לביאה לישו

I’m sitting here in the Union thinking about how cold it is outside. 

I dread walking outside my cheeks are burning just thinking about it.

In fact, I’m kind of protesting the cold because I did not wear a coat and I’m wearing flip flops instead of socks/shoes.

Eventually, this type of clothing/behavior renders me ineffective because I’m stuck trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. 

Kind of like church. 

Square peg —> Round hole?

Or is church about more than ease of use? Is worship supposed to be difficult? Should “getting into the Spirit” prove to be a ritual in order for us to prepare our thoughts and bodies for God’s presence?

Or does Jesus welcome a believer who has no ability to go to a church service/building, or has no concept of the culture of American Christianity, warts and all?

Perhaps we shouldn’t try to convert people twice…once into believers, and again into our culture.

Instead we must grasp a hold of the fact that the Holy Spirit of God DWELLS in US.

That Jesus is among/within his people who gather.

Luke 20:17 ain’t lyin’.

It’s taken a while to realize what “being the church” really means. It means getting our hands dirty with those few who are close to us, and digging through real life issues together. It means crying and laughing, being so close one could call your group a family. It makes worship effortless and crazy, daring and more intimate. It makes Communion a time of fellowship with the Spirit of God in each other. It means sharpening each other…sometimes this looks like tension and unease, but with God, nothing is wasted. 

I think I’m starting to understand what Jesus meant when he said “wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among/within them.” And why he sent them out two by two into villages. 

When God is urging me to act, and I hesitate, it’s great to have a fellow traveller say, “Go for it.”

And when I’m being silly and resisting the cold, someone who is my brother or sister in Christ can say, “What are you doing?!” And we can laugh at my freezing toes.

Or when I need reproach or a shoulder to cry on, my spiritual family can be there for me. Amen! (May it be). 

And so I’m glad to say that my “church” is a synonym for my “friends” or “encouragers” or “teachers” or “family” or “peers” or “debate-partners” or, most of all, “life-partners.”

Thanks, friends for being my church.

Love, 

Kelly

I’m creating this blog to share with everyone about the wonderful things God is teaching me!!! Ah! JEsus you are so so good:) 

I’ll probably upload pics, albums, essays, quotes, and stories about God’s love. Yay! 

I am loved by the Almighty! Yes yes! And so are you, my friend!

Let’s start this journey…