United as the Bride of Christ

This past Sunday I was praying as we were preparing for church, and was listening to the Lectio365 prayer app on my phone. On Sundays they divert from their normal prayer pattern to honor the gathering of the church.

My heart was struck with the reminder that all across the world, although it may be in different time zones, the community of believers was pausing in their regular schedules to gather together.  

During church Sunday morning, Kim shared a lot of insight about sheep (some that was less than flattering!) and I was made aware of the truth that sheep are meant for herd life. They live in a community. We were together as the family of Living Waters, but the greater family of God was also coming together on that day.

Sunday evening we were gifted tickets to the Casting Crowns worship night at the Expo. As we listened, I looked around, and felt amazed at the number of people at the event. This is our city, our neighborhoods! I probably cross paths with this same group of people at the grocery store or sporting events for my kids. It was a picture, the bigger body of Christ, among us.

Monday night I sat on the floor in my kids’ room and after readying several psalms over the previous nights, I felt drawn to Philippians chapter one. As I read through Paul and Timothy’s words, I began to understand and experience the same love he expressed for the Philippian believers, for the collective body of believers in our church, city, and beyond. I read verses one through eleven over and over, long after my kids were sound asleep, allowing myself to soak in the truth of Paul’s words, the expression of how God feels for his bride.

This week I have been praying with that in mind. Prayer is the bringing together of believers from every different situation and age and life experience, by the uniting power of the Spirit. 

Consequently, every one of you have been on my heart this week. I know that despite the seemingly poor connection of sending a weekly email, we are actually tied together in our spirits and interceding for common desires because our hearts and minds are one (Phil 2:2). The Holy Spirit moves among us and breathes his desires collectively over us, and we raise our voices in unison for the continuation of his Kingdom. 

I love to pray with you! Even from the other side of this note, know that I love to pray with you for our personal lives, the finances of our church, the advancement of growth and maturity and depth of relationship with the Father for those part of our church, the block party coming on Sunday and slathering this physical community with His love and presence, and our part in the bigger picture, the bride of Christ!