The Bridge HTX blog https://www.thebridgehtx.org Wed, 13 May 2026 08:56:49 -0400 http://churchplantmedia.com/ invisible, the Hope grows https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/invisible-the-hope-grows https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/invisible-the-hope-grows#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2020 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/invisible-the-hope-grows This year has felt like one long, dark, hopeless night. Nothing is right. Nothing is clear. Nothing is certain. There is no guaranteed cure. There is no guaranteed justice. There is no clear end in sight. What keeps us going in the face of this monstrosity of a crisis?

In the blackness of this night, one of my favorite musicians, John Mark McMillan, has reminded me of something so dangerously powerful: “Invisible, the Hope grows in the black where nobody knows; we smile in the mystery, in the night where nobody sees.” Truly, there is so much unknown that both the present & future seem like a pitch-black night. But in the midst of this night, hope can be the one thing that carries us through, giving us some semblance of comfort. Even in the throes of a deep & dark despair, a strong hope can propel us forward; it can bring joy into our hearts, minds, and eyes; it can give us reason to keep living.

However, hope is something that is often difficult to grab a hold of. After looking at a few definitions of hope, I noticed a few words that came up repeatedly, as well as a phrase that stood out: desire, belief, expectation, and “to want something to be true.” Hope implies a current absence of something desirable or even necessary. But in that same vein, hope implies the possibility of someday attaining that same desirable/necessary thing. 

What do we actually hope for, especially in this year of such chaos & despair? We hope for healing. We hope for safety. We hope for justice. We hope for closeness to one another. What gives us the ability to hope for these things, especially with everything that has & is happening? Where can we find this hope? Or more appropriately, from whom can we receive this hope?

Time for one of the three Sunday school answers: Jesus. Jesus is & gives the greatest hope we could ever ask for. In Him are the eternal, irreversible promises of love, joy, peace, comfort, healing, freedom, and justice. His return to Earth will ultimately result in the total eradication of everything that gives cause for pain & grief.

“…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame…” Romans 5:3-5

The Advent season is meant to turn our eyes simultaneously toward the past & the future. Looking back into the past, we recall how God Himself became a baby and came to earth in the most humble of places, all to eventually die & resurrect on our behalf. Looking forward into the future, we anticipate that same God coming back again to right every wrong, heal every wound, and permanently defeat all that is evil. The future aspect of Advent is so beautifully relevant to our present hunger for hope.

In this Advent season, as we affix our eyes upon Jesus - God as a human, and first a newborn baby – we are invited to lay all of our worries, needs, and aches at His feet. We are invited to get caught up in the hope of His second coming, a hope so profoundly powerful that it can grab a hold of us even when we lack the strength to hold onto it for ourselves. The Hope of Jesus is needed & wanted; planned & promised; long-awaited & longed-for; and finally, delivered & held. Even in the blackness of this night, we can smile as we thank God for the invisible Hope He grows for us.

 

Andy is our Director of Gathered Life and leads the Southside House Church

Advent Daily Devotionals HERE

Celebrate Advent with a House Church. Details HERE

]]> This year has felt like one long, dark, hopeless night. Nothing is right. Nothing is clear. Nothing is certain. There is no guaranteed cure. There is no guaranteed justice. There is no clear end in sight. What keeps us going in the face of this monstrosity of a crisis?

In the blackness of this night, one of my favorite musicians, John Mark McMillan, has reminded me of something so dangerously powerful: “Invisible, the Hope grows in the black where nobody knows; we smile in the mystery, in the night where nobody sees.” Truly, there is so much unknown that both the present & future seem like a pitch-black night. But in the midst of this night, hope can be the one thing that carries us through, giving us some semblance of comfort. Even in the throes of a deep & dark despair, a strong hope can propel us forward; it can bring joy into our hearts, minds, and eyes; it can give us reason to keep living.

However, hope is something that is often difficult to grab a hold of. After looking at a few definitions of hope, I noticed a few words that came up repeatedly, as well as a phrase that stood out: desire, belief, expectation, and “to want something to be true.” Hope implies a current absence of something desirable or even necessary. But in that same vein, hope implies the possibility of someday attaining that same desirable/necessary thing. 

What do we actually hope for, especially in this year of such chaos & despair? We hope for healing. We hope for safety. We hope for justice. We hope for closeness to one another. What gives us the ability to hope for these things, especially with everything that has & is happening? Where can we find this hope? Or more appropriately, from whom can we receive this hope?

Time for one of the three Sunday school answers: Jesus. Jesus is & gives the greatest hope we could ever ask for. In Him are the eternal, irreversible promises of love, joy, peace, comfort, healing, freedom, and justice. His return to Earth will ultimately result in the total eradication of everything that gives cause for pain & grief.

“…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame…” Romans 5:3-5

The Advent season is meant to turn our eyes simultaneously toward the past & the future. Looking back into the past, we recall how God Himself became a baby and came to earth in the most humble of places, all to eventually die & resurrect on our behalf. Looking forward into the future, we anticipate that same God coming back again to right every wrong, heal every wound, and permanently defeat all that is evil. The future aspect of Advent is so beautifully relevant to our present hunger for hope.

In this Advent season, as we affix our eyes upon Jesus - God as a human, and first a newborn baby – we are invited to lay all of our worries, needs, and aches at His feet. We are invited to get caught up in the hope of His second coming, a hope so profoundly powerful that it can grab a hold of us even when we lack the strength to hold onto it for ourselves. The Hope of Jesus is needed & wanted; planned & promised; long-awaited & longed-for; and finally, delivered & held. Even in the blackness of this night, we can smile as we thank God for the invisible Hope He grows for us.

