Beautiful Community

I know I talk about this a lot, but I really cannot emphasize enough how important being in community is.

A good question to ask would be, what does being in community mean and look like anyways?

To me the answer has been this: Getting elbow deep in the mess of people, letting them get elbow deep in your mess, and loving each other all the way through it.

It means being vulnerable, and tenderly embracing instead of condemning. It means joyfully meeting needs when you can meet them, and humbly having needs met when you are the needy. It is many nights of laughter, many nights of tears, and a bunch of weak people coming together underneath a very strong God. It is being able to be hurt, and forgiving when you do get hurt. It is acknowledging that you cause hurt, and aching for doing such things -- then proceeding to humble yourself and ask forgiveness of your own. It is giving grace when it is undeserved, and answering a call at 2AM even though you are tired.

I have never been so blessed in my life to be surrounded by the community I have been for the past 6 months of my life at Redemption Alhambra. I have never been a part of such a raw, transparent and real community. I have never felt like Jesus was so tangible than in the arms of my deeply loving brothers and sisters. I have never been so accepted despite the ugliest parts of me, and never so loved in my darkest moments. These people genuinely love. They never cease to amaze me in how far they will go, and how much they will do to let me know I am taken care of, I am wanted, and I am protected. And I don't know what is a greater picture of the gospel than that right there.

Sometimes it makes me feel inadequate, but in the most beautiful way. I want so desperately to love the way these people love, and sometimes it feels impossible because the love is so great and overwhelming. I hope and pray I can be even half of the friend to them as they are to me.

Recently reading I came across this:

“After kneeling down to the ground to wash the disciples’ feet, Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

If you want Jesus to look important, powerful, attractive, and worthy in your life, love your friends well. Lay down your life for them the way Jesus laid down his for you. Joyful, selfless sacrifice stands out in this world, and it’s one of the most dramatic, most persuasive ways to commend Christ and his good news to others.” -- Good: The Joy of Christian Manhood and Womanhood

Let me tell you friends, I have never seen Jesus as more important, more powerful, more attractive, and more worthy in my own life than in the way my friends love me, and I can only hope and pray that others see it too. They love me well, I do my very best (by the grace of Jesus) to love them well, and I just want the whole world to see it because THIS is the love Jesus was talking about. I have never felt it so wholly than I do in my life now. This love glorifies God. This love is of God, and I could not be more grateful for it. This love is enough.

Friends that are reading this I want you to know that I love you, and that you have touched my heart and blessed me way more than you could possibly know. I am so grateful for you.

"And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." -- Acts 2:44-47

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."     -- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12