Isn't it interesting how when you follow the Lord, He often draws us out of our comfortable places and plunges us into a more challenging atmosphere, in order to grow us up. For a long time, Jamie and I have longed for something more/different, in our worship. I've known for a long time that if an opportunity arose for me to be a part of a New Testament styled "organic" housechurch, I would jump in with both feet! However, I never shared that with my husband until recently. I never understood why he didn't enjoy "church" or why it was such a struggle to get him there! It's a topic we avoid in order to keep the peace...sigh. This needs to change! And I think he's ready for that change as well. We have one more sunday at our current institutional church and then we will be joining countless others in their quest to live out their faith through their lifestyle and not just a once a week event. NOT to say that everyone who attends this type of church is in the wrong!! It just seems to me that when we have organized religion, it puts many limitations on the Holy Spirit and Jesus is not an active participant anymore. That's the way it was for us unfortunately. It was just too easy to fall into the trap of complacency when you know there is some food coming on Sunday! I DO feel so blessed though. Pastor Lorne gave us his blessing as we left C3Calgary. Saying to come and visit and to keep in touch. I was relieved as I read his email reply to my "announcement", and filled with peace as I really wasn't sure what the reply would be. The church has grown so much in the last 6 yrs that it became easy to lose touch with the leadership...I can't imagine how busy they all are with church business...
The kids and I have been meeting irl with a housechurch in Sundre for the past month or so. It started as a discussion group for the book Pagan Christianity? and since then has turned into a wonderful online and in real life, housechurch! I feel connected with them, and think of them often throughout the week. The only drawback is that most of them are 2 hours away from me! But interestingly enough, the kids don't mind the trip out there, and are very excited to take part! However, my husband has only made it out once and has yet to feel that connection...sigh, he's so logical sometimes, and just sees the amount of gas that we go through to fellowship with these like minded Christians! Perhaps I should ask him to join the online group so he could start connecting more...
We would like to start an organic housechurch here in the city, but it is so important to be grounded in the word first and truly be discipled and mentored before we can start anything!! AND I want the Lord's direct opening of doors if we are to start anything in the city like this.
I've also been watching a bit of the Lakeland Revival....Lord we need you right here in Alberta! Come Holy Spirit, ruin us, so that we can NOT return to a "normal" complacent lifestyle! Check it out, Florida Revival.
While we've had a border in our home, I've been re-awakened to the reality of spiritual warfare. It's interesting how you go through stages of knowledge, but until it gets into your heart and you start living differently, you often forget the knowledge you aquired! Lord, help my head knowledge go straight to my heart! My border and I want to pray together, yet it's been impossible to get together without the interruptions of kids. Perhaps we are to include them?! Why not? Silas had an awesome response to the Spirit Food teaching by Patricia King. He's had lots of questions and we've had some great conversations about our Spirit man vs. our Soul man, and how our choices show us which one is stronger! And how we can strengthen one or the other...I was better able to explain WHY we got rid of cable and turfed a bunch of questionable movies/toys etc. He actually understood, it made sense to him, and now when he picks a movie to watch he asks me if it would be considered "spirit food"!!! How exciting is that?! I love seeing this kind of understanding and growth...can you tell?!
So we'll be starting to do some schooly school again...lol The kids are already bored and seem to lack imagination and creativity...this is SO not my strong area either, and Shyla was so excited to get back to school yesterday! So fun to see that she still knew some of her letters and the songs that go with them. Maybe I'll have an early reader??
Anyhow, that the update on the changes going on right now.