 

Andy is our Director of Gathered Life and leads the Southside House Church

Advent Daily Devotionals HERE

Celebrate Advent with a House Church. Details HERE

]]> Thursday Leftovers - Waiting on Jesus https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/thursday-leftovers https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/thursday-leftovers#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2020 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/thursday-leftovers Every week, there are things that I encounter in my study and preparation for the week's teaching. This week we looked at Mark 5:21-42 and leaned into how we should respond when God's timing results in us waiting in anguish in what seems to be neglect. You can listen to the sermon HERE. Actually, please do listen to it if you are able, it will help this post have more context.

In our teaching, we pursued understanding two important Truths that can lead us to persevere with peaceful patience with God while we go through pain, suffering, and need. Those two Truths were:

1) You will give more and get more than you bargained for when you approach Jesus for help.

2) Jesus gives more of Himself than He asks of you.

While these two Truths are foundational and were the ones God led us to focus on within the recorded teaching, there is one more that emerged from our study of Mark thus far that seems worth sharing.

If you have not already, take a moment to read Mark 5:21-42

Now that you have experienced this crazy moment and scene with Jesus, His disciples, an excited crowd, a desperate father with a deathly ill daughter, and a chronicly ill woman, let's look at one more Truth that is really important and, I pray, helpful for you. It is this:

Our impatience with God is often rooted in our insecurity in who God is and in who we are to Him.

How did Jairus understand Jesus? He understood Him as healer but not Lord.

How did the hemorrhaging woman see herself? She felt she was unworthy to approach Jesus but Jesus welcomed her in.

Yes, we face legitimate hardships and devastation in this life and God never downplays that or tells us to dismiss that reality. He, over and over again, works to reveal His nature to us... that He is loving, Holy, Wise, faithful, good, and true.

Once again, Jesus is calling out the same Truth, promise, and invitation. He is telling and showing us that our life is in His eternal hands. His ways are not our ways. His timing is not our timing. His goodness is always better than ours. His intent is always better than ours. His wisdom is always wiser than ours… the list goes on. We are also told by Jesus that it is by HIS merit, not our ours that we are worthy to approach Him.

Jairus was correct that Jesus can heal because, after all, Jesus, the King, has authority over sickness and health. But the man did not realize that it is no different for Jesus to heal a sickness as it is for Him to raise someone from the dead because Jesus the King's authoirty is not just over health and sickness but also over all of life and death. 

The woman was correct that she was unworthy in it of herself to approach the holiness of Jesus but she needed to encounter the grace and love of Jesus that says she is worthy because of how Jesus sees her and who He says she is according to what He has done.

This is true for us too. We can be patient in our suffering because we Trust the sovereign wisdom and grace of Jesus and we know that He welcomes us because of his grace and love as we are to have our deepest needs met.

I pray this finds you well and the the Truth of God's grace in Christ being present in your suffering is a comfort and a strength for you today. God bless.

 

]]> Every week, there are things that I encounter in my study and preparation for the week's teaching. This week we looked at Mark 5:21-42 and leaned into how we should respond when God's timing results in us waiting in anguish in what seems to be neglect. You can listen to the sermon HERE. Actually, please do listen to it if you are able, it will help this post have more context.

In our teaching, we pursued understanding two important Truths that can lead us to persevere with peaceful patience with God while we go through pain, suffering, and need. Those two Truths were:

1) You will give more and get more than you bargained for when you approach Jesus for help.

2) Jesus gives more of Himself than He asks of you.

While these two Truths are foundational and were the ones God led us to focus on within the recorded teaching, there is one more that emerged from our study of Mark thus far that seems worth sharing.

If you have not already, take a moment to read Mark 5:21-42

Now that you have experienced this crazy moment and scene with Jesus, His disciples, an excited crowd, a desperate father with a deathly ill daughter, and a chronicly ill woman, let's look at one more Truth that is really important and, I pray, helpful for you. It is this:

Our impatience with God is often rooted in our insecurity in who God is and in who we are to Him.

How did Jairus understand Jesus? He understood Him as healer but not Lord.

How did the hemorrhaging woman see herself? She felt she was unworthy to approach Jesus but Jesus welcomed her in.

Yes, we face legitimate hardships and devastation in this life and God never downplays that or tells us to dismiss that reality. He, over and over again, works to reveal His nature to us... that He is loving, Holy, Wise, faithful, good, and true.

Once again, Jesus is calling out the same Truth, promise, and invitation. He is telling and showing us that our life is in His eternal hands. His ways are not our ways. His timing is not our timing. His goodness is always better than ours. His intent is always better than ours. His wisdom is always wiser than ours… the list goes on. We are also told by Jesus that it is by HIS merit, not our ours that we are worthy to approach Him.

Jairus was correct that Jesus can heal because, after all, Jesus, the King, has authority over sickness and health. But the man did not realize that it is no different for Jesus to heal a sickness as it is for Him to raise someone from the dead because Jesus the King's authoirty is not just over health and sickness but also over all of life and death. 

The woman was correct that she was unworthy in it of herself to approach the holiness of Jesus but she needed to encounter the grace and love of Jesus that says she is worthy because of how Jesus sees her and who He says she is according to what He has done.

This is true for us too. We can be patient in our suffering because we Trust the sovereign wisdom and grace of Jesus and we know that He welcomes us because of his grace and love as we are to have our deepest needs met.

I pray this finds you well and the the Truth of God's grace in Christ being present in your suffering is a comfort and a strength for you today. God bless.

 

]]> It's ok to be angry https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/its-ok-to-be-angry- https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/its-ok-to-be-angry-#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/its-ok-to-be-angry- “I don’t get angry. I just get frustrated.” Are two things I used to say far too often. I don’t know why, but somehow I learned that being angry was a bad thing — especially if it was with God. “Don’t go to bed when you’re angry.” “Be grateful.” It was like anger was a selfish response for someone who was saved by God’s grace. What did I have to be angry about? I had it way better than other people. So I grew up stuffing my feelings away, calling it something else or denying it all together. Even when I got crippling anxiety in middle school. Even when my parents went through a nasty divorce in college. Even when I found hardship at my first post-grad job. I could handle it. It was just “frustrating.”

