Each of us is better because of the others. God purposefully created each of us with special insights and giftedness. He made each of us uniquely individual, but with a need for community. Despite our many differences, we have common ground.
Each of us is made in the image of God.
Each of us has needs — body and soul.
Each of us has talents and gifts.
Each of us has joys and fears.
Each of us is broken and flawed.
Each of us has hopes and dreams.
Each of us wants to love and be loved.
Each of us is known by God.
“Now if the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
The past couple weeks I’ve been reflecting on the idea of truly being “better together.” We have to care for each other and look at the whole (instead of just ourselves). We have to reach out those in need and love them — with our words, our time, and our resources. It’s good to love our families. Perhaps this is the most important place to start. We need our church community to help each other grow and learn. We need to reach out in our towns and cities to love those who need food, clothing, childcare. We need to think globally to those in other countries who are displaced by war or hungry or looking for a job.
No one person can meet all these needs. And truthfully, isn’t it God who does the work? If we are available, God will use us, in our family, in our community and beyond.
Here are a few practical ways to begin loving others and building community.
- Begin a dinner (or breakfast) family tradition of asking each family member the highlight of their day.
- Plan a game night and invite friends over.
- Carry $5 gift cards to Starbucks or McDonalds and hand one to a homeless person who’s hungry.
- Support businesses who do good globally.
- Travel, expand your perspective and get to know other cultures.
- What else? I’d love to hear your ideas!
We are not meant to be alone. We need each other. When we work together, our gifts complement each other and God is glorified. No one is better than another.
Truly, we are better together.
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Lisa,
Thank you for the ideas…when I read them I knew I that I need to be more intentional about “doing life” together. We, myself included, really need to get outside ourselves and focus on doing things for, and being with others. God has called me to help in a country and culture way outside my realm of understanding. I admit I knew very little about Middle Eastern culture, but you know, they are people just like us. They have dreams and goals, and hurts and disappointments. They are afraid and they doubt and they also have a great sense of humor and love to laugh. Getting to know specific people makes the “them” so much less intimidating. We are truly enriched when we reach out to someone who, on the surface, seems much different than we are. My best advice…get involved…take a risk…dare to be vulnerable…make it a goal to get to know someone who, on the surface, seems different from you.
Loved this much needed post.
Blessings,
Bev
So true, and such a well timed reminder Bev! ((Hugs)), Joanne
Thanks Joanne…((Hugs)) back to YOU!
Well said, Bev. xo
Agreed!!! I just spent three days With a woman from Pakistan- and the more we talked the more we both learned about each other’s culture the more we both realized that we have far more similarities than differences. We all have God given desires and hopes and dreams. I loved the article and your reply!
Jenna,
Would be interested to know more about your time spent with the woman from Pakistan… if you’re able…email me: bevduncan103@yahoo.com…thanks!
“And truthfully, isn’t it God who does the work? If we are available, God
will use us, in our family, in our community and beyond.”
I need to read and reread that one little line – “If we are available.”
I think the enemy wants us to get so busy that we think we have no time for community instead of embracing opportunities that God gives us to connect with community and glorify Him.
Your words are a gift this morning, Lisa!
Thank you Angie! I feel like busyness is one of my biggest obstacles to loving others. I have lots of ideas but in the rush I forget. Making time to be available–I think it’s counter cultural but so important. Thanks for showing my own words to me. xo
Lisa,
Practically, definitely, but also I think we can also make ourselves available to be prayer support to those struggling, and praying right there if we are able to pray right there. Committing to pray for those who are in the trenches, or part of the support team, or the businesses who are committed, asking how we can pray specifically for them for their needs, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
Thanks for bringing up this need to be involved.
Blessings and Peace,
Joanne
Joanne, you are so right. Prayer is such a gift we can give to others. It’s no small thing. xo
Lisa,
First of all we must acknowledge that we need community! Then we should get outside ourselves and get involved in activities. One could start out by simply going to church and being around others. Get to know those in your church-really know them! Some other simple ideas: visit people in hospital or nursing homes. Just go and talk to the residents for a while, sing songs. I know my dad’s nursing home took up candy for Halloween and will want Christmas gifts for the residents. They are people also. Sometimes the forgotten ones. A lot of them don’t have family come visit that often and the days drag on and on!
Volunteer in hospitals, prayer is a great option if you are unable to get out and about.
Blessings 🙂
The forgotten ones–so true. Sometimes a little time, a hug can make a huge difference in someone’s day. Thank you Beth. xo
I am new to the (in)courage forum and have enjoyed peeking around the posts. Angie Ryg’s comments prompted me to remember something I was reading recently. It basically said that God will accomplish his mission with or without us, so when we do not respond to his nudges, we are the ones who miss out on the blessing.
It kind of takes the pressure off, right? God is able. We can rest and trust him. In our weakness he uses us. Thank you for sharing your insights. xo
I feel exactly the same. I am lonely for a good Christian friend to do thimgs with and talk with
I came on here collecting information on how to create and start a Christian blog. God told me to do it. I am eager to do this
Ecclesiastes 4:12 was the thought behind our group of prayer warriors being worsted yarn. The three of us wound with God being the fourth thread. One strand has left us to be with the Lord. TOS will always be remembered and missed by LS.
Amen! Thank you for sharing this. Beautiful and so true. We are all unique, with different talents and abilities, we are all God’s people and we all make up His body. What a blessing! Have a blessed day, xoxo
Our prayer group leader sent out an email last night, asking for special prayers for the son of a parishioner. This young man is bi-polar, schizophrenic, and having conflicts right and left. He saw a kitten on the road, picked it up and tried to bring it home to care for it. When the kitten wriggled out of his grasp and disappeared into the night, the young man was distraught, crying and saying that if couldn’t even help this kitten, what good is he to continue to live? Family & friends feel that he’s on the brink of taking his own life. All those close to him are reaching out to him and struggling to help him, citing all of the points made above (your timing is great). God CAN save this child – of this there is no doubt – but sincere prayers are desperately needed. Like Lisa said, we need each other and our gifts complement each other, to God;s glory.