5/31/2018 1 Comment Acts 20 - Breaking BreadActs 20 Paul purposefully checks on the churches he planted. He doesn’t just want people added to his “saved list”; he wants disciples who love the Lord and keep the faith. He wants to personally pour into them and spend time with them. Paul knows his time with many of the people he has ministered to is coming to an end. He leaves them with wisdom, teaching, encouragement, stories, truth. For so long he speaks at one location, a young boy with heavy eyes after hours of preaching and the fumes of oil lamps leans toward the fresh air of the open window and not only falls asleep but falls out the third-floor window. But no worries, with God’s power, Paul brings him back to life. Paul breaks bread with his friends. Long slow meals paired with rich conversation. A staple in the early church life. One that is lost to some degree in our culture of over-scheduled rushing from one commitment to the next with barely time to catch our breath. I’m guilty for sure. Among the beautiful words of Paul and the miraculous rescue from the third-floor fall, and though not the main point of the chapter, God has me planted at the supper table. The breaking of bread. The making quality time for fellowship. The gathering that opens doors for genuine sharing and deep discussion. For encouragement, support, advice, brainstorming, venting, laughing, crying. I know my introvert over-scheduled self needs to be more intentional here and my soul is telling me I need to do more than type about it. My plan is to schedule time with friends for a meal or even a cup of good coffee this summer. If you are in Jacksonville reading this, you just might be getting a message from me soon. 🧡 So, how do you do community? How do you pour into relationships? What are your hopes for community and relationships? Who would you like to sit down over coffee or tea with? Following are some conversation starter questions I would love to discuss with friends over coffee. What questions would you add? What’s your favorite part of your life right now?
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11/30/2019 12:23:58 am
Are the Gods we know pretty much like vampires from books? Some could be more than a thousand years old. They know things from the past that help them become more knowledgeable today. They will usually know what to do on situations that are new to us. They have seen these numerous times and they know the outcome. They can be the best teachers. There is just one problem. Sometimes we don't really follow them. We don't even want to listen.
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December 2018
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