Edification as Worship
I found myself saying amen amen amen! It's so true.
You can't have one of the greatest 2 commandments without the other! Love God AND love each other!
There are many forms of edification I guess..... but because I'm a words person I focused on the words pieces in that post. I love that I am worshipping God when I encourage & love on others. When we relate with patience, when we protect each other, present truth with grace to each other, uplift each other, and believe in God's Spirit at work in each other.... we are worshipping Him! That's so cool to me how it all is so connected.
We need to recognize this so much more in the church! We need more encouragement, more love for each other....THAT is how others will know we are His. We can't just be God-focused and not others-focused. When you love on the Body, you love Him.
As a Body, we are different, unique, and not in agreement on everything. We have different backgrounds & opinions, we are on different parts of the journey all with our own unique struggles..... BUT when we bring that all together & get unified in Love for Him and each other - we are unstoppable. When we use our own unique gifts to serve each other - we are worshipping Him! People will see we are not of this world. We will bring out the best in each other and become the beautiful Bride Jesus deserves.
6 comments:
Randi Jo,
Thank you for the link! I'm glad that you appreciated this post. By the way, my daughter is named Miranda, but we call her Randa.
-Alan
'You can't have one of the greatest 2 commandments without the other! Love God AND love each other!'
Hi, Randi Jo,
Yes, Mark 12, Matthew 22, and 1 John 2 come to mind.
NASB
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
So true, Randi Jo. I'm gonna go check out that link... sounds like it'll be great. Thank you!
Greetings Randi Jo,
A genuine love of God will lead us to grasp His holiness. When we learn to function "as He is holy", then we will be free to completely love others.
Joyfully Serving,
Kermit
Hello Randi Jo,
I was on a trip to Florida over the past week or so and returned to find this commentary at Walking in the Spirit, Amy's Blogpage:
"Randi Jo :) said...
amy I'm trying to find keystone's webpage. I didn't feel that he had to delete his comments at all. I thought they were really a graet additional to the conversation. I wanted to talk more with him about some of the things he mentioned about small groups. do you know his page? :) thanks!!
March 11, 2009 10:02 AM
Amy said...
Randi Jo,
That was actually and totally an ACCIDENT of mine! I actually deleted that comment. Keystone never erased/deleted his comments. I accidently looked under the wrong post. See, I looked under this post when I should have looked under the post before this one, "Best Not To Choose Sides" (3.8.09) which garnered the 25 comments.
That's where he had most of his comments. I accidently clicked on this post "A Little Bit of..." and when I didn't see all his posts, I thought he had deleted them all.
In any case, as far as trying to get a hold of him, hopefully he will read this comment section and leave his info. He can click on your name, which brings up your blogpage, and perhaps over there, he and you can work something out where you both can email back and forth.
I hope, Randi Jo, you will continue commenting her as well. I never meant for you to be hurt or turned-off by any of my comments.
I simply just thing we "see" things differently, my dear sister, but that is okay! We are just on different Journey's, yet we have the same beautiful, awesome God who is leading us!
Blessings,
~Amy :)
I realized my mistake
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Randi Jo, I have deleted NO comment in Small Group or in the 25 comment whopper that preceded the post. Apparently, while I travelled, Amy has deleted a post comment, though I can find no reason for her action.
Her statement that she was on the wrong blog page where I had a formidable number of posts and thus, could not find them (assuming I deleted when I had not) baffles me as a reason to delete on a different page/topic entirely......and she leaves NO explanation for choosing to delete any of my comments anywhere).
Even if I had deleted my own comments and left a sole comment standing, it would be counterintuitive to ask for comments as a blogger and then delete one thereafter. Her explanation was baffling to me, to put it mildly.
YOU have questions to me.
First, I choose to comment over blogging. I read a while back that a review was made of blogs started on December 12, 2007. In excess of 100,000 blog domains opened that day. The vast, vast majority had something to say, said it, and ran out of things to say, in less that six months. They died into oblivion.
In most blogs I read, I find a plethora of commentary to the effect of "You are great!", or "That was awesome", or "Kudo to you".
These comments yield little to the discussion or further new discussion, but take up a multitude of reading time to glean insight to wisdom or a refreshing new thought.
I try to provide that in my own comments in an international array of venues. In most blogs, it is refreshingly and overwhelmingly welcomed. The blogger can be assured that what they wrote has been read, but more importantly, comprehended.
At that point, I try to edify and enhance, or correct a faulty reasoning.
The blogger responses are as unique as the blogger.
However, I am not yet convinced that adding a new blog into the cyberworld (at least yet) would have as much an impact as commenting on truths and untruths that are in print daily everywhere, to lead and mislead the body of Christ.
I try to remain on the blog topic, but, at times am willing to stray to make a more valid point.
When Baby Jessica fell into an oil well pipe in her Texas backyard, being on point would have all effort on that well to free her.
