Renewal and Revival

Greetings in Christ,

This summer has been quite busy with mission trips, new beginnings, fun events, change and other things but the one thing that has been constant is that God is working in a magnificent way. It may not seem like it now but I feel God has been using the summer to prepare many of us for something fantastical to happen. I believe God is beginning to revive those of us that have been faithful to HIM. He is beginning to renew our spiritual energy so that it will erupt in our hearts.

I was listening to a Sermon a few weeks ago and there was a passage of scripture that really stood out to me. At first it was a personal relation but maybe it is a message for all of us. “Now that your obedience to the truth has purified your souls, you can have true love for your Christian brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply with all your heart.”1 Peter 1:22.

1 Peter 4:8 echo's the message the previous passage, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” God calls us to love others above all else because it is the strongest weapon against evil. It is the essence of light, the very core of who God is and he is calling us to open our hearts to each other and to those around us.

As a man Jesus lived a life of love in everything he did. As his followers in the world today we are expected to do the same. So the question is; are we doing so?

Many of those of you that read my little posts are those I know to be strong in the faith. I also know of some of you that have been earnestly interceding through prayer asking God to revive and strengthen the hearts of the faithful. I have a feeling that that time is coming soon. Maybe it is just a personal relation but everything I've been hearing in my time with God tells me something is coming.

I encourage you to reflect upon what God has been saying to you, are we really prepared to Love as Jesus does? Are we really ready to see God move in a mighty, mighty way? Are we ready for our hearts to be strengthened and encouraged? I know the answer to all these questions for me, do you?

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E

Letters of Recommendation

Greetings Readers, 

This entry has been a long time coming and I apologize for that, I hope this little message brings you all encouragement and understanding of who Christ calls us to  be...

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately reading the letter’s Paul wrote to the Corinthians during my devotional time. Every time I read these letters something new and exciting is revealed to me. On the surface these two letters seem very harsh and direct with regard to how people should live but there are several scriptural gems that for me make these two letters special.

2^nd Cor. 3:1-3 is one of those scriptural gems that really stand out to me. Here is verse 3, “You are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” I had to think about one for a while before I understood it.

What I found opened my eyes to something I had had never really seen before; Ministry is validated through the witness of those that we minister to. Of course I’ve known this, but to see it in scripture was something special. It reminded me that the people we impact with the ministry we are involved in are our “letters of recommendation” (3:1). They are our witnesses and ultimately God’s.  The way they perceive Christianity through the way we act, the way we speak and the way we live affects their view of Christ. 

In the end, this means is that the best way we can help the Kingdom of God grow is by the example we set for those around us. When visitors come they need to see a church they feel at home in, that meets the needs of their heart, and that is indeed a “letter of recommendation” for God.

 Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.

LIFE

Greetings Everyone,

It is great to be back in a place where I can take time to share with you all again.  Life has been busy for us as I am sure it has been busy for all of you

Life is such an interesting concept, as the past 3 months or so have come and gone I have begun to ponder  the word LIFE.  What defines life, is it our religion or our actions? Is it the example we set or receive from others or is it our thoughts? All interesting questions...

I believe that there are many times when we ask ourselves these very questions; often in times of struggle, change and when we know little about the path ahead. Hence, most likely the reason why the word LIFE has been on my mind lately.

Change came when our lovely daughter was born, it came when I was offered a job in Arizona and it came when I moved my family here after accepting the opportunity given me. These are all good changes and I am quite happy with where we are. Yet, this concept of LIFE is still very much on my mind.

We have basically started over again with our life in Arizona, while we've not been here very long this realization is here.  Where our friends and extended family have been left behind, we will find many additions to them here in Tucson. God will teach us new things about ourselves and the calling he has placed upon us as a family and as individuals. LIFE will never be the same and that isn't a bad thing.

In the midst of all these thoughts the LORD has given me a solemn promise in the scriptures.This promise came from a very unexpected place and has made a wonderful addition to my life verse collection... 