And then I had my first kid. During the first year, I was low on sleep, reconciling things from my own childhood, struggling with going back to work, and dealing with on-going family drama. Suddenly, I found all the little things that used to “frustrate” me weren’t so little anymore. They angered me. I was MAD. And I felt there was one person who could have fixed everything, but He didn’t. I realized I was angry with God. For a lot of things. For the state of our world. For the injustice I felt in my life — and the gross injustices present in the lives of others.

For the first time, I let myself really feel it. I relished in the anger. It was almost powerful, a relief of years of built-up tension. But I didn’t feel like I could share it with God. He didn’t deserve my anger. It was wrong. So I withdrew and battled my emotions alone.

For more than a year, I struggled with my anger. To say it impacted how I related with God is an understatement. I struggled through my quiet times – or skipped them all together. I forced my way through Bible passages. I felt farther and farther from God, because I wasn’t sharing all of myself with Him. I thank Him for the fact through this season, I still had the discipline to pursue obedience in pursuing Him, even if I didn’t feel like doing it.

One day, I decided to start reading Psalms in the hope that I’d be reminded of God’s glory and  that it would wipe away my anger. But something else happened instead. Almost immediately, I realized that David wasn’t all smiles and rainbows. He was desperate. He was afraid. And he was angry.

  • Psalm 4:4 says, “Be angry and do not sin…” Anger isn’t new to God. He expects us to get mad. It is possible to be angry and still honor the Lord.
  •  Psalm 5:1 says, “Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.” God hears us. He wants us to share with Him.
  • Psalm 5:4-6 says, “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness…You destroy those who speak lies...the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” God is a just god. He hates sin.
  • Psalm 6:2 says, “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.” We can come to the Lord in a bad mood.

Something clicked. God doesn’t get his feelings hurt by our anger. He shares in it. The Bible tells us that God is a jealous god. He is just as angered as I am by the world’s sin. He is wrathful. He weeps. And just as we can rejoice in what pleases the Lord, we should be angered by what angers Him, too.

So I started to share mine, instead of stuffing it. Sometimes, my journal entries read more like lists of grievances than love letters. But I didn’t hold back. Slowly but surely, God began to feel more loving, more understanding – and I began to feel less and less angry.

There is no neat ending to this story. I’m still struggling with anger – I’m human after all. In the past six months, Covid-19 has changed all of our lives, the horrific racial injustices felt by our Black brothers and sisters have been rightfully brought to the forefront, and our country’s tense political climate has caused some tough conversations. I’ve found myself getting angry again. But this time, I know that God is angry, too. And He has promised that justice is coming.

Haley (and her husband Neil) and Covenant Partners and part of the Montrose House Church. 

 

]]> “I don’t get angry. I just get frustrated.” Are two things I used to say far too often. I don’t know why, but somehow I learned that being angry was a bad thing — especially if it was with God. “Don’t go to bed when you’re angry.” “Be grateful.” It was like anger was a selfish response for someone who was saved by God’s grace. What did I have to be angry about? I had it way better than other people. So I grew up stuffing my feelings away, calling it something else or denying it all together. Even when I got crippling anxiety in middle school. Even when my parents went through a nasty divorce in college. Even when I found hardship at my first post-grad job. I could handle it. It was just “frustrating.”

And then I had my first kid. During the first year, I was low on sleep, reconciling things from my own childhood, struggling with going back to work, and dealing with on-going family drama. Suddenly, I found all the little things that used to “frustrate” me weren’t so little anymore. They angered me. I was MAD. And I felt there was one person who could have fixed everything, but He didn’t. I realized I was angry with God. For a lot of things. For the state of our world. For the injustice I felt in my life — and the gross injustices present in the lives of others.

For the first time, I let myself really feel it. I relished in the anger. It was almost powerful, a relief of years of built-up tension. But I didn’t feel like I could share it with God. He didn’t deserve my anger. It was wrong. So I withdrew and battled my emotions alone.

For more than a year, I struggled with my anger. To say it impacted how I related with God is an understatement. I struggled through my quiet times – or skipped them all together. I forced my way through Bible passages. I felt farther and farther from God, because I wasn’t sharing all of myself with Him. I thank Him for the fact through this season, I still had the discipline to pursue obedience in pursuing Him, even if I didn’t feel like doing it.

One day, I decided to start reading Psalms in the hope that I’d be reminded of God’s glory and  that it would wipe away my anger. But something else happened instead. Almost immediately, I realized that David wasn’t all smiles and rainbows. He was desperate. He was afraid. And he was angry.

  • Psalm 4:4 says, “Be angry and do not sin…” Anger isn’t new to God. He expects us to get mad. It is possible to be angry and still honor the Lord.
  •  Psalm 5:1 says, “Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.” God hears us. He wants us to share with Him.
  • Psalm 5:4-6 says, “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness…You destroy those who speak lies...the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” God is a just god. He hates sin.
  • Psalm 6:2 says, “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.” We can come to the Lord in a bad mood.

Something clicked. God doesn’t get his feelings hurt by our anger. He shares in it. The Bible tells us that God is a jealous god. He is just as angered as I am by the world’s sin. He is wrathful. He weeps. And just as we can rejoice in what pleases the Lord, we should be angered by what angers Him, too.

So I started to share mine, instead of stuffing it. Sometimes, my journal entries read more like lists of grievances than love letters. But I didn’t hold back. Slowly but surely, God began to feel more loving, more understanding – and I began to feel less and less angry.

