Time with the fused team pushed that phrase 'Relationships are made in the vulnerable' back onto repeat in my head. Half way through fused we go home over the weekend. That Saturday night i didn't sleep too well and i had this desire to be spiritually fed. I didn't feel like reading any more or journalling, so in the early hours of sunday morning i found myself watching a sermon online. It was a first. The sermon series at Southland; 5 Ways to Wreck Your Life. The title of one was there, (all five where there but my eyes immediately only saw this one)... 'Isolation'. The one i was to watch. Instead of getting tired, i started typing notes, and realising that i need to sort this aspect of my life out. I still do. Yes God is more than enough, but He did not make us or want us to struggle along alone, He uses people to love people, to strengthen people, to make people. Watch it, or download it if you want to think about the need for community, accountability and encouragement within the church, great sermon based on Ecclesiastes. (Southland Christian Church)
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Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire,
he breaks out against all sound judgement. Proverbs 18:1
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Here is a lie we often believe, to carry the load yourself is noble, it is a courageous act. No, it is prideful. If i believe that, my dependence in God is not so important. I think i can do it. To live as a follower of Christ is to be changed, to want to turn from my selfishness and sinfulness. I cannot do it myself. I need God, and His followers. Through Christ's righteous i am saved, and through His Spirit i am convicted of sin and given the desire to change. He gives us a family to help us, to strengthen us, to cheer us on. Think of the big Bible names. Where they alone? No. 'Almost every character had a side-kick, someone going through the battle with them.'
David had Jonathan
Elijah, Elisha
Joshua, Caleb Paul, Barnabus
Peter, James and John
Moses, Aaron
I need to share my heart more with friends who know Him, share my struggles and how my walk with God is, really is. I began this blog hoping it would lead to more conversations of worth, and this little series has allowed me to see that i am not alone in wanting deeper fellowship with my friends. You are not alone in that. But those relationships do not just happen. It takes prayer, and it takes the courage to begin talking about different things. They take someone who is willing to be vulnerable. Choose a few close friends and begin forming those relationships. Those relationships have the potential to be some of the most significant and life-changing relationships.
The last big thing of the summer for me was Teen Camp. As leaders we were challenged to be real with the teens. On the thursday we had the (much talked about) relationship session. Two women of God shared parts of their stories with the girls and then in our dorms we discuss appearance, success and yes of course boys. I was challenged particularly by this one thought, what if we told our friends we loved them more, if we showed them acceptance and their importance. What if we spent more time loving one another, would so many girls still feel a need to be loved by a boy? If we did not gossip? Now girls i'm not saying it is wrong to want a boyfriend, or to want to be loved by a guy. But if we as friends loved each other better, included each other better would there be such an urgency to want a boyfriend now?
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| Tell and show your friends you love them |
