What will we look like?

What will we look like if we invite the whole world in and they refuse to look like us? Will we let them stay? Will we allow them to belong?

What will we look like if the unsaved join us Sunday gathering after Sunday gathering and they fail to say the prayer of salvation? Will we push religion down their throat for their own good? After all, isn't that the goal? Isn't that why we do what we do? To get the lost found?

What will we look like if we do what we're called to do and let God do what he promised to do? What will we look like if we depend on the Holy Spirit to get the job done instead of our well intended religious attitudes?

Will we look broken and damaged and hurting? Will we look broken and damaged and hurting with a glimmer of hope in our eyes? Will we look like a community of people who are a committed family of misfits, searching and eventually, hopefully, finding?

You Are Here Now...

The last year has been full of twists and turns. Some good, some bad, some welcome, some unexpected, some painful. So why all the twists and turns? Years ago, based on my charismatic faith, I would have thought that I must have been out of the will of God to be in such uncomfortable, difficult places. It would have been a depressing time. These days I have learned to see God in the difficult, uncomfortable, painful places. I have discovered that He is present always in all situations. He doesn't only show up for the fun stuff. I have discovered He is at work, refining, transforming and loving me through the tough stuff too.
So back to the question, "why all the twists and turns?" I have no idea. And for some reason, I'm okay with that.