Thursday, May 22, 2014

Community

As an introvert, to be honest, sometimes the word community makes me shudder.

Growing up in a small town, community often meant that everyone knew who your Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa and second cousin once removed was, and that meant that you were easily identified.  It also meant that everyone knew your business... even sometimes business that you didn't know about, if you get what I mean.

That, my friend, is not community.  As I've been a part of Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible studies, I have seen community in action.  I've never met these ladies... but I love them. I pray for them.  For some of them, I know their struggles, and have provided support through encouraging words.  For others, I read their words on a website and laugh in agreement... because they must have read my mind. It's uncanny how God can bring together so many vastly different people, and make it work.

That's how it should be in real-life community, too.  We should love, encourage, and support each other.  I was witness to this community when my Grandma passed away in January. Grandma was a true prayer warrior, and the testament she left was evident in the days following her death.  So many facebook posts about her... and she had no clue what facebook was.  The night of visitation, people just kept coming in... and they had personal stories to share.  The funeral was packed out.  We had food delivered and money donated to her church... but most of all, we had love.  Prayers.  People willing to support us and mourn with us.  People who laughed as we shared our stories of her.  People who continue, five months later, to share their condolences. 

Community is about support. Love. Edification.  I don't know about y'all, but I sure need a safe place where I can be accepted.

And I love when I can tie things together.  Yesterday, I was reading in Max Lucado's Applause of Heaven.  He was talking about peace, and he said, "To make peace, in Scripture, is to bring community."  My friend Heather King echoed this in her book, which I read shortly after the line in Applause of Heaven (Here is my disclaimer... I'm a book nerd, and often read several books at once, which is another reason why this P31 OBS community rocks. They totally get me.).  "Paul wrote, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18).  Peaceful relationships in this world aren't always possible and that's the ugly truth.  But we need to do everything we can to cultivate peace, even in disputed territories where landmines of personal opinion dot the fields."

Community can be messy, because it is full of human beings, forgiven and given grace but still sometimes not acting like it. As a member of a community, we are only responsible for our own actions.  Loving.  Supporting. Encouraging.  Not judging. 

Won't you join me in this online community? It's not too late to sign up.  We'll be starting Limitless Life on May 25th.  Check it out! P31 OBS Blog Hop

6 comments:

  1. This OBS community is the absolute best and no matter where we are, there is always someone ready to lend a hand, encourage, pray and just love on ya!! And I can agree community can be messy, but life alone is well...alone!! Thanks for sharing...just loved your post Lauren!!

    Trish (Proverbs 31 Ministries OBS Team)

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  2. Beautiful! As a fellow introvert I understand the sometimes downright dread the idea of community can bring. But positive community is always uplifting, and we can never have to much of that! I am excited to share this community with you!

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  3. Im an introvert too and can completely relate. love your words today....

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  4. I found you on the P31 Community blog hop. This is my first time participating in P31. For some reason, I was drawn to your blog. Good had his hand in it for sure. You see, your url caught my eye as soon as I landed on your page. My son's name is also Caleb. However, he is with Jesus and has been since shortly before birth two years ago. I tell you this because community to me is finding connections with people for various reasons that just put a simple smile on your face but can brighten your entire day. I love that I was led to your page, or of all the blogs listed, I came to yours first. God is truly amazing.

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    1. So glad He blesses us like that! Thanks for visiting!

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  5. Being an introvert I can relate with what you have written. Yes, you are absolutely right about the P31 community. Ever since I joined the OBS studies in October god has been working in me thru the studies and this community. Love it :)

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