I never thought 5 months ago I would say this but I am so
thankful that I am getting to experience life living in a community. You may
wonder what all does that entail?
Basically right now the 6 members of Koinonia are sleeping
in the same area. We have our tents set up next to one another; we are one
another’s built in neighbors- permanently. We wake one another up, whoever gets
up first. (And don’t worry mom and dad I’m never the first one up- I haven’t
changed in that way.) We go down to breakfast together, we walk to ministry
together, we do ministry together, we eat lunch together, we eat dinner
together, we do bible studies with one another, we pray together, and when
anyone of us gets down we encourage one another and pray over them together.
I can tell you honestly that if you would have told me a
number of years ago that I would live with 5 people who: are not my family,
they would be chosen for me, and this family would be stuck with me for 11
months- I would have said never, no way I can do that. But this alone is a
miracle and proof that God is at work and He is changing each of us to be more
like HIM.
At the beginning when we met with our squad coaches (Mike
& Patti) Patti said, “A family that prays together stays together.” And this
is something I will never forget, this is how we stay together, how we continue
coming back together, how we continue showing grace, and loving one another.
Prayer is so powerful, when we confront one another it is always followed with
prayer, when we eat together we thank God together for His provision, when we
feel discouraged we pray to God for strength, and before we go to sleep we pray
and ask God to be our protector.
I cannot lie I have at times toiled with the idea of giving
up but I’m so thankful to God that community has built in accountability. AIM
has taught us to “keep coming back to the table.” Which in the community
setting means you are vulnerable, you confess and share your weaknesses with
one another, and when a person is hard to love you keep loving, and you keep
showing grace. Because there is no pulling away or getting away from anyone
when you live in community. Instead I have learned that God has put the people
around me that He desires and I am to press in continually. It is hard for me to admit that I need something, or someone, we are taught at such a young age to be independent. But we as the body of Christ are to encourage, lift one another up and sharpen one another. Because I need these 5 people, He has blessed me with them as my family, and I need their prayers and their support.
In addition to learning how to press in especially when
everything in me wants to leave, God has taught me how to love. How to love the
person next to me even when I know all of their weaknesses and strengths.
Because this is the part of community that really allows fellowship to happen-
genuine love for one another.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8; 13
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels,
but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I
had the gift of prophesy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and
possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains,
but I didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to
the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t
love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not
jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not
irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice
but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love NEVER GIVES UP, NEVER LOSES
FAITH, IS ALWAYS HOPEFUL, and ENDURES THROUGH EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. Prophecy and
speaking in tongues and special knowledge will become useless. But love will
last forever!
Three things will last forever- faith, hope, and love- and
the greatest of these is love. “
useless, our team going out to the streets to share about Jesus’ love and not
having it for one another just doesn’t make sense. Our team loving one another
make everything in ministry and all we do outside useful- without love we are
useless.
Sara Groves sings a song called; “Loving a Person” it sums
up what community has taught me. Here are the lyrics:
Loving a person just the way they are it’s no small thing.
It takes some time to see things through.
Sometimes things change, sometimes waiting, we need grace
either way.
Hold onto me and I’ll hold onto you.
Let’s find out the beauty of seeing things through.
There’s a lot of pain in reaching out and trying.
It’s a vulnerable place to be.
Love and pride can occupy the same spaces baby
But only one makes you free.
Oh hold onto me and I’ll hold onto you.
Lets find out the beauty of seeing things through.
If we go looking for offense we’re going to find it.
If we go looking for real love we’re going to find it.
Oh hold onto me and I’ll hold onto you.
Oh let’s find out the beauty of seeing things through.
Loving a person
just the way they are that’s no small thing that’s the whole thing.
Loving me just the way I am it’s no small thing. It takes
some time, it takes some time, it takes some time.
But only one makes you free.
Oh hold onto me and I’ll hold onto you.
Lets find out the beauty of seeing things through.
If we go looking for offense we’re going to find it.
If we go looking for real love we’re going to find it.
Oh hold onto me and I’ll hold onto you.
Oh let’s find out the beauty of seeing things through.
Loving a person
just the way they are that’s no small thing that’s the whole thing.
Loving me just the way I am it’s no small thing. It takes
some time, it takes some time, it takes some time.
