Guacamole....and the church....

So, if you pay any attention to me at all on Facebook, you will notice that I have had guacamole on the brain today. Tonight....it alllll came together. Sort of.

The last several months God has been doing some amazing things with my life. Using the last year and a half to develop me into yet another level to serve and worship. Does that mean I am perfect? Of course not....but I am always striving to be the best I can be. I get tired, frustrated, angry and I just have to listen to the whisper of the Holy Spirit in my pushing me through.

In search for some fellowship, I began attending a small group with some friends of mine that love Jesus. It was time I received some spiritual nourishment, and because I have mostly been in a leadership and serving role, I rarely took the time other than for a sermon on Sunday to really have someone pour into me. I have so so so loved the frienships that have come out of that decision. Amazing is not even close to desribing it. But in May, the Lord spoke loud and clear to me that it was time to get back into leading a small group again, and I began praying about that. Among a million other things the Lord has done in the past few months, He answered my prayers for a small group of women who began meeting on this past Monday night at my home. Within an hour, Jesus was quite clearly present and He moved in a mighty way that brought chills, shock, utter disbelief and rejoicing among us all. I am so thankful for each of these ladies.

It made me think of the recent people I have been placed in the path of that push back against corporate worship. Church. Groups. Christians. Do you really blame them? The judgement that has been placed on them, the hypocracy...why not just believe in God, say a prayer every now and then and leave it at that? BECAUSE IT IS UNBIBLICAL TO DO THAT!!!!! But...here we are having to defend church....not God....but people...and that makes me sad. If God is love, then why are they not feeling loved in a place where God is supposed to be? A song by Casting Crowns called "Stained Glass Masqerade" ripped my heart out the other day. It is about the fascade played out by Christians and who they want everyone to think they are. You should listen to it.

I am broken for these people that are convinced that believing is enough. (And now....comes the guacamole.....) Avacados are good. But guacamole is amazing. When you add lime juice, garlic salt, a few tomatoes maybe, and onions....an avacado goes to an entirely different level!!! And...work with me here...if you hate guacamole, use your imagination!!!! Being a Christian...believing in God...is wonderful!!! And should be celebrated! But when you add in serving, obedience, blessing others, fellowship and community with other believers...or those that need Jesus....you can not ever be the same!!! The Bible instructs this....always taking it to the next level...because in Christ there is no limit to that level!!!

In Ephesians 2...Pauls speaks of community in the church.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household,20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Reach out to those who have stopped believing in the blessings of corporate fellowship and worship. If that person is you...please let me know. I would love to show you another side to Christianity that you have been missing out on..