God seems to always be faithful especially in frustrating times. Lately our group has been going through some rough times. As our relationships deepen and we get to know each other better we come across areas of conflict with each other. As our group started off, we ignored conflict and were very passive with one another. This is ok, but when you start to p
ush aside problems you don’t want to deal with they start to build up, and eventually the pile overflows and makes a big mess. That is where it got icky for us, it took us a while to finally realize this…and put it into practice. Which we still have not mastered in any kind of way at all!
Our group tried to make a household covenant for things we want to live by relating to community. At the end of our covenant discussion there were a lot of frustrated people and we had no kind of a covenant written. Everybody has different expectations and opinions on community and why they came to be a part of ComLife that we couldn’t even come up with some written stuff on how to live. Some expectations were simple desires to be able to work with aim and intern, others wanted to be able to go out on the field and some just wanted community. We have finally come to a place where our desire is to become unified; having one mind. We truly have to lay down our ideas and pride and ask the Lord to direct us in the way he wants to live.
I have been realizing that it is pretty much impossible for Community Life to be a success at first sight. Our group is going to go through trials and tough stuff and Satan is going try to break down what is good and of the Lord. When we hit tough stuff/make mistakes we need to be learning from them and not make them again. Please be praying for us in this way. I found a verse in Proverbs 14:22, the end part of this verse sticks out to me a lot:
Do not those who plot evil go astray?
But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.
For the most part we all have good intentions and plans but we need to be able to seek out what God’s ultimate plan is. The wonderful thing is that God is still so faithful and loves us.
yebo cici. i love you!
Hey Mags, thanks for the honest post. The commitment not to give up is critical. I also pray that God will reward you by answering that prayer. It’s cool that if we all get united w/ God, we’ll automatically be united with each other too. So I suggest really pushing for individuals to get united with God on this issue by asking him what he wants you to do.
hey maggie, so true, life will always be filled with human drama b/c we are all broken creatures and as we draw close to each other our brokenness and others becomes all the more real. hence the call of jesus to die to oneself so that His life may all the more be real through us. sounds like He is working down there, especially through these tough times.
maggie,
thanks for your leadership and insight in this. this attitude is mandatory for success which I think is the unity you talked about. Check out Ephesians 4 on unity and how it is found when people are operating in their giftings – everyone is different and you are only whole when you are together (unified). That’s why different expectations are not always bad – they just need to be bound together toward a common goal, and I think you have found that goal. Unity.
True Dat!!! Love you Roomie…we will get through this!
Honesty is a good starting point for your “family”. Community Life is hard, especially with people you are getting to know. The honeymoon phase is nice but then comes reality and glimpses of the “real” person. Our culture today teaches us to live independently, to hide our faults or those things that others might not like but God created us to have/be. Living a surrendered life isn’t easy. Surrender ourself to others? What about our “rights”? Right’s to be alone, cook my own foods, spend money my way, to do it ALL my way, to live independently? Christ tells us to lay down our lives for others. That means our rights too.
As one who has lived in community, I encourage you all to keep working at it but most importantly to keep seeking Christ and His will for your “family”. He will show each of you a part of yourselves to lay down for the benefit of others, if you will let Him. Sometimes community is painful but the joys, relationships, laughter, prayer times, encouragement, etc. is worth it all!