It is something that no longer surprises me. When I hear about shootings, I have to remind myself, God has a bigger plan even though I don’t understand it.
A news story said there were four shootings. There were lots of news stories and images. The image that struck me was the one with all of the shoes in the parking lot of the club. It was sad to me. To think of people running out of their shoes for their lives. Some didn’t make it.
The City is taken over by the Lollapalooza Festival. Crowds are everywhere.
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I remember it was in between the first and second service when the worship pastor pulled out a flip chart in the center of the worship team. It was not what I was expecting. Normally we do this thing where everyone checks in and tells what God is doing in their life.
He said to us, he wanted to do something a little different because he cared about our relationship with God.
He drew a circle. He placed an x inside the circle. He placed another one outside the circle. He said many people do church like this. The X on the inside represented people who came to church regular. Served and participated. They were doing good works. They were checking things off the list of the things they had been taught to do.
People on the outside of the circle were not into serving or coming every time the church was open. They were not considered one of the in-crowd people. They were thought to be far away from God.
On the other side he wrote God. He put an x close, then one far away. He drew arrows pointing the x toward God. He said it is not so much that we are serving but serving is good. He asked are you doing what you are doing with a heart for Jesus or checking things off a list?
He asked if we had a heart for the things God has a heart for. It was more than coming to church every Sunday. It was more than serving and giving. It was about what kind of heart do we have for God. What heart motives our relationship with God?
He challenged us to check our heart’s motives. Is our life and service drawing us closer to God?
As a result, I have been asking God about my heart towards Him. He has been answering. I have found him in places I wouldn’t have under ordinary circumstances. In revisiting old things, He has shown me Himself in a new way.
This past week, I watched the movie Paul, the Apostle of Christ again. One thing this movie does well for me, is shows how to love in a hard space. Watching Christians being burned alive or sent to face wild animal attacks in Nero’s circus reminded me that true Christians never have it easy. Yet what absolutely sold me was the word of God being an active participant.
Now the only thing that changed in my second viewing of this film is me. I watched as Paul continued to stress this love. I still don’t understand it, but I know it is important to God.
My challenge to you is that there is something stirring deep within you. Ask the Holy Spirit to change your heart for Him. God has promised that his love is longer, deeper, wider, and much higher than anything we can imagine. There have been moments this week His love has taken me into the stratosphere. There have been some moments when it just wrecked me. His love is great.
I double dog dare you to ask God to show you His love.
James C Lewis, an international photographer, created a series of images of people from the Bible. I was inspired by his images and have drawn the ones that I like the most. This month we will turn back time follow some of mt favorite bible people. The first one is Jesus.
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Land of the Free. (Last Time)
She is regal, sophisticated and magnificent. She is Queen.
There is something about the water that falls from the sky that sparks life. Think about this. It strengthens roots to create buds that finds the weakness in concrete so that it can spring through.
In the south I love the smell of rain hitting hot dry dirt.
In the north it causes a rhythmic rustling through the leaves of trees that draws attention to its beat.
I see it
I smell it
I hear it
I feel it.
I am not from here so everyday is an adventure on public transportation. Follow me as I ride the bus, train, subway and meet people who make up the heart of this city. Each month Stories from the Bus Stop will tell you about my adventures on the bus, train and subway.
You will see some of the great things about this city.
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