Our Roles Are Vital

I love cycling. I like riding my road bike, and also enjoy professional cycling. I don't follow it as closely as I like, but I always try to watch as much of the Tour de France as I can. I was watching it the other day and was just enjoying the race but was reminded that we all have gifts God has given us and they are all equally important. I saw this through the actions of the race leader and his teammate.

The race leader, Chris Froome, was winning the Tour overall, but was struggling in the taxing mountain race I was watching. He was neck and neck with the second place rider and didn't want to give up his lead. He kept his lead that day, but couldn't have done it without his teammate Richie Porte. During the race, I could see that Richie had a lot more energy than Froome, and was even riding ahead sometimes. But he always slowed down when he realized this, and stayed right ahead of Froome. Richie could have easily gone off on his own, maybe could have even won the race. But his role was to support his teammate who was the overall leader, and he did his job very well.

The reason it was important for Richie to stick right in front of Froome was to block the wind for him and make his ride easier. Richie also went and got water for Froome at one point. Richie Porte won't be on the winner's podium at the end of the Tour de France with Chris Froome, but his role in the race as support was vital. Watching that race made me think of the verses in Romans 12:4-6 that say, "For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly."

As Christians, we all have gifts God has given us, and all are equally important to the cause of Christ. Some people are gifted preachers, some at spreading the good news to people who haven't heard it. Others are good at supporting those who are visible to the public. Others still love to give or serve those in need, and the list goes on. We are all vital parts of the body of Christ, and we all need the support of the brothers and sisters around us. It is important for me to remember that the recognition one person gets does not make him better than others. The world would say it does, but in 20 years, not many people will remember the Chris Froomes or Richie Portes of this life. 

What will endure is the effort we make for the kingdom of heaven. Lets say Chris Froome was a pastor who spoke in front of thousands and lead hundreds to Christ, and Richie Porter was his assistant. 20 years after their death, few would remember what they did, but the lives that were saved directly and indirectly from the effort of both men will be impacted for eternity. And the effort of both roles are equally important. 

This is encouraging to me as a man who is gifted as a supporter. My prayer is that God givse me spiritual eyes to know how important I am in what I do. That it doesn't matter weather I get praise or recognition from even one person my entire life. What's important is what God thinks about me. He thinks I'm awesome. He thinks we are all awesome, and He loves each of us more than we could ever know. As our Heavenly Father, He is delighted when we use our giftings to serve others, and He loves to see each of us get better and better at it. At the bottom of it is His immense love for us. "We love, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

Seattle

The Lord is calling me into an exciting new chapter in my life, and last week I decided to move to the Seattle area. I will be joining my friends Chris and Christine Antonelli to plant a church. I will be leaving soon, going up there on August 1st. It is exciting, and is the culmination of a desire God put on my heart seven months ago. The story is I visited the Antonellis in January and instantly became part of their family. I also talked with them a lot about the call the Lord put on their life, the call to lead a church of people.

Over the course of 6 months, God made it clear to them that they will be planting a church. He was healing my heart at the same time, making me ready to join them. I knew I wanted to join them at some point, but I didn't know when I would be ready. God showed me I was by the way of Isaiah 58. I shared verses 7 and 8 in my last post, and to recap they say basically that if you help the poor and the needy, your own recovery will come quickly, and your light will shine forth like the dawn. Those were just nice verses until I followed what they said, and saw them come true! I then knew deep down the path I needed to take. The one of caring for the poor and needy. Not only those who are physically poor, but also those who are poor in spirit. Those who are searching for something more.

I knew I could care for the needy wherever I'm at, but I felt the Lord saying "follow your heart. I gave you the desire to be with the Antonellis and the desire to be part of a church plant. It's time." So I told Chris and Christine I would join them. It's been about a week and a half since I decided. I'm excited, but I will of course miss all my friends and family here. I don't know what this adventure has in store, but that's part of the excitement of following God. I am thrilled to start a new chapter in my life. I know there will still be times of sadness and grief along the way, but I also know that I'm ready for this new step and that God (and the Antonellis) will be with me when I need a shoulder to cry on. In it all, I know God has good things in store for me in the future. He says in Isaiah 29:11, "For I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."

God, my heart's companion

I was walking on the beach a few days ago talking with God, when I saw a couple walking towards me. They were holding hands, and they reminded me of Linda and I. They didn't look like we did, but the lady had blonde hair like Linda did, and the man had a baseball cap on like I did that morning. I first started to miss Linda, but I heard God say, "I am your mate. I am your partner. And I want to be closer to you than even Linda was. I am filling that hole in your heart, and I want to fill it even more with My love. Be My mate. Come close to Me. Hold My hand, spend time."

My Father wants to have an intimate relationship with me, like a bridegroom has with a bride. This verse describes that relationship:

"The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say,

'Give thanks to the Lord of hosts,
For the Lord is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting';

and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the Lord. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the Lord." (Jeremiah 33:11)

I am God's bride, and my declaration is, "Thank You Lord, because You are good, and Your love is forever! Thank You God that you will restore my fortunes to be even better than they were before Linda passed away."  

I love this picture from Isaiah 62:5 that says, "As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you." God is so proud of me, so in love with me, that He rejoices over me! I want more of that. I want more of His exuberant, overflowing love for me. God, Your joy fills my heart, and I am so glad I get to spend time with You everyday; You the maker of heaven and earth, and my heart's companion.