As others have commented, I am also not usually one to share my thoughts but God really challenged me on that through this devotional on love that Karen posted- specifically in this part of the verse in 1 John "...no one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." God tells us that He loves us so we are also to love each other and that means being willing to share our lives with one another. I am so thankful that God has been giving me a new understanding of the meaning of this-I never got it before! In fact, I was often disturbed at why I was not getting it. I am finding that the more I become part of community, the more I can "see" God and begin to fathom some of the love that He has for me and the more I desire to show His love to others. I am thankful for the exciting work that God is doing at Grace with cultivate and to the leadership for challenging us all to open ourselves up to what the Holy Spirit's wants to do. On Sunday our family attended our first small group meeting. During part of our time, I watched my children play with the other children and observed as they got to know each other better. At one point they were in a canoe and I heard my oldest saying "Welcome to Grace Chapel's boat tours. I am the captain and you are my co captain!" (this being the child who did not want to go to small group with us). I felt God's presence and love so strongly with this as I watched the children, enjoyed the beautiful water and the leaves outside and through our discussions,our devotions and reading. God's presence was there! Stacey

By Stacey Sullivan on Wed, October 12, 2011 - 9:59

I see here that "our" loving God is superseded by God loving us and sending his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. The promise is that God will live in us and make his love complete if we first step out in faith to love others.An action is required before a promise. The question for me is how can I love my Christian brothers and sisters, what are their love languages, and how can I connect?? Peggy Carmichael

By Peggy Carmichael on Wed, October 12, 2011 - 10:25

I am usually one of the people who fully participates in this sort of thing - blogging, reading, enjoying the fellowship. But I have not been able to keep up with the devotions and book reading. I am hoping to catch up this weekend. Please pray for me as I juggle university courses and kids and home and Living Waters! I am still convinced this is a great thing we are all doing and want to jump in. In the passage, the thing that struck me was that his love is made complete in us. Does this mean that his love is incomplete without manifesting his love through us? That is profound. If God is love, how can his love not be complete?

By Elisabeth Crosby Daley on Wed, October 12, 2011 - 11:07

Here I go… Cultivate-preparing the soil… God has been speaking to Kevin and me over the last months about letting go, about clearing away the distractions around us to give way for more growth. He and I had been crying out to God about a lot of things in our lives, and as we were praying and seeking Him the words of a song spoke to both of us. It was a song by Christa Wells that talks about getting down to the seed, “until all that you have is all that you need”. When I listened to the sermon last week and heard Mark talk about love being mentioned first, it was like the main ingredient, the seed, that deposit He dropped in a long time ago… I had been rereading The Shack this summer and twice he talked about ‘seed’. Young described the need to remove the other ‘wonderful growth’ in the garden so that it wouldn’t continue to do what is natural, and eventually harm the ‘seed’. I think about the ‘wonderful growth’ being all the ‘stuff’ in our lives that isn’t bad, necessarily, just really not needed in the long run. Then, in the book, it was mentioned that we had to ‘prepare’ the soil in order to ‘embrace’ the seed. I guess that is what we really long for- the ability to embrace His love in such a way that it can empower us, and overpower us, the thing we most want to share and give away. On the other hand, I know more than anyone, my weaknesses and failings… I had heard long ago in a sermon, that we would do well to encourage one another and let others know when we ‘see’ Christ in them, those daily encounters when we see others give away a part of themselves (revealing Christ). I was reading from Listening to the Heartbeat of God last night, by Philip Newell, and he quoted George McLeod from “The Glory in the Grey”. “Show to us the glory in the grey. Awake for us thy presence in the very storm till all our joys are seen as thee and all our trivial tasks emerge as priestly sacraments in the universal temple of thy love.”

By Kathy Marchand on Thu, October 13, 2011 - 9:26

Philippians 3:1 I REALLY liked how Elizabeth de Smaele explained how cultivating a grateful heart is a safeguard for us, a precautionary measure, a protection against something that could harm us. An attitude of entitlement can be harmful and can creep up on us so easy. It can steal our joy. The day after I read the devotional, I thought of things I was thankful for as I started my morning routine. As I grabbed my big towel off the rack to dry myself off, it felt especially fluffy and clean. I was very thankful (especially because starting the day can be tough at an early hour, anyway!) Silly example, maybe, but it can be the small things we so often take for granted and we start to take more and more for granted. As I was thinking of the towel and then the fact that I have a washer and dryer that make the towel clean and fluffy and I have a house that can fit a washer and dryer and I have water and electricity to the house to operate the washer/ dryer and the water is clean.....well, you see my thought process. SO much to be thankful for...but this is only on a very material level. God offers us so much more than what we see. Praise Him. I pray that we, "being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that [we] may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God."

By Shannon Holman on Thu, October 13, 2011 - 10:21

I've just read through all the posts that have been added since yesterday and I feel like I am standing on holy ground. God is up to something very significant, very beautiful in your midst, and it's a privilege to be a part of it. Thank you for encouraging me even as I write for you.

By Elizabeth de Smaele on Thu, October 13, 2011 - 10:58

I have really enjoyed reading these posts, and have especially enjoyed the devotions on joy this week. I've really been trying to focus on finding more joy in my life this year. Trying to realize that each moment I have been given is a Holy moment. God is here in this moment and if I can remember to slow down, I can remember to be grateful and give thanks in each moment for the small gifts (and large gifts) that have been given to me. Psalm 50:23 "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Ann Voskamp writes "Joy is the realest reality, the fullest life, and joy is always given, never grasped. God gives gifts and I give thanks and I unwrap the gift given: joy."

By Sarah Eastwood on Fri, October 14, 2011 - 9:07

So, I think this still fits under the second week - Joy. Joanna moved my heart last night when we were having a discussion about how I could have helped her with her mood swing last night. In addition to our usual techniques and tools, she said, "Mom, I just wish you could show me how to be happy." Now, I know that I am not responsible for her feelings, but it struck me that she was really talking about the lack of joy she sees in me and I am her model of a Christ follower. The funny thing is, I think of myself as an optimist, a happy go lucky kind of person, yet clearly, she is not seeing this lived in front of her. I am left with a hungry feeling - wanting to be filled with His joy. I especially appreciate Sarah's post this morning as I ponder the road to joy. It is indeed a gift. And I have been shown the way to receive it, but must step out in obedience to obtain it.

By Elisabeth Crosby Daley on Sat, October 15, 2011 - 8:48

Joy is the fruit that characterizes my husband Steven. His face lights up with joy when I walk into his room or tell him he is coming to church and home for a visit. He is truely thankful and grateful for every good thing that comes his way and enjoys it, staying in the moment. He shows no signs of entitlement such as asking why I don't visit more but lights up with happiness when I show up. This is all while living in a nursing home, unable to talk or care for himself and being totally dependent on others at the ripe old age of 49. If you want an example of God given, Holy Spirit filled joy you can visit him at Northwood Care, 2Center!

By Peggy Carmichael on Sat, October 15, 2011 - 4:14

Peggy, that is beautiful! Thanks for sharing one of the keys to joy--to embrace the present moment. Steven's life most certainly brings joy to his Father. In the midst of the struggle, may his joy overflow to you as well.

By Elizabeth de Smaele on Wed, October 19, 2011 - 7:37