Community

I just finished reading a book titled: "Everybody's Normal Until You Get to Know Them" by Ortberg. I liked the title because it is so true of all of us. We all have our little hang ups but the enemy is so good at making us feel like we are the only one's with such issue's. Now understand, this is not to suggest that we are simply to accept our short comings and never work on them. No, not in deed, we are to face them and, by the grace of God and the blood of His Son, deal with those "flaws" in our character. However, do not allow the enemy to make you feel isolated by making you feel like, everyone else must be normal except me.

The premise of the book is "community," living in community with others. We definitely need each other and all of us need a few who are closer than others to help us along the way. God has brought just the right people into your path. He has brought them to you for your success and not failure. They may be a spouse, a brother or sister, a mentor, a friend. We all have many acquaintances, and these are all good people, but we all need one or two who are closer then any another, a true friend, one we can tell all of our stuff too and not worry about them judging us or sharing with others. Instead of judging, they will pray with us and together, with you, grow, mend, and mature in Christ.

The Apostle Paul prayed, "that I might know Him, and the power of His resurrection ..." What a noble prayer! May you and I set our sights on such a lofty goal, to "know Him, to Know His resurrection power."

This is today,

Pastor Gary