There is no neat ending to this story. I’m still struggling with anger – I’m human after all. In the past six months, Covid-19 has changed all of our lives, the horrific racial injustices felt by our Black brothers and sisters have been rightfully brought to the forefront, and our country’s tense political climate has caused some tough conversations. I’ve found myself getting angry again. But this time, I know that God is angry, too. And He has promised that justice is coming.

Haley (and her husband Neil) and Covenant Partners and part of the Montrose House Church. 

 

]]> Just Show Up https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/just-show-up https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/just-show-up#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/just-show-up
Dave is known to be a guy that shows up for others in need. Dave shares what compels him to do so and how that looks in a busy life.
]]>
Dave is known to be a guy that shows up for others in need. Dave shares what compels him to do so and how that looks in a busy life.
]]> Not a Casual Relationship https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/relationship-with-god-is-not-casual https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/relationship-with-god-is-not-casual#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/relationship-with-god-is-not-casual In the last couple of days a tragedy has happened that no one predicted; my 18 week pregnant friend and her husband were in a head on collision which resulted in minor injuries on the husband – and my friend Meg being taken in for leg surgery, and instead being sedated and having major brain surgeries.

As I write this she lies unconscious without a piece of her skull…& I don’t know if she will recover and continue the ministry work she was doing with her husband in Georgia, or if she will cross over and begin to live out her eternal joy in the presence of the Lord. 

The night it happened I was lying in bed scrolling my social media feed, getting ready to stop and dive into my old testament reading for the day and I got a call from a friend. After she gave me the news, and we said a quick prayer together, she hung up to continue calling people to pray and I started sending out messages myself.

The prayer chain grew and spread across the united states, and by the morning someone had started a gofundme to support the incurring costs – and by that night there was over $22,000 raised – and by the next over $53,000!

I just saw this latest support update.

I saw it and the first thing I thought was, O Lord! Thank you! Thank you that now Isaiah (the husband) and the family can have peace that You’ve got this and that You are taking care of them!

And then I stopped. 

They have the Creator with them.

I have the Creator with me!

WE HAVE THE CREATOR WITH US!?!?!

 Why would the thought of $53,000 be a greater sense of stable peace than having the source of all sources at my right hand???

But that’s how we are.

That’s how I am.

The physical gives me assurance of the invisible.

But also, I realize that what I cling to as carrying the tag of “what gives me peace and security” is what I worship; what I look to, to help me in times of need or distress.

It is what I consider god in my life.

The thing which has the ultimate power and authority to save me, secure me, and keep me from danger or pain or want.

God on the other hand does not promise to keep me from danger or pain or want.

Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. -John 15:20

That can be a hard thing to accept.

It can be a hard thing to surrender your life to.

God is not one to have casual relationships with people –

We can’t consider Him an acquaintance.

He is and declares Himself Lord, God, Savior, Master, Sovereign, the Way, the Truth, the Life… - there’s more comfortable things He says He is like Healer, Provider, Comforter etc.

But we cannot – as we can with others say things like: “This is my shopping friend! We shop together – that’s our thing!” – with God!

God is not fooled by our self-absorbed way of taking what we can and moving on.

He will not tolerate a “relationship” that is merely one of convenience; “Oh God? Yea! He is great! Whenever I need him to he just sends me a little cash so I can get whatever’s new!”

God promises real and eternal things and isn’t interested in pacifying us on a path of existence leading into a hollow ending.

He promises to be with us (Matthew 28:20) – but He doesn’t promise comfort and safety.

 Yes, thank God for this provision!!!

Greater thanks though is that He is faithful to keep His promise and He promised His presence!

God, may they be reminded and aware of Your presence, and may Your presence give them peace. May they remember that You have good plans and that nothing on earth can separate them from Your love!

God may I remember – may Your people remember, that Your plans are not to harm us, but to prosper us and give us a feature and a hope, - even if the road there is hard and painful.

Thank You for making a way for us to have access to Your presence through the sacrifice You made. Thank You for making it, so that when we are afraid or hurting or hungry, we are not alone.

 Carolyn is a part of the Montrose House Church.

*the latest update from Meg is that she has a long road ahead, but is on the path to recovering. 

 

]]> In the last couple of days a tragedy has happened that no one predicted; my 18 week pregnant friend and her husband were in a head on collision which resulted in minor injuries on the husband – and my friend Meg being taken in for leg surgery, and instead being sedated and having major brain surgeries.

As I write this she lies unconscious without a piece of her skull…& I don’t know if she will recover and continue the ministry work she was doing with her husband in Georgia, or if she will cross over and begin to live out her eternal joy in the presence of the Lord. 

The night it happened I was lying in bed scrolling my social media feed, getting ready to stop and dive into my old testament reading for the day and I got a call from a friend. After she gave me the news, and we said a quick prayer together, she hung up to continue calling people to pray and I started sending out messages myself.

The prayer chain grew and spread across the united states, and by the morning someone had started a gofundme to support the incurring costs – and by that night there was over $22,000 raised – and by the next over $53,000!

I just saw this latest support update.

I saw it and the first thing I thought was, O Lord! Thank you! Thank you that now Isaiah (the husband) and the family can have peace that You’ve got this and that You are taking care of them!

And then I stopped. 

They have the Creator with them.

I have the Creator with me!

WE HAVE THE CREATOR WITH US!?!?!

 Why would the thought of $53,000 be a greater sense of stable peace than having the source of all sources at my right hand???

But that’s how we are.

That’s how I am.

The physical gives me assurance of the invisible.

But also, I realize that what I cling to as carrying the tag of “what gives me peace and security” is what I worship; what I look to, to help me in times of need or distress.

It is what I consider god in my life.

The thing which has the ultimate power and authority to save me, secure me, and keep me from danger or pain or want.

God on the other hand does not promise to keep me from danger or pain or want.

Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. -John 15:20

That can be a hard thing to accept.

It can be a hard thing to surrender your life to.

God is not one to have casual relationships with people –

We can’t consider Him an acquaintance.

