Living in Community: Gifts

If you are a Christian, you are called to so much more than just warming a pew on Sunday mornings. Or your couch at home while you watch services online. I know there are those who will read this and push back because they’ve been hurt in church, by church people. The fact that they are even showing up for church on Sunday mornings is a minor miracle all on its own. Hear me when I say that I’ve been there, too. But understand that it means that you are not living into your calling as a follower of Christ. We are called to follow Christ, not people, and sometimes that requires us to follow Him in spite of others. It is difficult to function in a healthy way within a faith community when you’ve been hurt, but our mission is to follow Christ.

All Christians are called to be part of a local body of believers.

…and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (AMP)

As Scripture points out, believers are meant to live in community with one another. Whether your faith community is a traditional church that meets in a traditional space, a contemporary church that meets in an old storefront or movie theater, or even a small group that gathers in a private residence, you are called to be part of a faith community that breaks bread together, fellowships with one another, and worships, studies, and prays together. We are to meet regularly with one another, and we are called to commitment and faithfulness within our faith community.

If you’ve been hurt by church folk, then this will seem like a tall order, if not a downright impossibility. Believe me, I get it. But you, with all your unique talents and gifts and your unique personality are important to the body of Christ. You matter, and you are needed.

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The Sheep Rock

painted rocks for women's retreatIt’s been a long minute since I’ve done any rock painting. The last big batch of rocks that I painted was for a women’s retreat hosted by my church. That was several years ago. Each rock featured a faith-related word and some featured a simple design as well.

I have painted a rock on occasion since then. Those usually related to my word of the year (rest, grace, and listen, respectively).

My favorite rock is one of my very first. It has a large chip, so it wasn’t suitable for giving away, and I intended it to be a sample to show a friend to help them understand what I was trying to explain to them. It is my sheep rock.

rock with painting of a sheep, grass, and sky, with a purple heart over its headThis one simple image carries so many layers of symbolism for me. It calls to mind the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. I also remember that “we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 100:3). It also calls to mind the imagery of Psalm 23, and it makes me think about the story in Luke 15:4-7  of the shepherd who leaves the flock of 99 sheep to go in search of the one who has wandered astray, to bring it back to the fold.

Above all these things, it reminds me that I an a child of God, and the Good Shepherd watches over me. If you’re a child of God, He’s watching over you, too.