having to turn to You?... no permanent facility could actually be a gift from You... opening our homes?

Nov 4, 2009 (again!)

When I see “churches” and “Christian organizations” with tons of careful “rules and regulations” regarding their finances, building and program safety, etc etc etc… big emphasis on keeping thorough paper trails… oh Papa, it makes me wonder if You are setting up a situation where they simply can’t afford the whole building/ paid pastor/ paid office staff (lol… like me…) etc etc etc thing – so that they just have to totally turn to YOU!!!

Where did that just come from? Yes, from Your Word right now: 1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3. for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men … 6. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth… 9. For we are God’s fellow workers, you are God’s field, God’s building… 11. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Christ Jesus… 16. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? … 18. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise… 23…. You belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

…. Maybe it is also a gift from You that Pastor P does NOT have a “permanent facility” but has to trust You to provide from day to day, moment to moment! Maybe these “street Christians” will be (are! to me, at least!) an example of Your church that we all need to see…. They have so little, they are content (happy! Joyful! Grateful!) with/for so little… what little they have, they joyfully share and care with each other, they are friends, they appreciate Your love and the love of Your people… Maybe right now a building would be a PROBLEM!!!

I keep wondering… should we be opening the doors of our homes?? At least to the believers?!?! I WANT TO! But do YOU want me to? (Most people seem to think it’s a bad idea…. Like “we need our private space” and “they can’t really be trusted…” But we have shown we don’t even trust each other in our “churches” ….

Oh dear God… what do YOU want? Please pour out Your Spirit. Please soften our hearts, and open our ears… and hands!!!! … any may our mouths be only conduits for Your Word from Your Spirit… please, please, please!!!

Thank You!! amen!!! … back to Your Word…