Encouragement And Love Found In The Seedbed of Grace & Community

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3 NIV

Last night while in our class, as I “closed” with prayer the power of the living God showed up. He really likes to be talked about “like He is in the room.” The results were tangible as people just wanted to hang out in the presence of the One who has given us life. People shared how good things were. (The whole class was a testimony to God but this was like “extra.”) One woman sang wonderfully over another as others prayed. I want to be clear, so often I get caught up in what I am to do I forget what He is there to do!This morning I began to review the blessings of my life and the people God has touched me through. And I opened to the scripture in Colossians and what jumped off the page to me was this…” encouraged in heart and united in love”

I read a lot. Books, blogs, sites and more. Sometimes I get caught up in the agony of human pain and suffering and I “forget” how big God is and how good He is and how He has chosen me to bring healing and wholeness.

I read Paul’s words and I want to be like that all the time. That my goal would be for friends and family and those God has called me to equip would leave my visit with them encouraged in their heart. (Now, I understand there are many out there who do not “have” that. I get it. But there is a place of grace, a place of rest, a place of His presence…And most of the time, like 90% it is in being in the seedbed of grace and community. More in a moment on that.) Church, it is our job to bring encouragement to the church, not dishearten them with tales of continued disaster and bad prophecy.

Encourage one another!

And the second part that intrigues me is that they (you and your friends and family) would be united in love. The world currently has enough discord, dysfunction and disunity for millennia, but God has called us to be salt and light in the midst. To add the flavor, the beauty and the goodness of His presence to the world’s cultures.

Bring love!

The other day a friend shared with me how the “fairy tale” that she had for marriage, children and life had just never materialized. I listened to her and I realized that while there is a fairy tale that is “unrealistic expectations” there is a “fairy tale” that God has the power to implement in your life and the lives of others.

My realization of that “fairy tale” is found in what I call the seedbed of community and grace. It is where I grow and find my “nourishment” to accomplish good things. It is the place where I am encouraged and encouraging of others. Where I am loved and loving of others. Those “nutrients” found in the seedbed alone will move much that would impede out of the way.

Give yourself over to the one who loves and empowers you to good works. Consider the goodness that is found in Him for in Him is found no shadows. Let us dispel darkness with our walk in the light. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 5-7)