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” 

Matthew 12:48-50

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, 

and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:25

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, 

God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

 1 John 4:12

So we, though many, are one body in Christ, 

and individually members one of another.

Romans 12: 5

If you don't know Him as your Savior and Father, I invite you to talk to Him today. Tell Him that you realize you're a sinner, but you also realize that He sent His Son to save and redeem You. Feel His freedom and start living for Him today!

Maybe you are a child of God's, but you don't know the blessings of being an active member of a church family. I would encourage you to visit some churches and find the one that is right for you. I would love for you to visit my church - Relationship Church!