He is and declares Himself Lord, God, Savior, Master, Sovereign, the Way, the Truth, the Life… - there’s more comfortable things He says He is like Healer, Provider, Comforter etc.

But we cannot – as we can with others say things like: “This is my shopping friend! We shop together – that’s our thing!” – with God!

God is not fooled by our self-absorbed way of taking what we can and moving on.

He will not tolerate a “relationship” that is merely one of convenience; “Oh God? Yea! He is great! Whenever I need him to he just sends me a little cash so I can get whatever’s new!”

God promises real and eternal things and isn’t interested in pacifying us on a path of existence leading into a hollow ending.

He promises to be with us (Matthew 28:20) – but He doesn’t promise comfort and safety.

 Yes, thank God for this provision!!!

Greater thanks though is that He is faithful to keep His promise and He promised His presence!

God, may they be reminded and aware of Your presence, and may Your presence give them peace. May they remember that You have good plans and that nothing on earth can separate them from Your love!

God may I remember – may Your people remember, that Your plans are not to harm us, but to prosper us and give us a feature and a hope, - even if the road there is hard and painful.

Thank You for making a way for us to have access to Your presence through the sacrifice You made. Thank You for making it, so that when we are afraid or hurting or hungry, we are not alone.

 Carolyn is a part of the Montrose House Church.

*the latest update from Meg is that she has a long road ahead, but is on the path to recovering. 

 

]]> Through it Together https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/patience- https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/patience-#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/patience- The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” 2 Peter 3:9

There is a fear that keeps people from going to the dentist. You go in for a routine cleaning but end up with the news that you have a deep cavity that will need a crown. When that happened to me, I was wondering how that was even possible because I didn’t have any pain?! I put off getting the procedure for a few months and after they drilled the cavity, while I was waiting for the permanent crown to come in, I started to experience really bad pain. The drilling had irritated the nerve and I ended up having to get a root canal (I don’t wish this procedure on anyone!).

This whole ordeal made me think of our walk with God. We go along thinking we have everything under control until an expert points out something that needs correcting...which we ignore until it gets to a point where we wish we hadn't, to the point that it is painful. At the end of the day that pain resulted in saving my tooth. It made me think, who is close enough to me to lovingly point out areas in my life that need to be exposed and worked on? I don’t have many vulnerable relationships outside of my husband. Ones that will call out my sins and walk through them with me, and the ones I have I don't lean on as I should. I run from confrontation because I tend to be a people pleaser. I am reminded of the verse that I learned from my kid's Sunday lesson, “The Lord... is patient towards you... that all should reach repentance."  It made me realize that the Lord has patience with me in spite of myself. Praise God he has patience with me through my struggles! When I’m frustrated with my kids, husband and friends I am reminded I need to show them patience like God shows me patience. While we are slow to forgive, how cool is it that God has already forgiven us because of the work of the cross. God is patient towards YOU and His desire is that we all come to him for repentance. We can walk boldly into real relationships with our neighbors, co-workers, and family knowing that God's desire is for them to turn towards him. God is in control!

We are not called to do life alone, we are called to do life in community so that the world would know God's patient love. We are called to be open, vulnerable, and patient with each other. We should call out the sins in one another, before the consequences become too painful, and walk through painful moments together. My challenge for myself and for you is to press into this type of life. How can we continue to be committed to a journey of transformation together toward Jesus for the glory of God? I know this will look differently for everyone, but I would love to hear what it looks like for you as we can all learn from each other.  

]]> The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” 2 Peter 3:9

There is a fear that keeps people from going to the dentist. You go in for a routine cleaning but end up with the news that you have a deep cavity that will need a crown. When that happened to me, I was wondering how that was even possible because I didn’t have any pain?! I put off getting the procedure for a few months and after they drilled the cavity, while I was waiting for the permanent crown to come in, I started to experience really bad pain. The drilling had irritated the nerve and I ended up having to get a root canal (I don’t wish this procedure on anyone!).

This whole ordeal made me think of our walk with God. We go along thinking we have everything under control until an expert points out something that needs correcting...which we ignore until it gets to a point where we wish we hadn't, to the point that it is painful. At the end of the day that pain resulted in saving my tooth. It made me think, who is close enough to me to lovingly point out areas in my life that need to be exposed and worked on? I don’t have many vulnerable relationships outside of my husband. Ones that will call out my sins and walk through them with me, and the ones I have I don't lean on as I should. I run from confrontation because I tend to be a people pleaser. I am reminded of the verse that I learned from my kid's Sunday lesson, “The Lord... is patient towards you... that all should reach repentance."  It made me realize that the Lord has patience with me in spite of myself. Praise God he has patience with me through my struggles! When I’m frustrated with my kids, husband and friends I am reminded I need to show them patience like God shows me patience. While we are slow to forgive, how cool is it that God has already forgiven us because of the work of the cross. God is patient towards YOU and His desire is that we all come to him for repentance. We can walk boldly into real relationships with our neighbors, co-workers, and family knowing that God's desire is for them to turn towards him. God is in control!

We are not called to do life alone, we are called to do life in community so that the world would know God's patient love. We are called to be open, vulnerable, and patient with each other. We should call out the sins in one another, before the consequences become too painful, and walk through painful moments together. My challenge for myself and for you is to press into this type of life. How can we continue to be committed to a journey of transformation together toward Jesus for the glory of God? I know this will look differently for everyone, but I would love to hear what it looks like for you as we can all learn from each other.  

]]> I Need You https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/i-need-you https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/i-need-you#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2020 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/i-need-you I need you. 

That phrase is one of the sweetest things to hear but one of the most difficult things to say. My 3 year old is proficient at sharing her feelings this way but I often fail miserably to properly express my needs. 
 
