WHAT BURNS IN YOUR HEART? part one

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Quote from "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge.

Lately, in our life, we have been on a journey that has brought out that kind of longing. When a friend recently shared that quote, it resonated as words to explain what our heart was already birthing.

We have a group of wonderful friends here. Priceless, really. We are part of a small group bible study from church, but some of us wives have known each other for years through a women's bible study we were part of. We are learning to do life together. Not just "bible study", not just church, not just recreation, but the nitty gritty, sometimes ugly, sometimes incredible, always messy, always fluid-- LIFE.

Some of the times I feel most alive, and our family seems most strengthened, is when we are with these people. We are all incredibly different, and on some level, probably drive each other nuts. But there are very few others I would rather be crazed by!

I think this is the idea of community that God had in mind. When we are together, just doing life, when we are praying, talking, laughing, crying, challenging- it all feels like worship in a way.

I wish that for all of you.

This is very much a journey each of us has been on in one way or another, individually.

As we visit and do life, we find that we are all learning similar things, albeit through very different means.

Things like ...

• What does it mean to have freedom in Christ?
• How do I balance faith and responsibility?
• What does life abundant really look like?
• Do I really believe the God I say I believe in?
• What is "Life Worship"

and

• What is that thing that is burned into our heart - that cries to find expression?

These are the things we are finding some answers to. We are just at the tip of the iceberg, but the view is incredible! More importantly, God says that the Holy Spirit bears witness with the spirit within us, that we are children of God. (romans 8:16) For the first time in my life - I feel this in a tangible way. My spirit He placed in me, bearing witness with the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth about all the things I mentioned, and more. How cool is that!

If you want to check out some reading that under girds a few of these things:

Paul's Idea of Community - Robert J. Banks
Victory over the Darkness - Neil T. Anderson

Check out part two of this journey that is unfolding as we type!