Together

Have you ever had a day where everything seemed to be falling apart, and just when you were about to throw in the towel, someone gave you an encouraging word? As discussed in Sunday’s sermon, Paul mastered the art of building broken spirits. Likewise, the encouraging letters he sent and his intentional approach of togetherness paved the way for fulfilling what you, I, and our community need so desperately. Despite the do-it-yourself attitude possessed by many in today’s culture, God created us to live and function as a whole. We need moments where someone says just the right thing at just the right time. We need people to come alongside us in prayer during difficult times. We need someone to cheer us on when we succeed. These are the moments that make the difference. Community allows us to experience Jesus’ love at a deeper level, build character, and grow spiritually.

Furthermore, community prompts us to love others more like Jesus, act more like Jesus, and lead others closer to Him. As easy as it is to read the Bible, go to church, and pray on our own, we are selling ourselves, and our community short if we do not engage with others on a deeper level. To be more like Christ is to act like Him, and in order to act like Him we must express care for others. When we choose to invest our time, prayer, and encouragement into people, it is mutually beneficial. Doing so, they will receive the encouragement needed as we become more like Christ. In a healthy relationship this will also be reciprocated.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 confirms this by stating,

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

It’s time for The Church to get real with others. Instead of focusing on the processes and functions of what being a Christian “should” look like, we need to step out into our community and start to live it. Together. 

Written by: Tamara Sturdivant

Edited by: De Ann Sturdivant

The Christmas Crazies

Friday night, my family attended a holiday performance downtown. As we waited in a dense mob for the usher to take our tickets and seat us, a woman nearby lost her patience--and by "patience," I mean "mind." She unleashed a string of profanity so shockingly graphic that I clapped my hands over my youngest daughter's ears. Then, the impatient lady threatened to shove an elderly woman out of her way.

"Yikes! 'Tis the season, I guess," I thought sarcastically as we all finally made our way into the theater.

Unfortunately, the stress, pressure and complicated emotions of the Christmas season often bring out the worst in people. Thankfully, this Sunday we learned some skills to help navigate our encounters with the dishonest, demanding, deadly and defensive "Christmas Crazies" as exemplified in Matthew 2:1-16 with the craziest of them all - King Herod.

First, it's crucial to realize that it's impossible to get along with everybody. And if you are wronged, refuse to give into a payback mentality.

What stood out the most to me, however, was that we are to respond with love and concern in these situations. God loves them. God loves you. But He doesn't love you any more than He loves them (or anyone else).

Ouch.

I guess I know that in my head. But how hard is it to fully wrap my mind around the fact that the one (hypothetical) person I can barely stand to be in the same room with, Jesus loves just as much as He loves me? And as much as He wants me to walk in His purpose and blessing - that's what He wants for him/her, too.

Whatever reasons brought that woman at the theater Friday night to such a deep level of anger, Jesus knows. And He loves her and wants to heal her of those hurts and transform her into His likeness.

Because I am His, I need to learn to respond like Him--with love and concern. Not just because that will help me get beyond the craziness of the holidays, but because this is the second greatest commandment and my Jesus knows best.

Written by: Jaime Hlavin

Edited by: Brigit Edwards

Family Christmas

This year was my first time to experience Family Christmas at Freedom Christian. I’m going to be honest, I was a little worried. Let me explain. We’ve all experienced that moment where there’s a movie we want to see but we can’t get to it right away.  It seems like all our friends, relatives, neighbors, and casual acquaintances want to do is gush over how awesome it is and how much we’re going to love it.  By the time we finally get to see the movie, it usually ends up falling a little flat because the expectations that were set could never be reached. For several weeks leading up to Family Christmas, I felt similarly bombarded by glowing reviews of how much I was going to love it. Likewise, I grew concerned it could never live up to the hype.

I am pleased to say that Family Christmas exceeded my expectations at every level.  Hearing the stories, feeling the emotions, and seeing the deep expressions of humble gratitude from those being honored filled my heart with a great measure of joy.  As we celebrated just a few of the amazing members of our church, there was a feeling of unity and love in the room that was tangible in a way I have not often experienced.

