Community

Father~Son~Holy Spirit

Community is God’s idea. Community is Who He is. And that makes {community} good.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us…” Genesis 1:26 NLT

Pondering the word {community} brings a potpourri of beautiful thoughts about my current phase of life, which is full of change in big and small ways. Thoughts that cause laughter, smiles, and sometimes teardrops to sting my eyes, especially today as I think of the community in Atlanta we left to move west. I’m reminded too of how grateful I’ve become for technology which helps us to maintain a connection to community from miles away.

This morning I’ve given thanks to God numerous times also for the new community into which we’ve been planted, and into which, we are beginning to take root. As strangers from the southeastern United States, we moved in. Then, just the loveliest group of humans surrounded us with welcome, encouragement, and kindness. Even as my 60th birthday loomed large after Christmas and I was missing coffee birthday socials with my usual gaggle of friends, my socks were knocked off and tears flowed in abundance when I realized ladies in our new community had orchestrated a surprise birthday party in my honor.

Community is necessary. We need each other. God says so.

And God says that what He has created in community is very good.

God says that community is so good we should multiply and fill the whole earth with His image bearers.

²⁷ So God created human beings in His own image.
    In the image of God He created them;
    male and female He created them.

²⁸ Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Genesis 1:27-28 NLT

I think most important today is that I’ve been pondering the idea of community through the lens of anticipated birth. We are, even as I type {exceedingly distracted by checking for text updates}, on tiptoes of anticipation for the arrival of our baby granddaughter, Rebecca.

Any moment now my phone will light up with the news that SHE IS HERE! Finally, the moment for which we have all waited will arrive. Baby girl will join our community of family, and none of us will ever be the same!

¹⁸ Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Genesis 2:18 NLT

I wonder if this isn’t a touch of how God felt about creating a man and a woman in His own image. The love He holds for each of His children must be enormous. And life lived in community must be held in His high esteem.

His plan was for each of us to live in community with Him and with each other in love and without shame. Community is good. And even though we live in a tainted world of imperfection, there are many moments, if we choose to really see, that we have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of God’s beautifully crafted grand design for

COMMUNITY

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. Hebrews 13:1-3

Eyes on Jesus (even while anticipating baby girl) and Shine!

~Lisa