If you are reading this blog, you likely know that humans have a great need to reconcile to God that could only be met by Christ’s work on the cross. If you do not know or understand that, I invite you to email the staff or elders and to read the Gospel of John with one of us. If you have accepted Christ's work on the cross and have taken your identity in Christ, Praise God first and foremost! 
 
But let's also remember that to experience Christ more fully in everyday life and to show the world Christ's love more effectively, we need each other. 
 
God provides believers the Holy Spirit to indwell, illuminate, guide, equip and empower believers for Christ-like living and service (link to scripture). As the Apostle Paul explains, believers are given the "same Spirit" but there are "varieties of gifts". (1 Corinthians 12:4) Paul goes on to compare believers as parts of a body, each one having a unique function and gift and not one part being more important than the other. When describing that relationship, he says the following: 
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." (1 Corinthians 12:21) 
 
I think we can interpret the corollary as true —- that the hand needs the eye and the head needs the feet. As parts of the body, we need each other. 
 
We are terrible at admitting that to each other. When I am struggling to spend time reading the Bible or work through deep-rooted guilt, I want to figure it out alone. When I desire to provide meals to a widowed neighbor or to become a peacemaker to people of color in my community, I want to rely on myself and report back later. But that self-sufficiency undercuts the beautiful variety of giftings that comes from the body of believers working together---- and may lessen the effectiveness of our individual efforts to allow the Gospel to change our hearts and to share that good news with others.
I am going to take a page out of my daughter's book and tell each of you directly ---- I need you. 
I know I don't always act like it, but I do --- desperately. And I'm so thankful to worship and serve alongside my house church, the other partners of the Bridge Montrose, and the collective Body of Christ. 
Curt Kieffer is an elder at The Bridge Montrose and a part of the Galleria/Westside House Church. 

 

If you are interested in sharing what the Lord has been teaching you as a disciple of Jesus, please EMAIL US.

]]> I need you. 

That phrase is one of the sweetest things to hear but one of the most difficult things to say. My 3 year old is proficient at sharing her feelings this way but I often fail miserably to properly express my needs. 
 
If you are reading this blog, you likely know that humans have a great need to reconcile to God that could only be met by Christ’s work on the cross. If you do not know or understand that, I invite you to email the staff or elders and to read the Gospel of John with one of us. If you have accepted Christ's work on the cross and have taken your identity in Christ, Praise God first and foremost! 
 
But let's also remember that to experience Christ more fully in everyday life and to show the world Christ's love more effectively, we need each other. 
 
God provides believers the Holy Spirit to indwell, illuminate, guide, equip and empower believers for Christ-like living and service (link to scripture). As the Apostle Paul explains, believers are given the "same Spirit" but there are "varieties of gifts". (1 Corinthians 12:4) Paul goes on to compare believers as parts of a body, each one having a unique function and gift and not one part being more important than the other. When describing that relationship, he says the following: 
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." (1 Corinthians 12:21) 
 
I think we can interpret the corollary as true —- that the hand needs the eye and the head needs the feet. As parts of the body, we need each other. 
 
We are terrible at admitting that to each other. When I am struggling to spend time reading the Bible or work through deep-rooted guilt, I want to figure it out alone. When I desire to provide meals to a widowed neighbor or to become a peacemaker to people of color in my community, I want to rely on myself and report back later. But that self-sufficiency undercuts the beautiful variety of giftings that comes from the body of believers working together---- and may lessen the effectiveness of our individual efforts to allow the Gospel to change our hearts and to share that good news with others.
I am going to take a page out of my daughter's book and tell each of you directly ---- I need you. 
I know I don't always act like it, but I do --- desperately. And I'm so thankful to worship and serve alongside my house church, the other partners of the Bridge Montrose, and the collective Body of Christ. 
Curt Kieffer is an elder at The Bridge Montrose and a part of the Galleria/Westside House Church. 

 

If you are interested in sharing what the Lord has been teaching you as a disciple of Jesus, please EMAIL US.

]]> The Best Laid Plans https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/the-best-laid-plans https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/the-best-laid-plans#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2020 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/the-best-laid-plans The Best Laid Plans…

I think it can be safely said that thus far, 2020 has not gone as planned. 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11

You may be familiar with this verse and many of us, myself included, cling to this verse with a hope that God’s plans will be simple, straight forward, and bless us. Essentially we hope that that God’s plans and our plans are one in the same.  We think we know what’s best for us, which in many cases is financial security, a happy family, lack of conflict…comfort. 

Comfort.  As I evaluate my life and my tendencies I gravitate towards it; it’s easy, familiar, and secure.  When I re-read Jeremiah through the lens of my sinful heart, that is when God’s plan for my life equals my plan for comfort.

When we truly pursue the heart of God, His plans don’t revolve around our comfort, they revolve around God teaching us, growing us, and refining us to bring Him glory.  When we look back at the biggest defining moments in our lives, I doubt the way we would describe them is comfortable.  God refines us in the trials and fire. It’s not a matter of if, but when.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

The Bible is chock full of examples of people who encountered God much differently than they probably would have planned. Abraham probably didn’t expect to only see one descendant while on Earth. Moses probably didn’t expect to wander in the desert for 40 years and never experience the Promised Land. Daniel probably didn’t plan to be thrown in the lions den for being faithful. Paul probably didn’t envision being persecuted, ship-wrecked, and imprisoned.

I just wanted to encourage y’all (and mostly myself) that even when God’s plan doesn’t line up with ours, to be faithful and thankful. Faithful and thankful that we have a God who knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows exactly what we need, a heart change instead of comfort or predictability.  So whether you are dealing with a lost job, lost loved one, or lost identity; look to the Lord who will satisfy all needs, wants, and desires.

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29-12-13.

