Refreshed, Recharged

I experienced today what it means to be refreshed by the family of God. I was feeling a little strained by everything, and began to realise that I really need to spend time with people my own age, rather than just working all the time and having little casual social contact. You don't realise how important that is until you don't have it any more.

This evening, then, was an answer to prayer - I went to visit a Christian group that meets at the local University. They were such a warm, welcoming group, and I felt instantly at home. I was encouraged too by the Bible study (we are reading through Ecclesiastes). As I drove home, I could have cried for joy, because God has provided exactly what I needed. He is so good. Thank you Lord.

Connect

"How Good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!".

Psalm 133:1

I once heard Rob Bradbury from PlanetShakers say that unity is the Holy Spirit's favourite cologne. The Holy Spirit is attracted to the sweet smell of God's children being united as one, and so when he smells unity, He comes and pours His blessing on them.

That's not a bad picture of the manifold benefit there is in living in harmony with other Christians, but not only that, actively working together in unity, encouraging each other, building one another up, spurring one another on to do good things.

This week I've been working on connecting with Christians in other churches. I had a very encouraging discussion last night with one of the other local youth leaders - she is such a nice person and we had a lot in common, since both of us have just taken up our roles, both have just moved to this town, and both have relatively small youth groups to begin with. We intend to gather the local youth leaders for a prayer & encouragement meeting within the next couple of weeks.

I have also managed to contact the leader of the Christian group at the nearby university. I'll be visiting them some time soon to meet them and see what they do, and to see if there's any way we can support them.

Thank you Lord, for placing others around me, that we can support each other, and work together to see great things happen in this city. I thank you that love comes from you; and you have poured your love into our hearts so that we can share that super-natural love with others. Let nothing divide us, Lord; let nothing hold us back from doing the great things you have called us to do.