What a weekend! I don’t know about you, simply because I’m not you, but I had a FANTASTIC weekend. It was jam packed with activity and friends and food and fun and laughter and crying and food and swimming and mud and dodge ball. Did I mention the food and dodge ball?
Ok.
First things first, Brazilian steakhouses make for an INCREDIBLE bachelor party. 6 men. 2 hours of meat. You do the math. 6 men + 2 hours of meat = OMG (for those of you who just read that and thought, “I can’t believe he just wrote that,” let it go, it’s called gratitude). There was so much JOY shared in those 2 hours as cow and chicken and lamb and pig and cow and chicken and lamb and pig was sliced onto our plates again and again and again. It was a vegetable free dinner. Like I’m pretty sure God was smiling and angels were celebrating. The only thing missing was a cot or a bed or a couch to comfort me as I entered a meat coma.
This was an amazing night because it reminded me of 1 thing that I would suggest I’ve forgotten or neglected due to the busyness of ministry and life…
I Need To Be With People Not Just Around Them—I’m around people every day of every week. Sunday through Saturday I am around people I love and appreciate and am working together with to change this community. I am AROUND them, but I’m typically not WITH them. Here’s the difference, when I’m around people I’m not focused on them but on the THING we’re doing. When I’m with people I’m focused on THEM not on the thing we’re doing because THERE IS NO THING. I was reminded that I need to get around people simply for the sake of getting around them and with them. Cut out the task. Remove the plan. Engage the person. I need to be with people not just around them. In other words, I need to make time to hang out.
The following day I was tired. Like REALLY tired. But that’s ok because it wasn’t anything that 3 Rockstars couldn’t fix (don’t judge me). Needless to say the day was filled with all kids of preparation for the evening’s festivities and these festivities were to include food, friends, singing, dancing, oh and the wedding of two people I LOVE and APPRECIATE. This was a day FILLED with the THINGS to do. Setting up chairs. Organizing sound equipment. Tying ties. Dressing tables. Taking pictures. Pinning flowers to shirts (and not getting poked). Let’s just say there was a LOT to do. And all the running around and all the heavy lifting and all the standing and smiling and busy finally made sense when rings were placed on fingers and husband and wife kissed for the first time… as husband and wife. I cried. I cried a lot. It was like watching your two favorite cousins getting married, but not to each other.
God’s Plans Are Greater Than The Plans I Have For Myself—What I LOVED the most about this wedding was watching two people who didn’t rush into a relationship or marriage desperately trying to fill a seemingly empty space in their lives. No! They “dated.” They got to know one another, which wasn’t terribly difficult since they were pretty much like best friends. They sought out counseling TOGETHER. They WORKED at it. They didn’t settle for a one-night stand. They didn’t settle for the stranger at the bar. They didn’t try and fix things up on their own. They prayed and waited on God to lead and guide and direct them TO EACH OTHER. I am grateful Ryan and Taylor realized God’s plans are GREATER!
My weekend could’ve ended right here and I woulda been happy. Up to this point my weekend had been nothing short of AMAZING. But it didn’t end there. As a matter of fact it got BETTER! The following day I stood by and watched and celebrated and clapped and cheered as person after person made the decision to follow Jesus, go public with their faith, and get baptized! All ages. I saw a mother get baptized and then turn around and baptize her daughter. I don’t know how many people were baptized, all I know is a bunch of people showed up dry and went home WET!
Then, that night, after a good nap at home recovering from the weekend’s festivities and a slight sunburn, I attended a BBQ with my Celebrate Recovery Leaders. Wow! What a night! Such AWESOME people! I haven’t met a group of people who are more passionate about following Jesus and sharing the good news of Jesus than the people of Celebrate Recovery. I think it has something to do with being pulled up from the pit of despair and depression and addiction and whatever other low you can think of… being pulled up FROM IT, rescued, saved, set free. When you have NOTHING and God steps in and gives you EVERYTHING you can’t help but be consumed with GRATITUDE.
It was a weekend filled with RELATIONSHIP. It was RELATIONSHIP after RELATIONSHIP. I got AROUND people and I spent time WITH them. I ENGAGED the people I was with. I was PRESENT. I played with kids. Oh, that’s right, yes I did. As a matter of fact about 1/3 of the BBQ was spent in a dodge ball game. It was adults versus kids so you KNOW it was fun! I am not ashamed to admit I was trying to peg those kids to get them out so I could be on the winning team. Is that healthy? I don’t know if it is or not, but I know I won a whole lot more than I lost. AND both sides had a GREAT time!
Moral of the story?
People MATTER.
Relationships are IMPORTANT.
God is GOOD.
Following Jesus is the BEST decision you can make.
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