But the saviour of that event to get that baby free, dug a hole at 90 degrees to where she was trapped , and, well below that point.
Why?
Movement above and on point could cause her to plunge irretrievably.
So could a side assault.
But coming from a new direction, and well below, allowed saving the baby, even if she fell, for she would fall into open arms BELOW her. I fashion my comments similarly in a given discussion, for most comments are a gushing of approval to how wonderful a blogger is.
This is true of religious, political, photography blogs and most other types.
A photographer blog had about 16 comments on how much everyone loved her pictures, and then came my comment on the effect of shadows, the model, time of day, what should have been cropped to improve the total, perspective, angles, etc. The following day, the photographer thanked the other commenters but specifically named me and invited more commentary at any time. It helped her see things she could not see.
In general, bloggers are not as open to contrarian opinion and tend to fight back, delete, or make you unwelcome unless you agree to write only what they want to hear.
With 100,000 domains opening each day, it is not hard to find more quality spots to choose to aim my commentary anew.
I do not tolerate personal attack. I do tolerate disagreement.
You had questions so I showed up here as Amy suggested, for I took her washing of hands as a Pontious Pilate having nothing more to do with the discussion. Frankly, I do not recall the comment on small groups made, so feel free to refresh my memory.
Last, you had a reference to baptism in a prior post there. I chose to NOT respond to that question in Amy's blog of 25 comments (though your question is still there and unanswered). Baptism was way off the topic in that post, but I am more than happy to justify my opinion on my comment here if the matter is still on your mind.
I have given thought to a full time effort at blogging and holding a homepage. Indeed, one blogger wrote me privately that her "friends" were concerned that I had no blog but commented at her site. She did not know how to respond and she was "a very busy woman".
I do not think you have to be a blogger to be a commenter anywhere in the world. Indeed, to limit your blog to comments from bloggers only, means that about 90% or more of the world is excluded from commenmtary. I did not have the heart to tell this 28 year old busy woman, that her friends enjoyed applauding only and NO thinking. My comments provoked thinking.
Otherwise, why write?
I am in the midst of 2 friends dying of cancer now. One has no parents or children and she is alone. Commenting takes my mind off that after a 2008 of 6 family or friend deaths from age 24 to 87, with one of those six, being my mom.
In Amy's blog, I took the time to read her entire archive, every post and every comment from day one to see where the unusual blogging thought arose. I have not done that here at your venue, but will. As new people come along in cyberspace, there tends to be a fraternity or sorority of "us" who have been here a while. I sense that you and Brandon came on board at about last October in the discussion, and like a Nascar race in the 197th lap, it is hard to bring you up to date. Read the archives at Amy's to come up to spin.
I agree with much of her conclusion on churchianity and religiosity driving folks away from Christ, intentionally or otherwise. I dispute her assertion on the necessity of the Bible (I am for it), and the Bible manuscripts vary as well.
Closest to the original manuscripts is King James, then NIV. BOTH display the Word of God accurately.
In modern times, Eugene Peterson has written a paraphase called "The Message". It is a man's interpretation in modern vernacular and highly popular. Not with me.
I believe you rely on the word of God; others rely on the word of Eugene Peterson.
In terms of indwelling of the Holy Spirit superceding the need for any Bible whatsoever, I find John wrote the "Word became flesh" in the New Testament....and that is where believers are found today. It behooves one to read, know, and understand the Bible as an inspired word of God, in order that the indwelt Holy Spirit may employ you as a believer in ways you cannot dream possible.
"The Shack" is fiction; I am framed in truth and not a Shack follower.
Last, the church that is arising online as an anti- established denomination of any kind, tends to organize over time with certain "pastors" having authority, and insight. I find it amusing that a church outside of churchianity is growing on its own....just like the original church did.
Follow Christ; not people.
I am happy to answer your questions on anything in this venue, or if you prefer, your email is posted and I can contact you privately at your request.
God be with you.
Hey Keystone,
Thanks for being here. I never found any of your comments at Amy's blog offensive at all and enjoyed your perspective.
I'm so sorry to hear about the struggles you went through in 2008 and 2 of your friends battle with cancer. I'm sure your presence is uplifting to them.
I honestly can't remember what you wrote about small groups --- or if it was even you haha. Maybe it wasn't even you. :)
I honestly don't have any specific questions for you right now.... just was curious about some of your thoughts.
I think that is really incredible that you read all of Amy's blogs. I just read her blogs here and there from when I found it about a month ago. I never try to 'go back' on blogs and read everything.
and I pray nobody feels the need to do that on mine because a) I write a lot and b) I am always learning and changing thoughts/opinions as I grow... so what I wrote 6 months ago really may not even be true in my life anymore. haha
anyway. I'm glad you contacted me. If you do start a blog, let me know of the address. otherwise, you have my email and if u ever want to share thoughts, I'd love to hear. on whatever topic.
God bless you, thanks for stopping by
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