Last night I walked into a room full of people. I had to laugh at the children running in circles, laughing and chasing each other. There were ladies setting out cups with ice and potato soup toppings, and men pulling out a few tables and chairs. I had a king cake in my arms so I was met with big smiles and offers to take it off my hands. This is my community group.
What is a community group? Okay, let's be real, most of you have grown up in the belt buckle of the bible belt just like me, so you know all the churchy lingo. But give me a few minutes of your time and hear my thoughts :)
I started going to South City Church in the Spring of 2012. Birthed out of the vision of Lance and April Nicholson, South City is only about a year old. Lance and April have been mentors and friends of mine for several years now, so when I felt led to join up with them and become a member of this new church endeavor, I was excited for many reasons. Every week people gather for our service on Sunday nights, but throughout the week in different locations and different nights, people gather for a deeper level of 'church'.
Funny stories, things we saw on Facebook, something hysterical the kids said..all these were passed around last night as we enjoyed potato soup brought by one of the ladies. One of the members of our group is having surgery next week and there was discussion on who could bring a meal over and who was going to visit and check on them. The kids later went to another room to hangout and play while we divided up the king cake and got into some more pointed discussion.
At South City, community groups typically discuss some questions related to the message from Sunday. Personally I love this because you don't always get it the first time, you know? Sometimes you need to let the message settle and then go back and discuss it with others to gain better perspective and put it into practice. I learn a lot by hearing other people talk about what they have been learning and how they are trying (and failing) to live it out.
One of the passages we were walking through last night was Psalm 145. The question was posed 'What memories of God's greatness do you share with others?'
"When my dad lost his job, we didn't know what was going to happen, but God provided and took care of us."
"My husband and I were divorced and just got remarried, I'd say that's pretty great."
"I've seen God provide in crazy ways every time I've attempted to fund raise for a mission trip or some kind of project."
"I felt led to go to Africa and my boss wouldn't let me off, so I quit my job and went trusting that He would take care of me. When I came back I was offered a job I didn't even apply for and since then everything has lined up better then I could have planned myself."
Varied responses came from around the room. Different people, different ages, backgrounds, jobs, family situations...different levels of theological training, some Christians for years, some new believers...but we all have one thing in common-we are broken and needy people and God has over and over again poured out His grace on our lives. Because of that one commonality, we are able to come together, share about what He's done in our lives, wrestle with tough questions, lean on each other for support and encouragement, gain advice and perspective...
This is my community group. This is my church. I'm thankful.
If you don't have a community group or aren't even sure about the whole church thing, we'd love to have you come visit and I'd love to talk with you more about my struggle with 'leaving the church' and my journey to get plugged back in. Find me on Facebook or email me at BeckWattier@gmail.com
Showing posts with label jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jesus. Show all posts
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
"Give Big Like Jesus" -Elijah's Project
When I was seven, I saw a commerical for the American Diabetes Foundation asking people to donate to fund research for a cure for Juvenile Diabetes. I took a hot pink sock and filled it with every penny I could find around the house. I don't remember what happened to the sock full of pennies, but I remember thinking if I could fill it up and send it in, maybe it would help someone.
When I was twelve I had a pen-pal from India. Her family sent a letter out asking people to pray that they would have money to buy bibles for the school they were starting. I calcualted how much the bibles cost, and how much each person in my youth group needed to contribute in order for us to buy them. If we all put in a few dollars, it would add up.
When I was nineteen I learned about the water crisis worldwide and how simple it was to fix by installing wells in countries that had no access to clean water. I pulled my cousins together and we decided we were going to raise money to build a well. We various fundraisers and eventually several news stations and news papers interviewed me. Word spread, more people got involved and ou motto became "If everyone gives a little, we can change the world."
Today I am twenty-six and as I look back over the last couple years where I've been working and fundraising for different projects in Uganda, Africa, I estimate that we've raised well over $100,000. It is incredible to look back over my life and see how God has worked to instill in me a passion to change the world and to do big things in His name. I can see how each step along the way, He has used each of these little projects (and many more) to spur me on and push me forward to even bigger and greater things.
All this being said, I want to share about a project my friend Elijah is working on. Elijah just turned 9 last week, and instead of asking for presents this year, he asked his parents if they could get people to donate socks, towels and blankets to a local homeless shelter. As soon as I heard about it I knew I had to share. It took me back to all these projects (and others) and how, because many got behind and supported me, the projects were succesful in helping a lot of people. So take a minute and read the interview I did with Elijah, and consider getting involved or at least sharing his story. I think you will be just as challenged as I was:
Rebecca: For anyone that doesn't know you, tell us a little bit about yourself. Do you have any hobbies? What's your favortie kind of music?