I think we forget sometimes how exciting it truly is to be a Christian.  In this world, some may feel they may never be more than bean counters or pencil pushers.  In the Kingdom of God, however, all of us can be heroes. We get to help rescue people and save their lives. We get to engage in spiritual warfare that really makes a difference in the world. We get to speak encouragement into each other’s lives that helps us reach the full potential of all God has in store. Days like Sunday help remind us of the real impact that the great people in this church are making in the world. Furthermore, they inspire us to reach greater heights for God’s glory.

Prior to Sunday, I was kind of surprised when Pastor Aaron had told me that 10-20 people make decisions to follow Christ each year at Family Christmas.  While I expected it to be a powerful and exciting time for our church family, the idea of Family Christmas never struck me as particularly “evangelistic”.  When I think about it now, it makes perfect sense.  People want to know that they matter.  They want to feel like they are loved and like they have a place to belong.  People want to believe that they can make a difference in their world.  People also need to see that Jesus is more than just a character in a book.  On Sunday, Family Christmas showed them all of those things were not only possible, but were to be expected as a part of the Family of Christ.

So I’ll leave us with this challenge: Let’s keep this same spirit alive throughout the year.  Our church does an exceptional job in so many areas already, but I believe we can do even better.

Jesus said in John 13:34-35:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

In 2015, let’s be a church that outwardly displays the unity and love of Christ among our congregation for the world to see.  When we see a need we can meet, let’s meet it.  When we notice a brother or sister doing a great job at something, let’s write them a note and tell them how much we appreciate all they do.  When we see a young person striving to better themselves and do something great, let’s be there with an encouraging word. Let’s constantly seek to show people how much they matter, and how much of a difference they make in our lives.  Let’s be heroes--because the world needs a place like that to come home to for Family Christmas.

Written by: Pastor Travis Buerky

The Presence of God

The presence of God is constant. It is the instilment of confidence, the peace within a storm, the direction through chaos, the love that moves us, and the joy that lifts us. The presence of God is a tangible reality that connects Heaven and earth. However, so often we walk through life blind to His presence. In Christian culture, we love to talk about the presence of God. We dote on the how much God “moved” in a specific service, and how “God really showed up,” but what if we were to live our lives with the same awareness possessed in those moments?

As I reflect on the moments where God “moved” the most in my life, it’s in the times where I was listening to and seeking Him. It’s in the moments where I set aside my personal agenda, let go of what I considered realistic or possible, and simply sought God with an openness in my spirit. One of the most powerful moments I ever experienced was after school with the small Christian club we had called Converge. Thinking I was going to attend a typical meeting with a brief discussion and lesson, I soon found out that we were instead going to be traveling around Macomb to different locations to pray for people. Admittedly, I heard this and basically wanted to make a run for it. The introvert in me found that idea to be not only terrifying, but extremely awkward. When we were told to take a few minutes and ask God to give us direction regarding this evangelistic opportunity, I hoped to come up with an escape plan, and I prayed to God about my concerns. Praying for people I’ve never met around the city was not an exercise for an introvert like me. It didn’t seem realistic for me to partake in this excursion, and it certainly didn’t meet my expectation of what I considered to be a “cookie cutter Christian life.” As I battled through this, I felt God was reminding me of what it is to be a Christian. So much of the Bible revolves around people going outside their comfort zone and trusting in the presence of God. As my heart and mind began to open, I prayed, “God do what you want in and through me. Give me direction and strength, because I really don’t think I can do this.”

Soon enough, our prayer time before heading out to reach our city came to a close. We joined together to head out in the direction we felt the Lord leading us, and in that moment, God placed the name of a woman on my heart that we would meet that evening. Although I was terrified, I told the group about this woman I believed we would have the privilege to pray for. About an hour in, after we had some powerful times of prayer with many different people, I was still waiting to meet the woman about whom God had spoken to me. It wasn’t until we stumbled into a small shoe store that we found Helen. Helen…the woman God spoke to me about.

It wasn’t a moment of grandiose or God sweeping through the shoe store with a mighty wind. It was a still, real, tangible presence. God was there through it all-- I simply needed to trust Him. I needed to notice Him. I needed to follow Him.

I challenge you this week to seek God’s presence. Don’t just pray when you’re at church. Don’t limit God’s power to when you are amongst a congregation. Know that God can speak to you, use you, and dwell in you anywhere---even in a little shoe store.

Written by: Tamara Sturdivant

Edited by: Jenelle Kelly