Clean Community

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    Community is messy. It's full of mistakes, hurts, forgiveness, reconciliation. Rich community includes ups/downs, rights/wrongs. It includes what it is to be human, and for Christians, humans trying to follow Christ.

    Clean Community … what an oxymoron! I do not think such a thing exists!

    I love community but hate the messiness of it. Stepping on toes, hurting someone, being hurt, misunderstandings, weariness, false expectations, disappointments, etc. So community is anything but clean and it is utterly messy.

    In this beautiful mess is life, a rich life, a life lived with others and with God. There is opportunity for reconciliation and redemption. Community is not clean but often it is so worth it. In exchange for the messes we get meaning, depth and authentic relationships. In exchange for messes we receive grace and we offer grace.

    May you embrace the messiness of community today.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Return to Relationship

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**
 
    God continues to call me into deeper relationship. He calls me into deeper relationship with him and with others. He calls me into deeper relationship with those whom I have hurt and have hurt me.

    After forgiveness and reconciliation sometimes (not always) God calls us back into relationship. He calls us back into relationship and is not satisfied with just reconciliation.

    Our relationship with God was broken, He provided the forgiveness and forgiver and now we get to be back in relationship with him. God’s story is not just about reconciliation but it is also about relationship.

    How will you enter into deeper relationship with God? Is God calling you to return to relationship with another?

(Note: returning to relationship sometimes is not possible and could be dangerous … use wisdom, discernment, prayer and godly counsel) 
**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

A Call to Peace

**Before you being reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for one minute.**
   
    In humility and pleasure God comes into the world fully man. This humbling led to sacrifice which ultimately led to peace between the two parties – God and man.
    What opportunities has God taken to bring humility into your heart and life? What opportunities have you taken to recognize the need for humility? How can humility lead to peace in a relationship in your life?
    The peace that God brings gives us reconciliation with Him – a restored relationship. What peace can you bring to a relationship in your life? How can reconciliation be a reality as you seek to live in humility and peace?

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**