Elijah: Anybody that knows me knows that I love sports. My favorite sport to watch is basketball and my favorite to play is football. I really like to pray, I don't do it all the time because I'm caught up in everything else, but I like to pray about basically anything that's going on. Lecrae is my favorite kind of music but NeedtoBreath is my favorite band.
Rebecca: So I think I know everything about what you're wanting to do, but let's start with you just telling me how you got the idea and what your plan is.
Elijah: Well, the idea came because when it's your birthday, you get gifts. But Jesus didn't get gifts, He gave a gift. We live by the interstate in Grandbay and basically everytime we go somewhere we have to get on the interstate so we see a lot of people walking around. I actually thought of the idea while we were on the interstate.
Rebecca: After that you started looking into homeless shelters?
Elijah: At first we were just going to collect a few things and take the stuff to the people we found around the interstate but then we looked into it more. I called the shelter and asked what they needed and this Saturday we're going to have lunch with the lady that runs the shelter and take the supplies to her.
Rebecca: So what exactly are you trying to collect?
Elijah: Towles, socks, and blankets.
Rebecca: And how much are you hoping to collect?
Elijah: We're hoping to collect a lot because there are actually two shelters we want to give to. The women's shelter has showers and so they said they are always needing more towels. They said socks are good to donate because it's winter and a lot of homeless people have to walk a long way.
Rebecca: Some people who read this may know your family already but some may not know you at all, some people may not be able to give something but they can still be encouraged in hearing what you're doing. Is there anything else you'd like to say to people who are going to read this?
Elijah: Just that, you know, Jesus did something big. No one can ever repay him for that. So we should all try the best we can to give big like Jesus did.
If you'd like to get involved and donate towels, socks, or blankets let us know! We can plan to meet up somewhere or you could mail a check and we can go buy the supplies here. You can reach me on:
Facebook: Rebecca Wattier
Email: BeckWattier@gmail.com
Cell: 251-422-3071
You can also help by sharing this through facebook and twitter, or leaving an encouraging comment- I'll make sure Elijah sees them all.
**The Nicholson's started a new church plant in the midtown Mobile area last year, South City Church, where I'm currently attending. If you're in the Mobile area and are looking for a place to plug in you can find out more info at www.SouthCityMobile.com **
When I was twelve I had a pen-pal from India. Her family sent a letter out asking people to pray that they would have money to buy bibles for the school they were starting. I calcualted how much the bibles cost, and how much each person in my youth group needed to contribute in order for us to buy them. If we all put in a few dollars, it would add up.
When I was nineteen I learned about the water crisis worldwide and how simple it was to fix by installing wells in countries that had no access to clean water. I pulled my cousins together and we decided we were going to raise money to build a well. We various fundraisers and eventually several news stations and news papers interviewed me. Word spread, more people got involved and ou motto became "If everyone gives a little, we can change the world."
Today I am twenty-six and as I look back over the last couple years where I've been working and fundraising for different projects in Uganda, Africa, I estimate that we've raised well over $100,000. It is incredible to look back over my life and see how God has worked to instill in me a passion to change the world and to do big things in His name. I can see how each step along the way, He has used each of these little projects (and many more) to spur me on and push me forward to even bigger and greater things.
All this being said, I want to share about a project my friend Elijah is working on. Elijah just turned 9 last week, and instead of asking for presents this year, he asked his parents if they could get people to donate socks, towels and blankets to a local homeless shelter. As soon as I heard about it I knew I had to share. It took me back to all these projects (and others) and how, because many got behind and supported me, the projects were succesful in helping a lot of people. So take a minute and read the interview I did with Elijah, and consider getting involved or at least sharing his story. I think you will be just as challenged as I was:
Rebecca: For anyone that doesn't know you, tell us a little bit about yourself. Do you have any hobbies? What's your favortie kind of music? Elijah: Anybody that knows me knows that I love sports. My favorite sport to watch is basketball and my favorite to play is football. I really like to pray, I don't do it all the time because I'm caught up in everything else, but I like to pray about basically anything that's going on. Lecrae is my favorite kind of music but NeedtoBreath is my favorite band.
Rebecca: So I think I know everything about what you're wanting to do, but let's start with you just telling me how you got the idea and what your plan is.
Elijah: Well, the idea came because when it's your birthday, you get gifts. But Jesus didn't get gifts, He gave a gift. We live by the interstate in Grandbay and basically everytime we go somewhere we have to get on the interstate so we see a lot of people walking around. I actually thought of the idea while we were on the interstate.
Rebecca: After that you started looking into homeless shelters?
Elijah: At first we were just going to collect a few things and take the stuff to the people we found around the interstate but then we looked into it more. I called the shelter and asked what they needed and this Saturday we're going to have lunch with the lady that runs the shelter and take the supplies to her.
