On January 13, 2003 I set out on one of the most challenging journeys of my life. One of the distinguishing marks of that journey has been joy.

Many of the songs written by Michael Card make me stop and think. Among them is Joy in the Journey performed by Michael in this video

Fill your coffee cup and enjoy.

Joy in the Journey

There is a joy in the journey

There’s a light we can love on the way

There is a wonder and wildness to life

And freedom for those who obey

And all those who seek it shall find it

A pardon for all who believe

Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind

To all who’ve been born in the Spirit

And who share incarnation with Him

Who belong to eternity stranded in time

And weary of struggling with sin

Forget not the hope that’s before you

And never stop counting the cost

Remember the hopelessness when you were lost

There is a joy in the journey

There’s a light we can love on the way

There is a wonder and wildness to life

And freedom for those who obey

And freedom for those who obey…

by Michael Card

The phrases, “There is a wonder and wildness to life / Freedom to those who obey” are especially meaningful to me. Which part of the song speaks to your heart?

Grace and Peace,

Terry

If we look, we will see people all around us who need encouragement. Here are 4 types of people who need encouragement:

1. Those who are not aware of their value and potential
2. Those who are exhausted and frazzled
3. Those just beginning their journey with Jesus
4. Those who are discouraged and want to give up

Are you involved enough with other people enough to know when they need encouragement?

What will you do?

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

Grace and Peace,

Terry

Are you bringing anything to your church meetings other than your body? Many times we think only about receiving something for ourselves when we gather with our church or small group. But do you ever think about bringing something to share?

You can’t “one another” by yourself.

One of the hallmarks of simple church meetings should be mutual sharing. These together times are wonderful opportunities for us to practice the one another scripture passages we find in our Bibles. The term “one another” implies within itself the concept of sharing because you can’t “one another” by yourself.

Here are 5 questions to ask before you gather with your church or small group.

1. What can I bring that will help us center on Christ’s Lordship
2. What can I bring that will help us build up Christ’s body
3. What can I bring that will help us participate in Christ’s mission
4. What can I bring that will help us grow as Christ followers
5. What can I bring that will help us extend Christ’s Kingdom

Other than a plate of brownies, what will you bring to your next church meeting?

Any thoughts or ideas?

Grace and Peace,

Terry

The word mission carries the idea of sending or being sent. To fully understand the call for Christ followers to live out the mission of Jesus we must enter the story of God being a sending God.

1. The Father sends the Son

(see John 8:42 and here)

Jesus is God on mission in the flesh. As the one sent from the Father, he embodies the mission of the Father.

2. The Father and Son send the Spirit

(see John 14:16-18; John 15:26-27; John 16:7)

The Holy Spirit is the power for this mission. He is sent from the Father and the Son to indwell disciples. God, himself, lives in us.

3. Jesus sends the church indwelt, enabled and empowered by the Spirit.

(see John 20:21-22; Acts 1:8; 1 John 4:13-14)

The church continues God’s mission today. By ourselves we do not have the power or the wisdom to get the job done but we are not left alone in the task. God has placed his Spirit within us.

We get our identity as sent ones from the very nature of this sending God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Spend some time this week in scripture and the story of our sending God.

Grace and Peace,

Terry

What would a coffee cup conversation be without a little talk about coffee related topics from time to time? I found a couple of great ideas for using a disposable coffee cup for some of those around the house projects involving your ceiling, like drilling a hole or painting.

Check out these neat tips at Instructables (via Lifehacker) for using coffee cups to help keep things cleaner when working around the house.

Next time you need to work on your ceiling these ideas might just save you some clean-up. If you reuse a disposable coffee cup you will also save a little room in the landfill.

Grace and Peace,

Terry

The word missional is being tossed around a lot right now. I even mentioned living missionally on my “about page”. The video below is Scott McKnight giving a little insight about what it is to be a missional community.

It’s only about 2 minutes long so have your coffee cup full. It won’t take you long to watch this so just look around the blog here while you finish your coffee break.

Any thoughts or comments?

He who receives you receives me [Jesus], and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. – Matthew 10:40 NIV

Grace and Peace,

Terry