Ma gandesc...

about 2 things this morning.

1. That we absolutely MUST function within a body of Christ. And, we absolutely MUST allow the different parts to function as they were created.

2. From Philippians...For it is God who acts through you according to His will and purpose.

When I think about the Body of Christ I usually see it as whichever Christians I am with at the moment. So, here in Marghita, I am a part of the Body of Christ of the Christians here at FCE. But, I am also a part of the Body of Christ at my home church in the city. When I am in the States and at my 'home' churches there, I am a part of their Body of Christ. And, all together, all of these Bodies make up the larger Body of Christ.
What I hadn't considered, before this week, is that even within the smaller Bodies of Christ that I am a part of here in Romania - we could be missing parts. I just assumed that if there were a group of people loving Jesus somewhere then all the parts were represented in that Body - whether small or large. This week, though, I've come to reconsider this assumption of mine. I have a team of 16 here. They have 'parts' that we do not have on our team. I have experienced such a CHANGE in ministry this past week by having this team here. I'm not trying to raise them up personally for praise. What I'm saying is that they have parts of the Body of Christ - roles in the unity of the church - that have not been present on our long-term team here at FCE.
I know they are here to do ministry in town and with the kids but there has been just as equal of ministry towards me. They aren't trying to do that on purpose - they are just using their God given roles and it has been happening naturally.
I am in awe of how God works. In experiencing this for about a week I have come to consider some points in relation to this.

1. I cannot take over roles that are missing on my team.

2. I need to embrace the 'body part' that Christ has given me here at FCE and devote myself to that/those. (Although, I think that God can change these at times.)

3. That my role in the Body of Christ is VITAL to the functioning of the Body of Christ.

4. When the body parts start working together, you long for that to be all the time. You start understanding why God WANTS us to function within a Body of Christ.

1 Cor 12:12

Eph 4:11

Caleb just woke up - need to close this for now.

Ma gandesc...

...about the Desert song off from the new Hillsong album that will come out tomorrow. You can hear the story behind the song and watch the video of it HERE.
When I worship something different happens with me and God. It's like He created me to best communicate with Him, and Him with me during worship. 2 nights ago I came upon that YouTube link with this song and it was a major time of me coming into His presence...
The words of this song really seemed to echo where I am and where I want to be. Singing these words to Him was a time of me admitting where I am not and where I am, letting Him comfort me and challenge me to a greater depth of relationship with Him.

Here's some from the song...
"You are still God, I have a reason to worship."
Isaiah 48
Listen to me, O Jacob and Israel, whom I called!
I am he; I am the first
and I am the last.
My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I call to them they stand forth together.

Still God. This is the God that is still God.
Are we to a point in our relationships with God that r-e-g-a-r-d-l-e-s-s of our circumstances we can sing that line. That we can worship Him because He is the "I AM", He is the first and the last. He can tell the earth and heaven to freakin' stand forth together before Him!

Honestly, I want to say that my relationship with God is at this point. That even in the worst Job turn of life that I could sing this Desert song to Him.... If Caleb were taken from me tomorrow could I sing?

It's hard to admit, sometimes, where you are at. Yeah?

Where are you at today?