Taking Time to Celebrate

Taking Time to Celebrate

Original Post: September 1st, 2018
Monthly Newsletter Article:

Hey all,
Wow. What a summer! I can hardly believe its September already. When I look back from these last 3 months I, truthfully (if we can be honest here), get a little tired. There was so much going on in outreaches, relationships, and personal pursuit that life was crazy for a bit. However, crazy doesn’t mean bad or wrong. Sometimes it’s just the season and I know from talking with people that I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. Well, here we are starting fall and life has slowed down a lot. Lately God has been speaking to me about the importance of celebration. Have you ever read the definition of celebration?

Cel-e-bra-tion: the action of marking one's pleasure at an important event or occasion by engaging in enjoyable, typically social, activity.

That phrase, “the action of marking one’s pleasure”, keeps jumping out at me. This summer was so good, fruitful, and enjoyed but with all the running around I feel like there was never this true celebration of the many moments that took place. There was never this mark of pleasure for the importance of the many lives that were touched, or neighbors that were met, or lessons that were learned. We ran with such joy this summer and boldly answered Emily’s call to, as a community, become the hands and feet of Jesus and get into the neighborhood. ALL OF THESE ARE WORTH CELEBRATING! I know the Lord does. His pleasure for not only our yeses but our joyful hearts, compassionate attitudes, and willingness to move I believe ignited a great party in Heaven.

What we want to do is to take this month and celebrate what we know the Lord did these last few months and engage its importance. I believe it will position our hearts for what HE wants to do next. I see hearts filling up with peace, joy, and promise. I see hope and confidence marking us as His pleasure is poured out.
So join us as we take a deep breath in and exhale out our celebration of this summer, what He has done in and through us, and Who He Is. Because that’s the whole point of this, right?

Matthew 22:37-49 The Passion Translation (TPT):
37 Jesus answered him, “‘Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’ 38 This is the great and supreme commandment. 39 And the second is like it in importance: ‘You must love your friend in the same way you love yourself.’

~Jordan