The benefit of togetherness

Recently I had the opportunity to work with a few people on a special project.  I didn’t know these individuals before we started, but at the end of the project I felt a special connection that I did not have when we began. As we worked together on a common goal, we had opportunities to get to know one another. Today, I can honestly say, we are friends.

Have you noticed, in your own life, how true bonds of relationship form when you are devoted to a common work or goal?

This is so true in our faith journey as well.  We can sit beside the same person week after week at church on Sunday morning, yet we don’t start to build relationships with them until we work together on something.  Maybe in a ministry, like KidsZone or a building project, or a missions project, or being involved in the same small group studying God’s Word together.

In Acts 2 of the New Testament we are told:

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

And here’s what happened as a result:

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

When we work with each other, that’s when we have the opportunity to learn from each other and support one another. That’s when life change happens.  That’s when our faith journey’s intersect and we begin to grow. The world we live in today strongly promotes independence, and yet all the Biblical communities supported togetherness.  Of course we need to take responsibility for our own faith, but it’s also imperative for us to build relationships and form bonds with others, so that we can grow together as God intended. Together.

Radiant

I have a dear friend who is going through a horrific battle with cancer. She is a faithful woman of God and every time I speak with her I am humbled by the joy of the Lord that she exudes. She is radiant.

In Psalm 34: 3-4 David writes,

I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivers me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

David wrote this when he pretended to be insane in front of King Achish of the Philistines.  It’s a crazy story.  David was running from Saul, who was relentlessly chasing him. So what does David do? He hids in land of Saul’s enemy. He soon ends up trapped, Saul behind him and Aschish, King of the Philistines before him.

The question I ask is why would he go there in the first place? Perhaps he thought hiding in the land of Saul’s enemy was a good idea to keep his crazy father in law off his scent …sounds like a logical and strategic plan, right?  So when he faces his enemy he knew he was in trouble so he pretended to be insane and they let him go.  Basically saying, “We don’t have any room for another crazy person, we have too many already!”

God is Good… because it could have gone very differently.

A peace came to David and he said…

I sought the Lord and he answered me;

I love this!!  If we seek the Lord, the Lord will answer.  So often in life, rather than seeking God, we try to come up with our own promising and innovative ideas to deal with our challenges and very often we end up with more problems than before!

I sought the Lord and he answered me.

So, here’s a challenge for us today…seek God first in all our difficulties and challenges. Our situation may not change automatically, my dear friend can attest to that, but the promise is…

God delivers me from all my fears.

And isn’t that ultimately what we need most to overcome our challenges.

We also learn that we will not only be delivered from fear but it says you will be

radiant; and not covered with shame.

You will have joy and confidence displayed from the the inside out from overcoming your challenges. This is the strength of the Lord. For the joy of the Lord is your strength.  I can’t help but think about my friend, her challenges, her faith and her radiance.

The same can be true for each of us if we seek the Lord! Let’s display God’s light not because we don’t have challenges but because the Lord is with us and the Lord is our strength!

A prayer for a new season

The beginning of a new school year, feels like the beginning of a new year for me. Summer somehow creates a break in the year and in September we get a fresh start. It is a new season.

So whether you are a student going back to school, or starting school for the first time (how exciting!), or a parent sending your little or big kid off, or perhaps you are an educator, or perhaps none of the above but you, like me, embrace this season as a fresh start…. This prayer is for you!

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the gift of a new school year, a new season, a fresh start filled with new opportunities. Our hearts are full of hope and gratitude, and we look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead.

We pray for all the students who are now entering their second week of this journey, for their teachers, and for all the staff who will guide and support them. Grant them wisdom, patience, and a deep sense of purpose in their work.

Lord, bless the classrooms with an atmosphere of respect, kindness, and inclusion. May every student feel valued and cherished for who they are, and may they find joy in both their studies and their relationships.

For us all, we pray for good health, both physically and mentally, so that we may have the strength and energy to face whatever challenges come our way. Grant us resilience in times of adversity and the ability to find joy and contentment in the simple moments of life. We place our trust in you, knowing that you are always with us. Strengthen our faith, give us courage in the face of difficulties, and help us to persevere.

Lord, we also remember those who are less fortunate and may struggle. May we reach out to them with love and support, offering a helping hand when needed. Help us to understand what it means to be the church and to live that out.

Be with us all, dear Lord, in our various stages of life.

We offer this prayer in your name, Lord, trusting in your love and grace. May this new season be a time of growth, learning, and meaningful experiences for all.

Amen.