Dear Church, Please Rise

Another massacre in Colorado and my heart sits heavy thinking about history and evil and the true Enemy. I had many thoughts today about what took place in Aurora last night, but one made me pause and I needed to write about it. I was thinking, "Jesus come back!" I want Him to do something about this tragedy and this evil and this pain.

That thought quickly diminished as another surfaced... Church, let's rise up! The very Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of each of us who have chosen to follow Him. That very Spirit enables us to bring peace, power, love and more to circumstances like this and not only that, but to the world as a whole. To all of the brokenness, evil, pain... By His stripes we are healed! He came to set the captives free! He's about binding up the brokenhearted. And there are many of those today... In Aurora and throughout the globe.

The reality is, we need to get out of our pews and demonstrate this Good News of the Kingdom! More than ever before, we need to proclaim and show people what it means to walk with God and know Jesus. We need to get our hands dirty and walk in places where people wonder about our faith. We've stayed too tidy for too long, Church. We're trying to keep our noses clean instead of storming the gates of Hell--remember Jesus said, "The gates of Hell will not prevail" against His Church. Do we live like we're advancing on them, pushing them down, or do we live like we're the ones keeping Hell out of our neat little yards?

This guy that did this... He's practically a kid. He allowed himself to be a tool used by the evil one... I think the conversation will loudly turn toward debates about guns and at-risk-youth and things like that. But, there are deeper issues that must be addressed.

Sin. Our depravity and need for a Savior. The thing is, the Church gets this, right? But do we walk in light of the hope that is within us? Do we step outside of ourselves and live this Good News everyday of our lives and see Jesus shape and transform the things and people around us? Jesus, as one of my pastors reminded our church on Sunday, came to give life to dead people!! In our sin, we're dead. But God, who is rich in mercy loved us and sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sin! He made us alive...

I think the Lord was saying to me today, "Jessica, you do something..." He's already provided everything I need to step out. Am I willing? Are you?

What dreams has He given us for the people and places around us? It's time to start dreaming those dreams and calling what HE sees into existence! We need to tell the Enemy that we're not standing by waiting for Jesus to return to make this better--He already has made it better--He crushed the Enemy underfoot! And, Jesus will come and take His place as rightful King someday. I cannot wait!! It's time for the Church to step into that place of victory with the One who is called Faithful and True. It's time for us to take seriously the reality that He's entrusted the advancement of His Kingdom to us... His Spirit gives us the ability to walk in that truth today. What are we are doing about it?

I want Jesus to come back to a Bride that's ready for Him... Church, let's rise and show the world who He is, what He's done and what He is doing. Let's show them the truth of a Kingdom that's so real and so beyond anything we could ever imagine that this world absolutely pales in comparison. Because, it does. It doesn't come close. So, let's show the people around us this hope, freedom, healing, power and love. Let's move towards them and demonstrate this Kingdom to them.

Jesus, may we steward well all You've entrusted to us until that Great Day and all for Your glory. Amen.

Encouragement for the Journey

It was six o'clock and I was walking along Orange Avenue. Trying to determine some locations to send groups of people throughout our city for the evening, my mind was focused but I tried to make an effort to notice the people around me. It's funny how people don't say "Hi" to one another anymore...

When I lived in the Hub, I once complimented a girl on her outfit while I was out and about one day. She was absolutely taken back by the interaction--she looked shocked. I think she'd likely grown so used to ignoring others and being ignored that even a simple acknowledgement of her or her outfit was something beyond strange. It was a moment that stuck with me.

So I was strolling along at a good pace, taking in the line in front of The Social and how everyone's outfits looked the same. It was really humid this afternoon and I continued to think that jeans were a bad choice, but the mosquito bites covering my legs motivated me to throw on the skinny's as I headed out the door and into town. I continued south and walked by a man who was extremely drunk. He had black eyes and as he watched me, stumbled into a metal gate that was far away from his original path. His intense attention startled me and I quickened my steps.

I took a deep breath as I crossed over Washington Street and continued taking some notes on the little sheet of paper I was carrying. Coming towards me was an enormous man (like a football player enormous). As we arrived closer to one another, he slowed and said, "I'm so sorry... But, you're beautiful." I now was the one who was taken back. He was so kind and sincere. There was nothing creepy about the interaction. I blushed and said, "Thanks! Have a great day!" walking past him and turning towards him as I said it. He said, "I just did--you made it make great..." He said a few more things and I continued to blush and walk south on Orange.

I'll tell you what... That was sweet. And, I knew it wasn't really that guy. It was the Lord. I just sensed this quietness in the moment, like everything stopped and I was supposed to hear all of those things and just take them in. I was surprised by it all for sure. I smiled for a few blocks and I think I stood up a little taller. There's something about being seen and acknowledged. I was grateful for that stranger today and the ways that he blessed me through his sincerity.

And I just thought of the reality that each of those people that I passed--the intense drunk man, the people lined up for a show wearing the same outfits and everyone in between--they all have stories. They all need to be acknowledged and complimented and seen. I want to be the kind of person that moves outside of myself and takes risks loving them in the way I can--telling them what I see. More importantly, what He sees in them.

I am thankful for those moments today. The Lord affirmed me in a way that was so meaningful to me right now. (I didn't realize how much such a small thing would impact me.) He reminded me that I'm not invisible--neither are the people around me in this city. He loves.

The Root of It

This is the place of pain
the starting point where resentment builds
an angled edge where they tell me again,
"That wound over there,
it's deeper than yours...
that heart hurts more...
your ache is real,
but compared to that...
it's Nothing."

I've chosen this path in the past
it winds and turns
downward and onward it curves
as I slink along it
doing what I'm told
believing what I'm issued
all the while, shutting down
handling the pieces and rebuilding the wall

Because,
"That wound over there,
it's deeper than yours...
that heart hearts more...
your ache is real,
but compared to that...
it's Nothing."

People wonder why
I show of shame
when my tears arise and fall
I apologize
when I get too emotional
I run away
when I sense it all crashing down and all around...

I guess you could say it's because...
that wound over there,
it's deeper than mine
that heart hurts more
yes, my ache is real
but compared to that
I'm Nothing.