It is hard to sum up all I have been learning these past few weeks at G42, but allow me to try:
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% your response”
Ever since I heard this quote in class, I couldn’t stop thinking about the importance of MY response to situations that have happened in my life. I have realized over the years that I have carried the scars of coming from a divorced family, with feelings of rejection and confusion as to what is “home” and where do I belong. Yet no matter what trials my family has faced, I LOVE my family and my home… and I will do everything to bring peace and unity to this place!
Home, in my opinion, consists of community, sharing and love. I have come to realize I have many families–both natural and spiritual-and therefore, many places I call home. And ultimately, we all want to belong and to be home. Dave and I have made many “homes” this past year and I want to display a home for others to join… a community of life bringers ready to change the world through love! Jesus promises to come to us and make His home with us (John 14:23)—and I hope to bring that home to everyone I meet! Key principle–how will I respond to those around me?
“Find the 1% you agree on and give it 100% of your attention”
As many of you know, I have been volunteering every Thursday at the homeless shelter, trying a new approach to reaching out to these men…game nights. It has been amazing to see how well we get along with laughter, joy and a sense of “family” in the room. Despite the obvious differences in nationalities, living situations and languages, we agree we all enjoy a good cup of coffee and games, and we give it our all. The result- fellowship! I mean, look at sport teams…they represent this principle perfectly—but then why does the Body of Christ have such a hard time getting along and being unified?! After all, don’t we have the same goal in life…hmm?
G42It brings me back to my original thought, what family means to me. Granted there is blood family-those that stick with you no matter what, yet I have come to the realization that this is the example Christ wanted to set all along. A physical representation of something significantly spiritual. A group of “covenant” people who commit to walk with you through ALL of life’s circumstances.
“Faithfulness in the natural things brings revelation in the spiritual things”
Family has taken a whole new meaning over the years.
There is my natural family who have shown me what it means to work hard, play hard and commit to my word. In China, I had my Guiyang family who taught me what it meant to truly listen and disciple others. On the World Race, I had my Luminous family who taught me how to stick to the table and control my attitude, especially when times are rough. Now, I have my G42 family who have taught me the joys of living in community and choosing in 100% of the time!
All of these truths came about in the natural circumstances of every day life and in a safe environment where I allowed people to speak into my life. I am thankful for every one of these relationships and the person that they have helped me to become!
I was reading 1 Thessalonians today, and it hit me in chapter 5 where Paul was talking to the church about how to live a model life. I encourage you to read these slowly and reflect on these as seen in your life (as I have been quite convicted in mine**).
*Live in peace with each other (GET ALONG)
*Warn those who are idle (WORK HARD)
*Encourage the timid (USE YOUR VOICE)
*Help the weak (SERVE OTHERS)
*Be patient with everyone (EVEN THOSE YOU DON’T LIKE)
*ALWAYS try to be kind (NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE BED YOU WOKE UP ON)
**BE JOYFUL ALWAYS
**PRAY CONTINUALLY
**GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE!
What more can I say but YES Lord—I want to be faithful in these areas of my life! I choose to respond to His word and by doing so, live out His will for my life. Imagine a community of people who lived out 1 Thessalonians 5—and you will begin to see the privilege of some of the things I am being expected to learn at my time here at G42.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus~Philippians 3:12-14