Revel in the fact that the God who created everything desires to have an intimate relationship with us. That he loves us enough to pursue and carry us through the trials that are promised, and that he paid the penalty for our sins.  Take comfort in the plans God has you.  They wont be easy or comfortable, and we may not even get to see the fruits of what God has called us to on this Earth, but we can rest assured knowing that God’s plans are the perfect ones.

Travis Hall is an elder at The Bridge Montrose and a part of the Galleria/Westside House Church. 

 

all scripture from: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

 

If you are interested in sharing what the Lord has been teaching you as a disciple of Jesus, please EMAIL US.

 

]]> The Best Laid Plans…

I think it can be safely said that thus far, 2020 has not gone as planned. 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11

You may be familiar with this verse and many of us, myself included, cling to this verse with a hope that God’s plans will be simple, straight forward, and bless us. Essentially we hope that that God’s plans and our plans are one in the same.  We think we know what’s best for us, which in many cases is financial security, a happy family, lack of conflict…comfort. 

Comfort.  As I evaluate my life and my tendencies I gravitate towards it; it’s easy, familiar, and secure.  When I re-read Jeremiah through the lens of my sinful heart, that is when God’s plan for my life equals my plan for comfort.

When we truly pursue the heart of God, His plans don’t revolve around our comfort, they revolve around God teaching us, growing us, and refining us to bring Him glory.  When we look back at the biggest defining moments in our lives, I doubt the way we would describe them is comfortable.  God refines us in the trials and fire. It’s not a matter of if, but when.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

The Bible is chock full of examples of people who encountered God much differently than they probably would have planned. Abraham probably didn’t expect to only see one descendant while on Earth. Moses probably didn’t expect to wander in the desert for 40 years and never experience the Promised Land. Daniel probably didn’t plan to be thrown in the lions den for being faithful. Paul probably didn’t envision being persecuted, ship-wrecked, and imprisoned.

I just wanted to encourage y’all (and mostly myself) that even when God’s plan doesn’t line up with ours, to be faithful and thankful. Faithful and thankful that we have a God who knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows exactly what we need, a heart change instead of comfort or predictability.  So whether you are dealing with a lost job, lost loved one, or lost identity; look to the Lord who will satisfy all needs, wants, and desires.

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29-12-13.

Revel in the fact that the God who created everything desires to have an intimate relationship with us. That he loves us enough to pursue and carry us through the trials that are promised, and that he paid the penalty for our sins.  Take comfort in the plans God has you.  They wont be easy or comfortable, and we may not even get to see the fruits of what God has called us to on this Earth, but we can rest assured knowing that God’s plans are the perfect ones.

Travis Hall is an elder at The Bridge Montrose and a part of the Galleria/Westside House Church. 

 

all scripture from: The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

 

If you are interested in sharing what the Lord has been teaching you as a disciple of Jesus, please EMAIL US.

 

]]> How to handle depression and anxiety during these days https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/depression-and-anxiety- https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/depression-and-anxiety-#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2020 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/depression-and-anxiety-  

 

A moment of insight and encouragement from Hannah Jordan. Hannah is our TBK director, has a dregree in biblial counseling form DTS and is currently working towards getting her professional counseling license. 

]]>  

 

A moment of insight and encouragement from Hannah Jordan. Hannah is our TBK director, has a dregree in biblial counseling form DTS and is currently working towards getting her professional counseling license. 

]]> Pursuit https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/pursuit- https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/pursuit-#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2020 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.thebridgehtx.org/blog/post/pursuit- I’ve been reading through the book of Acts over the last several weeks. Much of the last 2/3 of the book is about Paul’s missionary journeys around the Mediterranean. I’ve read Acts before, but this time through, I’ve been focused on trying to put myself in Paul’s shoes, and doing a lot more research about exactly where he went, how he got there, how long he stayed in each place, and the periods of joy and hardship that he faced. 

What has struck me most is Paul’s determination, love, and steadfastness. He clearly took Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to heart, going to more than 30 cities to bring the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. He spent days, weeks, months, and even years in each city nurturing and teaching old and new believers alike, making disciples that could carry on this mission. The Spirit moved strongly through Paul and his companions, and many, many new believers came to know Jesus and the promise of salvation through Paul’s ministry.

At the same time, Paul faced all sorts of opposition along the way. I can’t imagine the mixed emotions he must have felt. This is depicted well at one of Paul’s first stops on his first journey, in Antioch in Pisidia (modern day Turkey). Paul is asked to give a sermon, and basically tells the sweeping narrative of God’s work through the people of Israel, culminating his message with “the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus…Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything which you could not be freed by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:32-33; 38-39).

After this sermon, the people begged to hear more of this gospel message, and the following week, the whole city showed up to hear Paul speak. Acts 13:48 tells us that when the Gentiles heard this message, “they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.” What an amazing testimony to the power of God’s word and the people’s response to the gospel. But in the next verse, we see the next part of Paul’s roller coaster, as the Jews, who were jealous of Paul and his transformational ministry, incited persecution and drove Paul out of the city.

We see this exact same scenario play out numerous times in Paul’s journeys. Tremendous, life-giving messages lead many people to know Jesus as their Savior, followed quickly by persecution and violent acts by those who opposed Paul. I think many of us would have given up after this first experience of being chased out of a city by angry people. Why risk our lives when we can likely find a happier, safer place to share our faith?

So, I ask myself, what motivated Paul? Why was he able to keep going? The word that keeps popping into my head is PURSUIT. Paul reveals the motivation behind his actions and attitude in the letters that make up much of the New Testament:

I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  1 Corinthians 9:22-24 

 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  2 Timothy 4:6-7 

There is athletic imagery in these passages; I feel Paul’s almost physical strain to respond to Christ’s love for Him by going after others so that they may also know God. As a former track competitor, I find myself both relating to this message, and motivated by it. In high school, my coach would run me through a pursuit drill that he called attack, where I ran repetitive 400-meter (1 lap) intervals, but with a twist. He would line up 4-5 of my teammates in front of me, and start them one-by-one, about 1 second after the other. I started last, and the command that he gave me was to catch and pass every one of them. The idea was to give me targets to pass to keep my eyes up, and progressive motivation to run hard and fast the whole way around that track. It was an effective tool, in part because it is an advantage to have somebody to chase, but also because if I didn’t catch everybody, I’d have to do it again. My coach was trying to teach me the tactic that Paul describes in Philippians 3: focus on what lies ahead, since that is what I can control and where I can achieve victory; not on what is behind. I was effectively pursuing my physical limits by pressing on toward the goal of crossing the finish line first.

