Jesus, and friends (and GREAT coffee). Alright, Alright – strike the coffee (chalk that one up to an added bonus, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about, let’s FOCUS) -> Jesus, and friends.

I packed these words in the suitcase of my mind as I walked away from coffee this weekend.  I packed them there, and as I drove home, I began unpacking them and let them walk through my mind as I sat in reflection over what had happened in that coffee shop…

Hebrews 10:23-25 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together…”

This coffee began as ordinary coffee chit-chat with a girlfriend, but as we sat there I felt this verse come alive – I mean, it grew legs, pulled up a chair and sat right there as my friend and I talked and sipped on those delicious lattes…

Life is busy – we’re wives, and moms with busy schedules. Coffee doesn’t happen but she reached out, we carved out time, and her reason for doing so was a living breathing application of “Let us consider how to stimulate on one another to love and good deeds.”

God is slowly revealing His call to me, and I’m ever so carefully dipping my toes into new waters. Truth – I have no idea what I’m doing. God has this whole seeing in part awesomeness about things that is actually intensely intimidating, but far too beautiful and intriguing to step away from. 

My friend has taken note. (Maybe it’s my awkward nature about it all – Ha!) She sees what I’m trying to do, and taken time to consider how to encourage. Man! I walked away from that coffee full. FULL not because of where life is going or how we can partner … but because we came together and lived out this thing called community. We took time to look at life asking – how can we help each other… and it started because she took time to consider, “How can I encourage my sister toward love and good deeds?”

I wonder today, if you might take time to consider this very same thing and experience the life-giving power of these words. I wonder if you’re ready to see it grow legs and walk into your life the way it did mine? You never know what a simple word of encouragement can do in the life of those around you, and it all begins with a thought. An intentional moment of consideration, where you step outside of yourself and consider those living around you. God calls us to a life of abundance. Abundance is plentiful, it’s ample supply – it’s more then enough. How interesting it is to realize our abundance isn’t received by focusing on ourselves and building our own kingdom… no, it isn’t received until we shift our focus off of ourselves and onto the consideration and encouragement of others. His ways are higher than ours. They don’t make sense to us… but they’re better… and I want better. How about you? Will you join me today in this decision? Will you join me in laying down self consumption and grabbing hold of the consideration of another? This is the good part the part that intentionally considers those living around us, and encourages them in their walk with Jesus Christ. Let’s offer them hope, and love and as we do let’s allow the lavishing love of Jesus Christ to envelop us as we make up our mind and – Choose Him.

Prayer

My Heavenly Father, 

Your word is alive. You’ve said it, and we receive it. Thank you for the life that comes through it. Thank you for the abundant life you have called us into. Thank you for revealing truth to me. I pray you forgive me for selfish thinking. Forgive me for focusing on building my own abundance in life. Today, I lay selfish thinking down, and I choose to live this verse out. Lead my mind to think about others. Help me see who you want me to encourage, the person I can help today. I want to show others your love, and to be a vessel that your love can be poured to and flow out of effortlessly. I want your life to shine brightly through my life and onto those around me. My desire is for them to see the hope that you alone can offer. Thank you for opening my eyes to see the need of others around me. I praise you for hearing this prayer, and I thank you in advance for allowing me to be a conduit of hope to those in my life. 

In Jesus name I pray, 

Amen

For more on the power of community, check out the following:

Community, Humility, and the Strength of a Three-Fold Cord

A threefold cord