“…like living stones, let yourselves be builta into a spiritual house,” – 1 Peter 2:5a, NRSV
My mentor blessed me when she gave me a little devotional book called, Jesus
Lives
She talks about adventure, “When unexpected events shake up your routines, rejoice. This is exactly what you need to wake you up and point you toward Me. Recognize that you are on the threshold of a new adventure, and that I will be with you each step of the way”.
Undoubtedly, I have been on an adventure. Our pastor left in July, and although we did not experience membership loss or dissension, we longed for a shepherd.
Personally, the last 8 months have felt like a roller coaster. I don’t know whether to throw my hands up in euphoria or get sick. If you have been through this, then you probably know what I mean.
I have, also, seen a dear friend lose a staffed position. Adventure has come at a price for us. It was my privilege to volunteer under him for several years. My husband and I are now swapping off youth Sunday School with another couple. It appears that part of adventure is flexibility.
I ache for our church body. I pray for our body. All the while, I am so grateful that God has given this body to share such an adventure. I could not imagine sporting this alone. Collectively, they assure me that Christ does love this spiritual house, even if have a couple of broken windows or our roof line is crooked.
Without a doubt this church, this group of people, are on an intentional course together. We do not always see events in the same way. That is not the job of the body. Their job is to walk faithfully alongside one another in adventure, corporate and personal.
Every single believer belongs in a spiritual house. Undoubtedly, we are called to let
Christ build us together. This is one of the most difficult parts of being a Christian, but instead of difficult I prefer to say that it is one of the great Christian adventures.
This Sunday, it was announced that a pastoral candidate was hired. This new adventure is a call to rejoicing. We have an earthly shepherd coming to us in October. This is such a gracious gift. I will let you know as the adventure unfolds.
About Tracy
Sarah Young has such a gift for conveying much with little. Her devotional Jesus Calling was a powerful influence in my life last year.
So glad you have a new Shepherd coming. Your church has stuck together and I admire that.
Cannot wait to see what this adventure brings.
Thank you, Christy. It has been, well…an adventure.
She is so powerful. Short and to the point. Gotta love that!
I have read Jesus Calling by Sarah Young – it was amazing!
Our church has recently been on the same journey as your church. I recently prayed that our church would become a ‘full time family’ as opposed to just a ‘Sunday family’. We need to show love to one another before we can reach the world!
Thank you for your wonderful wisdom!
This post really resonates with me because of the heart I have for my church and the journey we’ve been on over the last several years. I am so glad you have a new pastor and I pray your church family is abundantly blessed!!
Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling is wonderful, but I haven’t read Jesus Lives. Might have to check that one out sometime.
I, too have and read daily, Jesus Calling. It is amazing! I will have to check out Jesus Lives.
Tracy, I am praying for you and your Dad. Just wanted to let you know that you are on my mind and in my heart.
Tracy, you are so correct and love calling it an “adventure”. The church is made up of wonderful people but people of a sinful nature nonetheless. We are a flawed body and that’s why we all love Jesus so much.
That being said, our human nature can make our church bodies be challenging at times. I think from now on I will call it an adventure…:)
Hope you are well, dear one.