"You will live in joy and peace.The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!  Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love."  Isa. 55:12-13

The entire chapter is a beautiful testament to this LIFE we have and  I am extremely excited about what lies ahead. Look for more on this topic of LIFE in the days ahead. You can start by reading 1st John 1:1-4.

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.

Waves of the Heart

Hey everyone and Merry Christmas,

Life is an interesting thing isn't it and as I wrote before Gods timing is spectacular.  I firmly believe that this concept of time being in Gods hands is something God truly wants me to get a bigger grasp of. I understand it well enough but I feel he wants to take my family into an even deeper level of understanding it. I believe he wants his timing to be our lifestyle...

It is great to understand certain concepts of our faith but I think in the long run God really wants us all to embrace the concepts wholeheartedly. I believe it comes back to a devotion I wrote at some point last year regarding the Undivided heart.  I am learning that there is so much more to this life than simply living or dieing (as Steven Curtis Chapman would sing and a post for another time.)

What is an undivided heart, you may ask? Well, I believe it to be a heart that belongs solely (SOULY) to one particular thing. Life will pull our hearts one way or another and we have to have a deep enough understanding of this the what's on the surface. 

So many times we surf on the waves of life not realizing there is the danger of falling into the deeper waters. Without being properly prepared, we cannot use what is necessary to overcome what lies beneath. This is what an undivided heart brings and when Gods spectacular timing determines that its time to change something we need to be prepared. 

This is what I'm beginning to understand about Gods timing, some times the only way you can prepare is to trust SOULY in his unfailing guidance as the wave's of life knock us of the our surfboard (so to speak.) I read the following to my new born daughter this morning and it made me stop and think...

 WOW!!

" Sometimes I grant you glimpses of your glorious future, to encourage you and to spur you on. But your main focus should be on staying in MY presence. Remember I set the pace in keeping with your needs and MY purposes." -Jesus Calling Book

What a wonderful reminder of Gods timing both Leyla and this message are for me today. It has been an amazing (and exhausting) past few days in the Elliott household.  It is such a wonderful feeling to know finally that our little Leyla is here and that she is such a healthy baby. 

God has been so good to us and while we are surfing on a whole knew wave of life, there will be times when we will get knocked of but knowing Gods timing and preparing the undivided heart through prayer, devotion and worship will always remind us of HIS unfailing guidance. Take a look at Psalm 86 when you get a chance, its a wonderful example of this.

"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh." 26.11.19 NIV

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.

Winds of Change

Its interesting to think that life changes so often with out us really realizing what is happening before our eyes. One day your headed on way, the next day it's the complete opposite direction.  Many times the turns we take on this path of life are completely unpredictable, then once those turns are made we have no clue why they were made. All that we know is that they were made.

This concept is something I've been thinking a lot about in recent months with the coming of our first born any day now. It often has made me stop and think. How much will my whole perception of life change when our Leyla arrives. Sometimes  it's hard to think about what life will be like when she arrives and then other times I'm so ready I find my self asking Leyla, "when are you going to get here?" 

I started thinking about how these thoughts applied to our Walk with Christ and I believe it began leading me to an interesting revelation. It is a revelation that has found it's way into my head before, but as usual maybe God just needed to remind me of it. Sometimes he does that you know. :-)

We are called to live life in the unknown, and as the winds of change send us in a new direction in this life we must embrace the unknown fully relying on Gods guidance with each new direction that comes. It's not always easy to to this but though because human nature holds us back. The beautiful thing is though, that God has already defeated human nature in the form of Jesus.

In the End what it comes down to is this, the unknown comes, life changes, we head down another path, and while we may not understand why, all we have to do is embrace the one who already knows the outcome is beautiful. 

Acts 9 is a wonderful example of how the Winds of Change and change your whole perspective on life.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." 21.3.11 NIV

Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"

Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to you

(2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),

M.E.