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God Needs You

When Australia was a new nation, its leaders selected a crest to represent the country.  Two animals stood, one on each side of the crest – the kangaroo and the emu.

The two animals were chosen because of a unique common characteristic – while each turns their head to glance backward in order to get their bearing, they always move forward.

Though each animal is very swift afoot (30 mph) neither is able to walk backwards.

The founders of Australia wanted their country represented by what moved forward, never backward.  Kangaroos and emus look back and leap forward.

There are two times when individuals and organizations have a tendency to stop – after a defeat and after a victory.  Such lack of progress greatly affects momentum.

Persistent people begin their success when most others quit.

One person with commitment, persistence and endurance will accomplish more than 1,000 people with interest alone.

The past is for remembering, not living.  Life is understood backwards, but lived forward.

Most of us have dreams, plans for how we desire our lives to be lived.  And most of us will die without achieving many of them.

Have you ever wondered what God has dreamed, planned for you?

When He created you, who did He mean?  Plato said, “You did not come into the world by accident, but at the very moment God had need of you.”

Whatever God has dreamed, planned for your life is something the world greatly needs.

With Open Arms

No one can doubt that man was made a social creature and was meant to live inter-connected with others like himself.

Man was born with a longing for belonging.  We have an innate need for meaningful interaction with others.

Every sane person wants to be wanted, accepted, enjoyed, and loved.

Only by living together in the community of faith can we experience a sense of wholeness, self-worth and a healthy self-concept.

Only in the context of connection with others is it possible for our deepest needs to be met.

God’s plan to redeem fallen humanity revolves around building a community of faith where genuine love, acceptance, forgiveness and affirmation are experienced.

In the last forty years, there has been a serious decline in community life in America. 

• People who volunteer in a political campaign is half what it was in the 1960’s. 
• Active membership in local clubs and organizations, like parent-teacher groups, has dropped by about half since the 1970’s.
• People visit less and have friends over less frequently. 

Although the level of connectedness between people in our society has dropped severely, their need for connectedness has not.

I Peter 4:8 – Above all, love each other deeply…

We must love each other enough to tell the truth to each other.

Let me give you a big word with an even bigger meaning – magnanimous. 

To be “magnanimous” means that you have a “great heart,” “a generous spirit,” forgiving, too big to hold a grudge.

That is what community looks like – real, genuine love, brotherly affection, great-hearted, generous acceptance and affirmation.

We need open doors, open walls.  We need to be out there meeting and loving people (not necessarily their behavior) where they are.  Don’t just do community, but do it with all your might.