Well into my first cup of coffee.
Sliding easy into the morning is what Saturday is all about around the Bynum household.
Lot's to do, but no rush or  pressure.
Simply take each task one at a time.
Usually my final thought on Friday night is, "We get to go meet with God tomorrow night." Of course, referring to Vineyard Recovery Church. Saturday night is a time to celebrate what has transpired in our lives since last Saturday.
The good and the bad.
We give God praise for sustaining us one more week.
We thank Him for our sobriety that He has given us.
We than Him for life...with all it's blessings and problems.
We are learning a new way to live.

I Peter 2:5 refers to us as living stones. 
As you come to Him, the Living Stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him...you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ Jesus.

Living stones...
The two words really don't go together do they?
How can something so hard and rigid, devoid of life of any kind, be classified as living?
Because this Jesus I talk about so much has offered us life beyond our comprehension.
He has offered us real life, abundant life.
Before we found this life, we were stones cast upon the ground. Millions of us just laying there. We had no purpose. We were randomly strewn across the landscape of humanity to be trodden on.
But Jesus took us. He laid claim to us and began to shape us for His purpose.
What is His purpose?
To build a house....
A Holy Habitation.
Once scattered and thrown about, we were now being shaped and fitted together. We became stronger as the walls grew higher and higher. We were connected to other stones on either side of us, and above and below us. In other words, we were placed squarely into a community of like minded people. There we found that we could be stronger than when we were isolated and alone. 

Every stone became important. There were no rejects. There were no imperfections, because the Master Builder had chipped away and made smooth what was once craggy and ragged. We go on to read in I Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Did you catch that? We were chosen. Man, I couldn't get anyone to choose me to be on their team, during recess, when I was in elementary school. But the real-deal God of the Universe, creator of everything, has chosen me. Wowzers! The verse goes on to say that we have been given the incredible honor of declaring the truth of who God is to others. It's more than handing out tracts (nothing wrong with that)....it's more than telling someone about the gospel (definitely nothing wrong with that)....it's about living it! 24/7 ---365 in front of people. It's about being connected with a community of believers where you are encouraged to participate in life. It's about learning how to carry on the mission that Jesus left to us.
To pray for the sick...
To cast off demonic spirits....
To feed the poor...
To aid the widow and the orphan...
To do the works of Christ.
To "Do the Stuff!"

If you aren't busy tonight, come out and join us at V.R.C.
Starts at 7 p.m.
419 Broad Street / Downtown Gadsden.
See you then...

God on you....
mb