Body of Christ

"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." (Paul to the Phillipians, Phil. 1:7&8)

The body of Christ--it is so big, so powerful and so comforting. Just knowing Him means you belong to a family of believers in one body who desire the same thing--to know and act out the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can separate two people bound by this. Amen!

We have been so blessed by this truth in the past year and praise God for his provision in our move to this new place. We prayed that our family would find a Christian community out here and He has certainly delivered that through new neighbors, a wonderful group of Christian families and our church. But even with this new group of friends (or family in Christ) I think often of the family that we already have. Those family and friends in other places that we have built lifelong relationships with and will always have. What a blessing to be molded and transformed through the body of Christ!

We had a fire in our chiminea tonight with the boys and decided to roast some brawts on sticks and boy, they couldn't stay away from it! You want to pull a bunch of boys together? Start a fire. Cooper and our little neighbor boy, Matthew, poked and prodded at it the whole time we were out there. They each scoured our backyard for the driest stick and then would run back and jab a board already burning. I drive 10 mph below the speed limit most places we go, but even I enjoy the excitement of what fire can do. I love the smell of it, the sound of it crackling, the heat (as I'm a fairly cold blooded creature), and the way it draws people together.

I have many fond memories of fires past that have brought dear ones together and while I was sitting there watching the boys delight in the flames, I couldn't help but think of them...the body that grew me. I have memories of my dad's shop and his wood burning stove that kept it warm, the annual campout with our church family at Cranhill Ranch--sitting around the fire while the adults laughed and talked into the night, camping adventures with old friends in Colorado who did the journey with us while we were there, the fireplace in Grammie and Papa's basement and the time the electricity went out so it was all we could do--sit and watch the fire...and watching the boys, I wondered who would be part of the family that they remember as they grow in their life with Christ. Who has been, is and will be a part of that growing family? I had prayed for our journey to Florida. Was I praying for their journey and the body of Christ that would impact their walk?

Like the fire, I want it to be something they're drawn to, something all consuming, alive and that radiates a lasting warmth...something they'll treasure up in their hearts.

The body of Christ. No matter how near or far, just as Paul was writing to the Phillipians, we are one! I love that. Knowing that we are all in this together and we're all working for the glory of God. Nothing can separate that.

As you're reflecting on this today, I encourage you (along with myself) to pray for your kids and the members of the body who will invest and influence their walk. I know we've all had those people in our own lives and we wouldn't be the same without them. God has been gracious to us--I pray His grace falls on our children as well.

Dear God,
We praise you for the ways you have brought people into our lives to help form us into the people we are today. You have been so gracious and we are so thankful. Please be with each of our children today, lead them and guide them and watch over them, Lord. Give them direction and surround them with the body of Christ. Give them a lasting foundation on which to stand, not only from us parents but from other believers. We put our trust in you, Lord and praise you for all you have and will continue to do in the lives of our family.
We pray all these things in your name,
Amen.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 1:3-6)