Community

One of my favorite "go to" places (okay, my #1 go to place) is Promises Cafe, a locally owned Christian coffee house and bookstore.  I've taken advantage of the summer months by developing a routine that includes an hour or more at "my" table, sipping bottomless cups of coffee and reading.  Today, as I finished a book on community, I glanced over at the morning regulars--a group of anywhere from 7-14 people of varying ages, careers, and family situations who also have made Promises their stop for breakfast, coffee, and the morning news (whether it's from the paper or word of mouth).  I've learned interesting things from their conversations.  But today, as I observed their interactions, I realized that the morning crowd functions as a group (my church's label for our small groups).  They care for, encourage, and even admonish, one another.  One of the gentlemen suffers from Parkinson's.  The group makes sure that he and his wife have a parking spot close by.  Another man just bought a house in another community, and his presence is going to be missed.  If some one is late or doesn't show at all, they discuss their concern for that person--if no one knows why, a call is often made to check up on the absentee.  And, while the regulars don't have a designated leader, some one seems to fill that role on a daily basis.
What are my groups?  In what way do I function in community--not only in church-based groups, but in general?  What relationships am I developing that will impact the world around me?  What example am I setting for the cashier, the grocery bagger, the clerk at the library?

Father, thank You for showing me that community is more than a Bible study or small group.  Help me to be more proactive in developing community based relationships.  Thank You for the owners of Promises who have given us an example of what ministry can be, and bless them as they serve you.

Transform Me

I usually wind down in the evenings by checking my email, facebook, and playing spider solitaire.  Doing these often mindless tasks gives my mind the opportunity to "defrag" from the day's or week's events (not that this process always happens...).  Anyway, my mind wandered, as it often does, and I found myself dwelling on scenarios that would probably never happen.  I played out the scenes, with multiple endings, characters, etc.  In the midst of the mindless wanderings, it occurred to me how much time I spend worrying about these things, when I should be taking the opportunity to dwell on Christ.  I've been so caught up in what might be, or my fallable interpretations of my situation, or in what that person thinks that I've missed it--and have ended up in a bad place emotionally and spiritually.  I even had a good friend tell me last week that my emotions were getting in the way of my leadership in ministry.  For someone who would like to work vocationally in the ministry, this was a rude wake-up call--needed, but it kind of stung at the time.  Don't get me wrong, we are created to be emotional.  However, when we focus on the temporal rather than the eternal; on our truth instead of God's truth; on ourselves rather than on Him, we lose sight of what matters most. What guides your thoughts, your emotions?
Father, forgive me for being so short-sighted, for focusing on myself rather than on You.  Forgive me for allowing the enemy to control my mind the past few weeks.  I give control to You--transform me from the inside out, beginning with my mind, that I may see what is Your good, acceptable, and perfect will--not only for my own life, Lord, but, more importantly, for Your kingdom.
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  (Romans 12:1,2 ESV)