Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Somewhere along the way we lost it.

We forgot how to live together.
How to work together
How to fight for one another.

God values community. So much so He himself lives in a trinity. That's why He created us, so He could do life with us.

We messed up. And He's been fighting to get us back ever since.

We wander through life, feeling lost, without purpose, without meaning. We feel invisible, unvalued, because who would miss us if we disappeared?

We isolate ourselves. Trying to hide the fact that we AREN'T perfect, and we do have messes, we create for ourselves a little island that no one can reach.

Unfortunately for us, by keeping everyone at arms length, we suddenly look around and see that...we're alone.

And you know whose fault it is?
It's not your neighbors. It's not your friends, your dad or your mom, your boss. It's not even God's.

It's yours. It's mine.
Stop blaming others for the world of isolation we have created for ourselves.

Here's what I've learned. Satan knows how powerful community is, He knows it's how we were designed and what we were created for. The surest way to stop us from fully realizing where our worth comes from is by isolating us.

We believe lies about ourselves and about others. We project our own insecurities onto everyone else to take away the responsibility that lies with us.

You know why your friend doesn't reach out to you? You know why your dad doesn't call you, or why your sister seems standoffish. It's because they are hurting too. They believe the same lies that you do.
That they shouldn't bother reaching out to you because you don't really care about them. That they aren't good enough, that if they show themselves, (I mean really show themselves), they will be rejected.
They will be abandoned. They will be judged.
Stop letting the enemy win. The surest way is by doing NOTHING.

Band together. Be real with each other. Admit that life isn't perfect and you sure as heck aren't either. Invite others into those places where you feel inadequate and broken. Let them surprise you. Watch them speak truth into your life.
Are we in this together or not?

You say you will show people Jesus by living "differently". By living like a Christian? So you try to live a pure life and inevitably you mess up, but instead of admitting your mistakes you pretend like everything is fine. Well let me tell you, no one will see Jesus in you when you're putting on a performance.
Jesus was real. Jesus was vulnerable. He admitted when He was scared, when He wanted help, when He needed Abba.
You want to show people Jesus? Show them the hurt. Show them the pain. THAT'S DIFFERENT.

Because you aren't different by anything YOU'VE done...but by what God has done FOR YOU.
Our lives are messy, we make mistakes, our families struggle and sometimes we just want to be hugged and told everything is going to be ok.

You want meaningful relationships?
Let yourself be seen. Be known. Take back ownership, and responsibility. Step up and step out! And then, watch what happens.

Make the phone call.
Send the text.
Go to lunch.

Be bold. Courageous. Selfless.

Encourage. Teach. Love.

Meet my community for the next five months. We are encouraging each other, challenging each other, loving each other.

Revival is coming, but we are stronger together. Be real with people, invite them in, fight for them...and watch what happens. 

"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." - 1 Corinthians 1:10