As I type this next blog, I am more than ever realizing what I am about to embark on in the next couple of months. I survey my surroundings: the surprisingly homey feel of the airport carpet, the beloved Tim Horton’s that you can only get the farther north you go, and the large window behind me holding the view of the flat Canadian landscape. I sit and wait for my third and last connecting flight that separates me and my Canadian relatives. This will be the second time that I get to see them, and the first time I will remember it. I was only two years old the last time I saw them. My whole family is coming together this Saturday to attend my uncle’s wedding. Because my training camp dates are so close to our return date from Canada, I will not be returning home first but heading straight to Georgia from this trip. This means that I have to travel with all my belongings for training camp now in my giant green backpack. Trying to pack that thing was ¨fun.¨ All the connecting flights, the international travel, and the giant green backpack are what brings me to the realization of the closeness of my journey. I am sitting in front of the Tim Horton’s (for those of you who don’t know what it is, think Dunkin’ Donuts, but cooler) and taking it all in. I feel the familiar prompting in my spirit to take the time to read His Word and just be with Him. He leads me to Philippians the first chapter and before I even really get into it, He has highlighted an important message.
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
I realize that most everyone wants to skim through that and may just read the parts with the highlights, but that is why I included the highlights:)
In these passages, Paul is rejoicing in his brothers and sisters. Think of it! We call each other brothers and sisters because we are a part of the Lord’s family. We identify with Christ and now we call God, Father. That is not what Holy Spirit highlighted though. He showed me how much we are called together as a people and not just individually. We partner with the gospel and share in grace, as well as go out together, and it is in our love for one another that others know we are Christ’s disciples. We are called, not just to Christ, but also to each other. We grow in love by learning to love in community. God had in mind to create a family that we could enjoy in Christ. We get to enjoy each other as God transforms us. It’s reallly amazing to think about. I would encourage you to ponder these things. All sin calls for selfishness and isolation – like jealousy, greed, or indulgence, or pride. But the things of God need others to express themselves: love for oneself and others, gentleness towards all, joy made complete with others, peace and harmony with one another, patience with each other, and compassion for one another. What are gifts in the body of Christ that you get to enjoy because someone let God transform their life? What are gifts that the Lord has given you that others can reap from?
It’s a wonder how the Lord weaves us all together. The Body of Christ is most beautiful unified in Christ.
I am so very excited to meet more of the members of His body in about one week.
Training Camp here I come! But before camp, I´ll enjoy my Canadian relatives and brothers and sisters.
And Tim Horton´s 😉
