Are You Ready To Dig Deep in 2019?

I posted the following on Facebook the other day:

There was a wonderful response from others who feel the same. I'm all about social media and things like conferences, Bible studies, and videos. NO doubt about it! However, I think what I'm hearing (and experiencing) is that we're hungry for deeper relationships. We're thirsty for connection beyond a surface level. We're starving for accountability and relationship that allows us to give and receive honestly. 

We're living in a world that sees very real and powerful Spiritual Warfare. We face an enemy who has used the millenia that he's roamed the earth to figure out our weak spots as humans. As people made in the image of God, we're amazing creatures. However, our flesh is fairly simple: We're innately selfish and prideful. Those flaws may look difffernt in each of us, but the enemy knows how to push our individual buttons and create a foothold in our lives. He's certainly not stronger than the Lord, but he's cunning and manipulative. And ruthless. We often do his work for him when our selfishness and doubt gets in the way. 

Why am I saying all this?

For a few reasons...

In our current culture (Western Christianity), we tend to elevate other leaders in the faith because of their presence on social media or the way we relate to them. A 30 minute LIVE or video session can hit the spot, so we click the "X" and go about our day. Sometimes we plug into a local church with a plethora of groups and ministry options, yet still feel lonely and unknown. None of these things are "bad," but without real community they're hollow. 

The early Church literally lived life together evey day. They shared their resources and their space. They ate and prayed together. Their lives of simplicity and togetherness was so attractive that "daily they added to their numbers." 

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The Fellowship of Believers
(Acts 4:32-37)

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 A sense of awee came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.

46 With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

What does that have to do with you and me? 

Well, I feel it...I feel the pull of God to return to His roots...relationship in authenticity. We don't necessarily have to GO anywhere to minister, but we do have to minister. 

We don't necessarily have to PREACH the Gospel, but our lives must preach what the Gospel looks like. 

BIBLE STUDY won't save us, but a foundation of faith based on the Truth found in Scripture (as revealed through the Holy Spirit) is imperative to better understanding God and having an answer for the hope that we have. 

CONFERENCES don't make us better Christians, but the experience and corporate community provided give us a space to praise the Lord in unity as well as refresh our spirit or take us deeper in relationship with one another and the Lord.  

The bare foundation is this: 1.) Seeking the Lord daily and growing more in love with Him. 2.) Telling, sharing, and showing others what Jesus has done in our lives, and 3.) Praying for ourselves, our families, and others consistently. 

Simple.

Not easy. 

Wrapped up within these 3 things is an infinite amount of other things...community, transparency, vulnerability, reality, grace, mercy, flexibility, resiliency, consistency...and the list goes on. 

I'm here to help in any way I can. I would love to stand side-by-side with you ladies as you begin a deeper relationship with God this year and step outside your preconceived ideas of what a relationship with Jesus looks like. I'm ready to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the areas I need to address within me as well as knock my socks off with the ability of the Almighty and Powerful God that I serve. 

I'm ready to lean forward in faith to intercede for my family and others and trust that my prayers count. And then I can't wait to watch as God answers every single one of them in His perfect way, in His perfect timing. 

I'm ready to step forward to the frontlines of the battlefield and stop half-heartedly throwing a few punches toward the enemy here and there. I'm done being a spectator, watching as the enemy devours one person after another and our culture crumbles and slides further and further away from God. 

I'm IN...and I'd love to have you be IN with me. 

I'd love an onslaught of comments or messages telling me you're along for the ride in 2019, but I have a feeling this group will be small. God loves to take the FEW and increase it to MANY so that He gets all the glory. 

​Who's in?