beauty and passion...

Beauty... passion...
I saw... both... at the symphony on Sunday...

The beauty of many...
coming together as one...

Every member...
under the direction of one...
each with a different instrument...
a different role...

Beautiful...

It gave me just a glimpse... an idea...
of what the church could be...
if we all came under One...
and followed the same score...

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body ---

Jews or Greeks, slaves or free --- and all were made

to drink of one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

An orchestra...
bringing great beauty...
because they all had the same purpose...
the same focus...

What beauty could the church bring...? into a dark...? corrupt...? world...? If we all surrendered to the Spirit...? came under the authority of the Father...? followed the Son...?

And passion...

A guest cellist...
playing her instrument...
with passion...
intensity...

She knew her music...
no score before her...
it was in her heart...
her soul...

In her... I saw... the kind of passion I want for His Word...
to know it...
for it to flow from me...
heart... soul...

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with their whole heart,

who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

Psalm 119:2-3 ESV

Beauty... passion...
both elements the church should pour forth...

Why don't we...?
what are we missing...?

Lord... stir the hearts of Your people...

remind us... me... of the beauty... passion...

Your people should bring into the world...

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; 

sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

bring an offering, and come into his courts!

Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness,

tremble before him, all the earth!

Psalm 96:1-9 ESV

it's personal... it's communal...

It came to mind today... another incongruence in His Kingdom...

The singular one... in the context of community...

I see it in the indebted widow about to lose her two sons... her story found in 2 Kings 4:1-7... take a moment to read it now...

She went to God for help... through the single prophet Elisha...

Elisha told her to go out into the community... ask for... borrow... empty jars...

Then she and her sons isolated themselves... closed the door... and there... alone with God... filled the empty jars from the community...

Elisha then instructed her back out into community... she met her needs... offering to the community... what God had filled her with...

God meets our needs through our singular... personal... intimate... relationship with Him... but not apart from community...

We come to Him in need...
He sends us out to His community with our need...
We come to Him in private to be filled...
He sends us out in community offering to fill others...
And in that... our need is met...

Yes... it's personal... it's communal...

It's the Way He is...
One Single God...
in Trinitarian Community...
Father... Son... Spirit...

The Singular One... in the context of Community...

An incongruence He calls us into...

It's His Way...

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will

believe in me through their word, that they may all be one,

just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they 

also may be in us, so that the world may believe 

that you have sent me. ...."---Jesus

John 17:20-21 ESV

no division...

Waking thoughts...

There should be no division in the Church...

no dividing wall...

And the Scripture... that affirms...

As you come to him, the living Stone 

--- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him --- 

you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house 

to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices 

acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Peter 2:4-5

Jesus... the Living Stone...
Chosen by God...
Rejected by the world...

Those in Him... like Him... chosen by God... rejected by the world... to be built into a spiritual house... one spiritual house...

The time of retreating comes to mind... many denominations gathered for one purpose... His Love... knowing it... sharing it... finding healing in it...

In this world we will have trouble... but the Church is not to cause the Church trouble...

There should be no division...

Only as one... will the world see Him...

Only in our love for one another... will He be revealed...

The Living Stone... the Cornerstone... we are to be like Him...

He has only one Church... 

And I wonder... 

Do I cause division...? where am I failing to offer unity...?

What about you...?

Are you a part of His one Church...? Or are you a dividing wall...?

Consider division in your church home... Is there any...?

Consider the many denominations in your community... Is there unity in diversity...? or animosity...?

Where can you begin to make a difference... for Him...?

May the God of endurance and encouragement

grant you to live in such harmony with one another,

in accord with Christ Jesus,

that together you may with one voice

glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:5-6

[Note: Wow... it took me til Tuesday to realize I didn't post the readings for The Journey on Sunday... here they are...]

This week's readings for The Journey...

Monday                            Job 3-4

Tuesday                            Job 5-6

Wednesday                       Job 7-8

Thursday                           Job 9

Friday                               Job 10-11