Feb 26th - Message From "The Link"

The phrase that has come to mind to me a lot this past week, “It’s OK, I Understand"

I find myself thinking that and saying that often for a lot of things. How many times have you said that or thought that very phrase?

It usually comes right after someone informs you that they can not commit to something or they can’t help you after all. Or, that thing you wanted me to go to, oh yeah, not going to be able to after all. For some of you it follows up a rejection of some sort.

Even now, as I right that and think about that paragraph, it’s OK, I understand seems fitting. I’m grateful for the few of you who recently have taken time to email me back stating that you’d like to come to the training events or help out on various projects, but are unable to for various reasons. Those email let me know someone is paying attention and at least considering engaging.

To those few and to you who don’t respond but have the same conflicts, it’s OK, I understand. I understand that you’re busy and the few hours you get off each week is needed to be directed in productive ways towards bills, families, grocery shopping, your businesses, and mostly rest. Trust me, it feels like I’ve been working two jobs the past few weeks with all the house renovations.

I’m writing about this idea because I hope it will challenge you to think about how often you say “no" or you’re “unavailable" to help those in need and more importantly, those in your life that you value who ask something of you.

Relationships are what fulfill us and can bring us down. Starting with our relationship with our Heavenly Father. How often do we put Him in the position of having to say, “It’s OK, I Understand." How about our families, our friends, and our neighbors?  Balancing our relationships are the toughest things we face, would you agree?

Life is getting tougher for all of us right now. If you haven’t already been effected by the financial crisis, recession, or whatever you want to call it, you are probably sensing it pushing itself in closer to you. Just today, my wife and I felt it pushing closer into us.

Now is the time figure out how to bind together and not just consider taking care of ourselves. We must begin learning, preparing and practicing just what it looks like to “love our neighbor as ourselves," because it might happen sooner than you think..

The other side of it is….if you dive into this. If you make strides to embrace a missional/relational lifestyle. It will open up places inside of you that God has been waiting to be invited into to show you what His Kingdom is all about. That’s the exciting part. That part is for you.

Andrew
Your “Courageous" Director