Double Up!
I’m doublin’ up today! What I mean is, if you follow my 60 Seconds with PJ on Instagram or Facebook, you’ll see the same verse. I just figured these verses were worth a little extra time.
How can we NOT tell everyone we know about what Jesus has done for us???
“But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’” (Acts 4:19-20 NIV)
Loss and Trust
This past weekend at Community we looked at some of the things we’ve lost since this Pandemic started. We also looked at this powerful and personal picture of God as our Shepherd providing what we really need.
Take some time to be grateful for the way God has provided for you, even in this season of loss.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” (Psalm 23:1-3a NIV)
Shine on my friends!
I love these challenging words at the end of Philippians chapter one. He is saying we should allow the conduct of our lives to point the way to Jesus and be worthy of what He has done for us.
The context here is very specific. While we should point the way to Jesus all the time, Paul is saying this is especially true when life is difficult, painful, and filled with suffering.
As I think about it, how much brighter will our light shine when we are in the thick of the darkness. So, whatever you’re going through…shine on my friends!!
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.” (Philippians 1:27-30 NIV)
SLOOOOW DOWN
I’m going to let these words from the 27th Psalm sink down deep into your busy soul. How good are you at slowing down? Taking a break when life get’s frantic? I’m not very good at it, so passages like this remind of the importance of a slower, more deliberate pace. Especially when it’s taking me very deliberately into HIS presence.
“I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.
That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic.” (Psalm 27:4-5 MSG)
I really needed this
This picture is of Tim Harlow, one of my life-long friends. We’ve known each other from before we were born (or sort of). Our parents were and still are good friends. In this shot Tim was wrapping up the SPIRE Conference Michelle and I were able to go to this past week in Nashville.
Honestly, we considered not going after Jeremy’s passing. But then I realized something…I needed to be around other Pastors and friends so they could help me process my grief. More than that, I needed to be inspired by some amazing leaders who God would use to speak straight to my heart.
Michelle and I were blessed beyond what we could imagine. Here’s why: WE ARE DESIGNED TO GATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, TO GIVE AND RECEIVE LOVE, GRACE, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND SUPPORT.
I still love that we’re able to do our online services as well as we’re doing, but I will also tell you this: If you’re in the area and healthy…you’re seriously missing something if you’re not literally gathering with others to GIVE & RECEIVE this support. It is not just about what we can receive or “get” from the church. We are the church…and we desperately need each other.
I needed those hugs, those tear-filled looks of encouragement and those prayers with people hanging on to me. I also needed to be able to do that for others. We’re all carrying some kind of pain or concern.
There are days when you need a pat on the back and days when others will need your pat on their back. We really are in this together.
“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25 MSG)
