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Intercession

We've started examining spiritual gifts at The Foundry. We started with intercession because the corps has a good deal of strong intercessors. Its an amazing gift, and we were fortunate enough to have Stephanie teaching on it. Stephanie is a powerful intercessor that has been specifically focusing on that area of her giftings for a while now, and over the last week has had further teaching by the Spirit on how to pray. She highlighted a few areas, such as believing that God is able to do things, and also that He wants to do things. We also had some open discussion where we tossed around some of the things we've been learning. It was a good time, one that was fruitful.

Reassessing the Situation

After spending some time in prayer before the Foundry, we spent the remainder of the time taking a look at who we are, and why we meet together. First and foremost, we're there to worship God. We are very clear on that. And so far, that's been fantastic. We experience His presence every week. Beyond that, we are here for community. We firmly believe that community is the way we are supposed to live. Now, actually living that out can get messy, but we see throughout the Bible that its how God set it up. And it really is a better way to live. To engage in the lives of others instead of being lonely, to seek to meet the needs of others instead of hording for ourselves, it really is freeing. We're working towards being a place where people can be comfortable sharing who they really are, and being met with love.

We were challenged this week to move outside of ourselves and our comfort zones... to go out, meet people where they are, love them, and bring them in to community. It is a good, and right word. Its a big challenge, but its who we are called to be. The Foundry was not created to be a place where a few could worship in a way they feel comfortable, but for community. Its who we are as part of The Salvation Army. So lets live it out.

Prayer

We've started a new thing at the Foundry. If you show up at 5pm, instead of 7pm, you get to pray the Bible with us! Yesterday was the innagural PTB walk around the chapel for the Foundry, and almost immediately we could see that God blesses this. I guess there is something to praying His words back to Him! We had visions of what God wanted to use the Foundry for, and some of the obstacles we face, and then prayed about those as well. Seriously, come check it out. Its worth the extra time.

When we got started with worship at 7pm, we could already feel God's presence in the room. We were few in number, but it was a solid time of worshipping the King of Kings! We then spent some time praying for the transitions that the Bangor corps is going through. We prayed blessings for the Burrs as they take their new appointments in Rhode Island. Then we spent a bit of time praying for the corps, soldiers, and programs, as this change is taking place. Some powerful words spoken there, for sure. And then finally, we prayed for our new leaders, the Lyles. That their transition would be smooth and strong, that they would come in with boldness for the Lord, and that He would be their covering. And since its always good to end with some worship, that's what we did. So we praise God for how He has worked through the Burrs in Bangor, and we anxiously await what He will do through the Lyles as well.

Missing

We've hit a bit of a slump in attendance over the last few weeks. We pressed on, despite being a few, and wound up having a pretty powerful time with God. Not really what I had planned, but certainly what God had in mind for the night. In the middle of trying to press on, Doug had a word about the people missing from the community. So we spent some time praying about what we need to do, repenting for lack of effort, and asking for energy and favor to bring people in that really need the encounter with God. We realized that God has been faithful, every single week, to show up and move in power. There is no lack of His presence at the Foundry! So really, we're missing out by not showing up, and not encouraging others to show up. So if you are someone who should be there, and we've not really pursued you, we're sorry about that! And we'll be picking you up, or doing whatever it takes to get you there for this Sunday!

After we felt some release in the prayer time (well, release for the moment, its an ongoing battle) we spent some time talking about the body, and the gifts each of us have been given. Its amazing to see how God brings people together to learn from each other, and even brings people with complementary gifts to work together for others. God has something planned for this time, and its got a unique opportunity, to really be a blank slate where we can just allow God to move. We got to see a glimpse of that this past Sunday, and we're excited for more.

good food

Have you ever seen one of those movies (you know like, the after-school specials, or a lifetime one) where there is this dysfunctional family? Like, the young adult daughter who has been really rebellious, and the teenage son who has been out partying and failing classes? The picture I had Sunday morning was of the dinner at the end of the movie. The one with the whole family sitting around, and everything is forgiven. Sure, it took a whole 2 hours of plot to get the family at the table, but eventually, they all came home, sat down, and realized they were loved. And the past had been forgiven. Its a cheesy picture, but the kingdom of God is sort of like that, right? The banquet table is used throughout scripture as a metaphor for the kingdom, and its a pretty good one. And in Luke 14, Jesus talks about it. A king issues an invitation, letting people know they are invited to this party. And a bunch of people accept it. Then on the day of the party, another invitation goes out, just letting people know when the party would start (I guess it would be hard to time out dinner when you are cooking over a fire, instead of a microwave). A ton of people decided at that point they couldn't go. And the excuses they give are really lame. Who, in ancient Israel, bought land without looking at it first? Wouldn't have happened. So the king is really insulted, and has his servants go out and invite the homeless and beggars, and people of lower social standing. Great parable.

Ok, so I know we're really like the beggars and homeless, people who weren't worthy of the invitation, but got it anyway, but I was thinking that some of us, if we know Jesus, might also be a bit like the group that got the first invitation. We've accepted. We know Him, and we receive His forgiveness and grace. But how often are we turning down the second invitation, to just come and sit with Him, and share a meal? Spend some time in His presence? I know we get busy. And forgetful. And sometimes, just don't feel like it. But those are pretty lame excuses to not share a meal with the King.

This week, accept the invitation to sit at the banquet table, and enjoy His presence. Know that He loves you with the love of a Father. Be blessed. Let Him pour your cup to overflowing.

why are you here?

For a few weeks now, some of us have been focused on that question. Why do we do the things we do? Why do we go to church? Is it for family expectations, to see friends, because its expected? Or because we really just want to worship? In 1 Kings 19, Elijah had a meeting with God in a cave. God asked him one question two times. Seemed pretty important, I'd guess. "Why are you here?"

I've been thinking about the connection between that question, and our expectations. We expect things from the people we have solid relationships with. They will show up when they say they will. They will treat me with respect, and in love. They will speak to me honestly. Jesus talks a little bit about this in Matthew 7:9-11. If you ask your dad for some bread, is he going to give you a stone? Would he give you a snake instead of the fish you asked for? (paraphrased terribly by me.) I think sometimes we get distracted by those other reasons to go to church... the friends and family, or just out of a sense of duty, because we don't really expect God to be there. Maybe we've felt disappointed by people in the church, and so we've lowered our expectations. But God doesn't disappoint! He does meet with us when we seek Him. He does answer our prayers when we pray (you can check out Jeremiah 29:12 about that one. And a bunch of other places as well). And He has things to say to you. New, fresh things. So why are you here?