We Gathered Together

Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will guide you continually giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing strength.

Great verse from Isaiah.
It seem to be the central focus of our home meeting last night.
We, the core leadership of VRC, began to meet monthly in an effort to simply get to know each other better. I know that we've been hosting VRC on Saturday night for 3+ years, but there was a gap in the leadership because we weren't spending time together.
Me? Well, I almost messed the whole thing up by trying to make it look like the type of home meetings we use to have back in the early 90's. Seems as though God wanted something different. 

Last night we gathered around our kitchen table, with pie and coffee, and began to share what was on our hearts about VRC.  The good, and the not so good. I sat back and listened as each person shared from their own experiences. Vicki and I are blessed to be tied to a group that loves God....Loves to worship Him....and has a desire to give back to those in need.
Our conclusion was hammered around the point that we have been called to minister to those in addiction. Due to the simple fact that we deal with transients, we don't have a lot of time to "play church". For the most part, we have between 3 and 7 weeks to impact those who attend. Oh, we have built a base of regular attendee's, but we are very much aware that each meeting is an opportunity to show them Jesus. What this translates into is the simple fact that we have to tell them the truth...We have to be sometimes bluntly honest in ministry. Not blunt as in we're superior and we know what's best for you..but blunt in the way of "you know....if you don't change...if you don't wake up....you are going to die."

We moved into the living room and began a time of worship.
Old Vineyard Songs......(old by our standard).
"I love Your Presence".....Voices as the guitars play.
Voices of prayer....
Two are singing harmony to the song....
One sits on the couch lost in God....
One prays with a lowly voice....calling on God to come and meet with us.
God answered.

In that brief moment of worship, the world stopped.
The troubles that we carry around were laid down and pushed aside.
Last night it felt like an "ACTS MOMENT".....where, like the first church, were in one accord. God was central to the moment....
There was room for nothing else except Him.

Next song....
"I Will Worship"
....."For as long as there is breath within me......."
....."For as long as I have hands to raise......."
....."For as long as I have knees to fall upon...."
....."I will bless your name."
There is a change that takes place in a gathering that takes place in a home...
An intimacy that you cannot experience in a large gathering...
Even though there were seven of us...
Each person was alone in their own experiencing God at that moment.
Not worried about what anyone else was thinking about them.
Lost in the moment.
Lost in God.
Such times as these are why I love home groups so much.
A greater sense and awareness of what God has called us to.
A renewed commitment to the call that God has placed on us to be a part of His body in downtown Gadsden.
It was a good evening.

God on you....
mbb