Rebecca: So what exactly are you trying to collect?
Elijah: Towles, socks, and blankets.
Rebecca: And how much are you hoping to collect?
Elijah: We're hoping to collect a lot because there are actually two shelters we want to give to. The women's shelter has showers and so they said they are always needing more towels. They said socks are good to donate because it's winter and a lot of homeless people have to walk a long way.
Rebecca: Some people who read this may know your family already but some may not know you at all, some people may not be able to give something but they can still be encouraged in hearing what you're doing. Is there anything else you'd like to say to people who are going to read this?
Elijah: Just that, you know, Jesus did something big. No one can ever repay him for that. So we should all try the best we can to give big like Jesus did.
If you'd like to get involved and donate towels, socks, or blankets let us know! We can plan to meet up somewhere or you could mail a check and we can go buy the supplies here. You can reach me on:
Facebook: Rebecca Wattier
Email: BeckWattier@gmail.com
Cell: 251-422-3071
You can also help by sharing this through facebook and twitter, or leaving an encouraging comment- I'll make sure Elijah sees them all.
**The Nicholson's started a new church plant in the midtown Mobile area last year, South City Church, where I'm currently attending. If you're in the Mobile area and are looking for a place to plug in you can find out more info at www.SouthCityMobile.com **
Thursday, July 9, 2009
"I Can Do All Things"....Including Suffer Unjustly...
“For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”
1 Peter 2:19-24
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
I remember watching the Donut Man as a kid with all my cousins singing, “I can do all things, all things, all things, I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13!”
We’re taught all these things while growing up but as adults we never stop to rethink them and see how they may apply differently to our adult lives. As a kid, “I can do all things” meant I could eat my veggies, clean my room, and ride my bike up the really big hill at my uncles house. This carried into my teenage years where it meant I could make new friends, apply for a job, and take on the boys in the soccer playoffs without being afraid of getting trampled. (I made two goals playing forward and we won that tournament I might add).
As an adult however, what does it mean? For the most part it has held the same type of meaning- I can work 40 hours a week and keep a smile on my face, I can take 4 finals on the same day and not pass out, I can teach a bible class because its not my wisdom but His... All these things are very true, but today I’m seeing from a little different perspective. I think we tend to read this verse and think of all the things we can accomplish, all the goals we can set, and how we will succeed because we can ‘do all things’. But let’s look at the couple verses before this one that we’re so quick to recite:.
“..I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” And because of this I know…. “I can do all things, through him who strengthens me.”
Changes things a bit, right? We can indeed accomplish great things through Christ's strength, but I think that is only one aspect of this verse. Change the wording a little and instead of ‘I can do all things’ how about ‘ I can face all things’? Maybe it is not only about what we can do, accomplish, or achieve. Maybe it is also about what we can face, endure, and make it through.
As Christians (following in the steps of Christ) we are called to suffer as Christ suffered- to suffer unjustly. Why? We are called to be the light of the world, to shine brightly and reflect the glory of God. Where does light shine the brightest? In the darkness. Light becomes brighter when it is submerged in darkness. When we are in the middle of suffering and when we should (by all human reasoning) be overwhelmed and overtaken by our circumstances, yet we are able to endure, that shines.
We are called to shine, and one of the ways that we can do this best is through enduring hard things. When we go through something that drains us of all human strength, the strength of Christ kicks in and that is obvious to anyone watching.
Paul says that he has learned how to be content. He knows how to be brought low, and he knows how to abound. I love this. He knows how to be brought low, as Christ knew how to be brought low. This makes me think of gracefully enduring hard things. Not just getting through, but refusing to let circumstances slam us to the ground and toss us around like crazy. Knowing how to be brought low slowly, peacefully even. By following in the steps of Christ we shouldn't be surprised by hard things. By knowing who we are in Christ we know we can endure hard things. By knowing these things, the hard things become a gracious thing for us because through them we are able to shine our brightest and point to Christ.
But it doesn’t stop there. Knowing all of this also enables us to know how to abound. Not just sit there and take the suffering and wait for it to pass and then abound afterwards, but to abound in the midst of suffering-to find peace in the midst of turmoil, joy in the midst of sadness, strength in the midst of weakness. Why? Because we ‘can do all things through him who strengthens’ us.
Not only can we suffer because he strengthens us, not only can we endure it and make it through because he strengthens us, but because he strengthens us we can do so joyfully. Because he strengthens us we can do all things- like find peace and happiness and contentment when everything around us is falling to pieces. Why? Again, it is in doing these things that we can shine the brightest.
