A Single Man or Unified Group?

Wow. February 4th, 2012 was probably one of the biggest blessings I've had in a very long time.

For the first time in almost 2 years I have pure unblemished joy overflowing in my heart. If only all of my readers could have come along for the ride I had on that blessed day!

It started off fairly normal, Saturday morning movies with my brother. Then off we went to our weekly Prayer Walk around one of the many schools in Tyler. That in and of itself is exciting, but it got even more so after an unexpected visitor came and touched each of our hearts with a "street sermon."

This man's name was Christopher; my goodness was He overflowing with the joy of the Lord! He gave his testimony of how he used to be into drugs. He showed us the very corner he had his first two drug deals, then of his finding God in prison. He was sentenced 20 years for his crimes, but is now out living for the Lord! The joy and excitement he has is just infectious! It was so incredible. I honestly don't know if I've ever met anyone who had the joy of the Lord like this man did.

Stories like this are what we've run into each week during our Prayer Walks. The first week we met a man named Frank who also went around town and prayed for the community and happened to be on the same street we were walking that week. He joined our group in a time of prayer on one of the corners then talked with some of the men for awhile about what all he did.
Last week, we met a woman named Gloria, who just happened to be going through a hard time with very serious health problems; we were able to gather in her house and pray with her, encourage her and love on her.
This week we met Christopher and all of the excitement he brought to our time of prayer. He prayed for our group, talked with us, gave a mini sermon and just set us on fire even more for God!

If that isn't proof enough of how God is moving in our community, then maybe the word "proof" needs to be redefined.

Some say a single man is all you need to get something done, and where as I can see that being partially true, I also know that a group united and infected with the love and power of Jesus Christ can not only accomplish great things but also grow quickly because the goal is pure. When a group is moving ahead each towards a different goal, that may or may not be there, your group is mediocre at best. But when you have a group that is together in spirit AND body, moving towards a common goal... you'd better get ready for an avalanche of wonders!

As exciting as all of this has been, there are many who fight against unity. I don't think we realize just how controlling Christians can be until we try to change the status quo. Anything different than "what's always been done" is greatly frowned upon and smacked down just as fast as it was brought up. Excuses start arising and people become angry and bitter.
You might hear things like:
"I don't see why we need to help the poor, it's their own fault they're there anyway."
"Well God really didn't say we have to go help others. It was just a suggestion."
"That's just ridiculous! Do you honestly think you'll make a different? God will come back before long, so there's really no need to waste time on them."
"I will not risk my children's lives or health by taking them to places like that. I don't care how needy they are."
"Go to places where I could be endangered? I don't think God's calling me to that. Besides, I'm busy on Saturdays anyway."
"I wouldn't want my kids seeing or hearing the kind of things that might be there where "they" are, I don't want to take that risk."

You know, something hit me the other day while I was watching a movie. It was when African American people started moving into towns that hadn't had any for a long time, if ever, and the people were treating them so terribly. The main character, his wife and two daughters were teased, mocked and treated like filthy heathens. It was so sad. One night when the dads co-worker let his daughter come to his house, some teens came by and threw bricks through a few windows, frightening everyone horribly. The next day the dad of the other girl goes up to the African American dad and tells him his daughter wouldn't be going to their house anymore, then went on to chew the dad out for putting his daughter in danger and scaring her so bad. The dad just looked at him and said "now maybe you'll know a little bit of what my daughters have gone through all of their life."

Do we even stop to think about other people and how scared their lives might be, having to live in certain places or being treated poorly because of the color of their skin? Shame on us. Shame on all of us.

These people are exactly that: PEOPLE. They're not aliens, not animals, not dirt, not beings too low for us to speak to. They are HUMANS. Every. Single. One. Has been created in the image of God. Each one of them has a name, a life, a story to tell, a list of hurts that hides deep in their heart, each one God MADE SPECIFICALLY. Not a one was made by accident. He knows everyone, cares for everyone, loves everyone and has a purpose for everyone. We, on the other hand, try to be our own version of a god, choosing who is good enough and who isn't. Who will get attention and who we will ignore or walk around or over. You know what, God even loves the unmarried mother just as much as the happily married one.

"There is none good, NOT EVEN ONE." If the wealthy or blessed depended on those who were "good enough" then we would all be out! We're all sinners. That word means everything. Sin is sin is sin, no matter how bad or deep it is. Every sin, from telling a lie to killing a man, is as bad as the next. Why do we fancy ourselves more than those in the worst situations? Because we're prideful and full of judgment on all but our own life. It's time to stop. Stop with the excuses, stop with the lies, stop being selfish with love that was never intended to be kept inside our hearts in the first place.

This gift we've been given is not to be held tight to our chest selfishly, but given freely to EVERYONE. God said "go to ALL the world and preach the gospel" (that we are all sinners, but we are ALL loved.) Granted some might be called to other parts of the world, but the rest of us have a job right here where we live. We have people being killed, fathers leaving their children before they're even born, mothers doing drugs to the point where the child has to take care of her at a young age instead of the other way around. We have families being torn apart with divorces, unfaithful spouses, rebellious kids and unloving members.

Oh God, where have we gone wrong? When did we become so numb at heart that we care more for endangered animals that we do for our own brothers and sisters?

How often do you see the word "joy" in the bible? Well if you'll look, you'll see it many many times! We either have the joy of the Lord bubbling over infecting those around us, or we have the joy of the Lord squeezed into a tiny room buried so deep in our hearts that we don't even have it showing in our life. If you have God, you have His joy. Period. It is not a demand, but rather an outcome of the change that's been made in our hearts.

The joy God gives isn't just something that should come when we receive His gift, but something that stays with us everyday! It is something we should have, inwardly and outwardly, for the rest of our lives! Doesn't mean there won't be times of sadness, tears or pain; there is a season for each of those. It simply means even when things are rough, we will remember the joy we are ABLE to have through HIM!

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13