I want to be able to say what Paul writes to Timothy: that I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. That I have loved my wife, my family, my friends, my co-workers, and even strangers because God first loved me. That I have pursued God and pursued others using the gifts that God has given me.

I don’t think that we have to travel all over the world to pursue people like Paul did. With that in mind, I’ll conclude this post with a few questions, and also some words that have encouraged me.

Am I pursuing God?

Who has God put on my heart to pursue?

Am I pursuing them, and do they know that they are loved and pursued?

Can I say that I am fighting the fight, running the race, and keeping the faith?

If so, am I depending on God?

If not, what is holding me back?

As I wrestle with these questions, a passage that has encouraged me is Psalm 139. I encourage you to read it in whole, but I specifically share verses 7-10 below, as they remind me (and hopefully you) that we can be confident in taking risks to pursue God and others because He first pursued us. He created us, sent His Son for us, loves us, and wishes us to join Him in heaven for eternity. I pray that you may know this divine love and make it known to others.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10

Jon is a Covenant Member and part of the Southside House Church. 

]]> I’ve been reading through the book of Acts over the last several weeks. Much of the last 2/3 of the book is about Paul’s missionary journeys around the Mediterranean. I’ve read Acts before, but this time through, I’ve been focused on trying to put myself in Paul’s shoes, and doing a lot more research about exactly where he went, how he got there, how long he stayed in each place, and the periods of joy and hardship that he faced. 

What has struck me most is Paul’s determination, love, and steadfastness. He clearly took Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to heart, going to more than 30 cities to bring the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. He spent days, weeks, months, and even years in each city nurturing and teaching old and new believers alike, making disciples that could carry on this mission. The Spirit moved strongly through Paul and his companions, and many, many new believers came to know Jesus and the promise of salvation through Paul’s ministry.

At the same time, Paul faced all sorts of opposition along the way. I can’t imagine the mixed emotions he must have felt. This is depicted well at one of Paul’s first stops on his first journey, in Antioch in Pisidia (modern day Turkey). Paul is asked to give a sermon, and basically tells the sweeping narrative of God’s work through the people of Israel, culminating his message with “the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus…Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything which you could not be freed by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:32-33; 38-39).

After this sermon, the people begged to hear more of this gospel message, and the following week, the whole city showed up to hear Paul speak. Acts 13:48 tells us that when the Gentiles heard this message, “they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.” What an amazing testimony to the power of God’s word and the people’s response to the gospel. But in the next verse, we see the next part of Paul’s roller coaster, as the Jews, who were jealous of Paul and his transformational ministry, incited persecution and drove Paul out of the city.

We see this exact same scenario play out numerous times in Paul’s journeys. Tremendous, life-giving messages lead many people to know Jesus as their Savior, followed quickly by persecution and violent acts by those who opposed Paul. I think many of us would have given up after this first experience of being chased out of a city by angry people. Why risk our lives when we can likely find a happier, safer place to share our faith?

So, I ask myself, what motivated Paul? Why was he able to keep going? The word that keeps popping into my head is PURSUIT. Paul reveals the motivation behind his actions and attitude in the letters that make up much of the New Testament:

I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  1 Corinthians 9:22-24 

 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  2 Timothy 4:6-7 

There is athletic imagery in these passages; I feel Paul’s almost physical strain to respond to Christ’s love for Him by going after others so that they may also know God. As a former track competitor, I find myself both relating to this message, and motivated by it. In high school, my coach would run me through a pursuit drill that he called attack, where I ran repetitive 400-meter (1 lap) intervals, but with a twist. He would line up 4-5 of my teammates in front of me, and start them one-by-one, about 1 second after the other. I started last, and the command that he gave me was to catch and pass every one of them. The idea was to give me targets to pass to keep my eyes up, and progressive motivation to run hard and fast the whole way around that track. It was an effective tool, in part because it is an advantage to have somebody to chase, but also because if I didn’t catch everybody, I’d have to do it again. My coach was trying to teach me the tactic that Paul describes in Philippians 3: focus on what lies ahead, since that is what I can control and where I can achieve victory; not on what is behind. I was effectively pursuing my physical limits by pressing on toward the goal of crossing the finish line first.

I want to be able to say what Paul writes to Timothy: that I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. That I have loved my wife, my family, my friends, my co-workers, and even strangers because God first loved me. That I have pursued God and pursued others using the gifts that God has given me.

I don’t think that we have to travel all over the world to pursue people like Paul did. With that in mind, I’ll conclude this post with a few questions, and also some words that have encouraged me.

Am I pursuing God?

Who has God put on my heart to pursue?

Am I pursuing them, and do they know that they are loved and pursued?

Can I say that I am fighting the fight, running the race, and keeping the faith?

If so, am I depending on God?

If not, what is holding me back?

As I wrestle with these questions, a passage that has encouraged me is Psalm 139. I encourage you to read it in whole, but I specifically share verses 7-10 below, as they remind me (and hopefully you) that we can be confident in taking risks to pursue God and others because He first pursued us. He created us, sent His Son for us, loves us, and wishes us to join Him in heaven for eternity. I pray that you may know this divine love and make it known to others.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:7-10

Jon is a Covenant Member and part of the Southside House Church. 

]]>