dayFOURTEEN :: Peace Be Peace, Water Be Water

I rejoiced with those who said to me,

"Let us go to the house of the LORD." 

Our feet are standing

in your gates, Jerusalem.

  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

"May those who love you be secure. 

May there be peace within your walls

and security within your citadels." 

For the sake of my friends and of all the people,

I will say, "Peace be within you." 

For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,

I will seek your prosperity.

Psalm 122:1-2, 6-9

What a fitting psalm for our journey today.  While most of us might be wrapped up in football games, family time or any other thing that might cause us to forget about our journey, this psalm is an excellent reminder for what tomorrow brings.  I am full of joy with those how say, "Let's go to the House of God!"  How many times have I heard the question, "When are you starting your church?"  As much as I believe we started months ago, I know what people are asking.  When people asked me last year, when our baby was due, I didn't snap back with, "What do you mean due?  He's been alive for 5 months."  I understand, partly because I get it.  I, too, can't wait to see who God brings through the doors at the Y next Sunday...sounds weird doesn't it?  Next Sunday.  Our feet are just standing in the gates, aren't they?

We are to pray for the peace of our community of believers, just as the Israelites prayed for the peace of Jerusalem.  Okay.  "Lord, give our church peace.  Amen."  Done.  While God may know more than what we actually pray, I think there is a little more to this.  The pilgrim in Psalm 122 is on a journey to Jerusalem.  An interesting note here is that the "City of Peace" didn't always experience peace.  We must remember this in our journey - Church at the Springs, may not always be living out the truth that we are the Church at the springs where we are.  We must pray that we be who we have been named, not because Cameron and I thought up a great name, but because we are living out the truth of who we are because of Jesus.

If you have a living relationship with Jesus, you are a spring.  You have within you the life meant to overflow, not lay stagnant.  Jesus wants you and me to live in that reality.  He has placed us where he has placed us so He can be near when people reach out for him in the dark...and just maybe they can find Him there.  Be the spring that you are, just as the psalmist wanted Jerusalem to be who they were.

prayTODAY ::

Pray today for Neighborhood Life.  Pray for God to prompt the hearts of our launch team to provide table experiences for the people who will be coming to The Springs.  Starting in January, we need to have as many neighborhoods ready to host a table gathering as possible.  Ask God to help us all catch a vision for our neighborhood that takes into account the truth that we are springs, meant to bring water where we are!