In a world that runs from suffering and does everything possible to avoid inconvenience and uncomfortable-ness, what would it look like for us to begin to embrace suffering when it comes our way, knowing that it will enable us to shine? What if, when in the midst of hard things that we didn't ask for or deserve, we took a minute to praise our God because He has given us an opportunity to bring glory to His name? What if, when we see our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering unjustly, instead of praying that God would remove their burden, we pray that God would enable them to glorify Him in the utmost way?
What if we look at suffering as an opportunity to show the world what this Christian thing is all about?
What if we became known for the way we handled suffering?
What if, instead of our stance on homosexuality, our social ciricles, or the location of our bodies on Sunday mornings, the un-churched of Mobile knew who the churched were by the way we were gracefully ‘brought low’ in tough times?
What if?
1 Peter 2:19-24
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
I remember watching the Donut Man as a kid with all my cousins singing, “I can do all things, all things, all things, I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me, Philippians 4:13!”
We’re taught all these things while growing up but as adults we never stop to rethink them and see how they may apply differently to our adult lives. As a kid, “I can do all things” meant I could eat my veggies, clean my room, and ride my bike up the really big hill at my uncles house. This carried into my teenage years where it meant I could make new friends, apply for a job, and take on the boys in the soccer playoffs without being afraid of getting trampled. (I made two goals playing forward and we won that tournament I might add).
As an adult however, what does it mean? For the most part it has held the same type of meaning- I can work 40 hours a week and keep a smile on my face, I can take 4 finals on the same day and not pass out, I can teach a bible class because its not my wisdom but His... All these things are very true, but today I’m seeing from a little different perspective. I think we tend to read this verse and think of all the things we can accomplish, all the goals we can set, and how we will succeed because we can ‘do all things’. But let’s look at the couple verses before this one that we’re so quick to recite:.
“..I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” And because of this I know…. “I can do all things, through him who strengthens me.”
Changes things a bit, right? We can indeed accomplish great things through Christ's strength, but I think that is only one aspect of this verse. Change the wording a little and instead of ‘I can do all things’ how about ‘ I can face all things’? Maybe it is not only about what we can do, accomplish, or achieve. Maybe it is also about what we can face, endure, and make it through.
As Christians (following in the steps of Christ) we are called to suffer as Christ suffered- to suffer unjustly. Why? We are called to be the light of the world, to shine brightly and reflect the glory of God. Where does light shine the brightest? In the darkness. Light becomes brighter when it is submerged in darkness. When we are in the middle of suffering and when we should (by all human reasoning) be overwhelmed and overtaken by our circumstances, yet we are able to endure, that shines.
We are called to shine, and one of the ways that we can do this best is through enduring hard things. When we go through something that drains us of all human strength, the strength of Christ kicks in and that is obvious to anyone watching.
Paul says that he has learned how to be content. He knows how to be brought low, and he knows how to abound. I love this. He knows how to be brought low, as Christ knew how to be brought low. This makes me think of gracefully enduring hard things. Not just getting through, but refusing to let circumstances slam us to the ground and toss us around like crazy. Knowing how to be brought low slowly, peacefully even. By following in the steps of Christ we shouldn't be surprised by hard things. By knowing who we are in Christ we know we can endure hard things. By knowing these things, the hard things become a gracious thing for us because through them we are able to shine our brightest and point to Christ.
But it doesn’t stop there. Knowing all of this also enables us to know how to abound. Not just sit there and take the suffering and wait for it to pass and then abound afterwards, but to abound in the midst of suffering-to find peace in the midst of turmoil, joy in the midst of sadness, strength in the midst of weakness. Why? Because we ‘can do all things through him who strengthens’ us.
Not only can we suffer because he strengthens us, not only can we endure it and make it through because he strengthens us, but because he strengthens us we can do so joyfully. Because he strengthens us we can do all things- like find peace and happiness and contentment when everything around us is falling to pieces. Why? Again, it is in doing these things that we can shine the brightest.
In a world that runs from suffering and does everything possible to avoid inconvenience and uncomfortable-ness, what would it look like for us to begin to embrace suffering when it comes our way, knowing that it will enable us to shine? What if, when in the midst of hard things that we didn't ask for or deserve, we took a minute to praise our God because He has given us an opportunity to bring glory to His name? What if, when we see our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering unjustly, instead of praying that God would remove their burden, we pray that God would enable them to glorify Him in the utmost way?
What if we look at suffering as an opportunity to show the world what this Christian thing is all about?
What if we became known for the way we handled suffering?
What if, instead of our stance on homosexuality, our social ciricles, or the location of our bodies on Sunday mornings, the un-churched of Mobile knew who the churched were by the way we were gracefully ‘brought low’ in tough times?
What if?
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