Best laid plans

Well life is pretty odd. I had planned to continue my blogs on Tozer. However, I am compelled to blog about my recent realization of what freedom in Christ means to me as my church's study of Galatians winds down. Its about all I can think about when I sit in front of the laptop ready to blog. The law of Christ is all that applies now. As long as I am loving Him, and loving my fellow peeps, I am not bound by the law that bound me before I knew Christ. This is accomplished when I live in the Spirit. I live in the Spirit when I love God and love my fellow peeps. That is Christ's law. Its pretty much a black and white situation, but not as easily lived out. What that looks like to me personally still remains to be seen. All I do know is that I want to love my God with everything I have, and turn around and love my fellow peeps with everything I have. We had an interesting start to worship today. We got to the building and found that we had no power. It was cool to see and hear the worship team pray and prepare to lead worship in the dark if they had to. But God is light. And He turned them on literally minutes before we were to begin. And wow did he ever show up! Hands and hearts were lifted up in praise of our Lord Jesus Christ. So my response is to live with the purpose of loving my God with all my heart, mind,body,soul, and strength. Then to go further and love my neighbors as Christ loves me. In doing that I will then live by the Spirit, and be involved in the work of the Kingdom. Really exciting to see God move. I cannot wait to see what He has planned next!

In other news my church was given a new place to worship. By the grace of God we were able to obtain a new building with more room for our children, for growth that has been steady these past few months, and to use as a tool to continue our efforts to reach Fayetteville and beyond for Christ! I am indeed honored, and in awe of the privilege of being a part of it.

God is so good!

WD

Community of sorrow,Grace,love, and hope!

Well I had planned on continuing my Tozer blogs but life had other plans. From having a job offer resended, and having my wife laid off, but getting writing jobs from home so she can stay home and work, to me getting a new job, and then having tragedy strike our church family its been a tough month since I blogged last.

Saturday October 3rd a good friend, a leader at my church, an elder, a teacher along with his incredibly talented wife lost their youngest daughter in a accident. This week has seemed like it has lasted a month. I was shocked when I first got the news. I still am but to a lesser degree, Now its sorrow I mostly feel still.I love the Rays, they were one of the first families that supported me when I was our church's student pastor. Their oldest daughter Hope was a part of that fledgling ministry. In fact John and I had lunch one day and he told me how one of the reasons why they felt drawn to Grace church was the acceptance and love we showed Hope and their other children even if they were not old enough to be a part of GSM just yet. I will never forget that John. This family lives for others, period. John and Jane have been involved with YWAM for years upon years now. They have taught their daughters Hope,Hannah,Naomi, and the sweet dearly departed Olivia that to love God is to love Him, and to love others above yourself. And that is what the entire family has done since I have known them. I love the Rays, I hope to join them in Mexico to build houses. Olivia loved doing that. I hope to teach my children that same principles the Rays have taught their daughters. I love you Ray family!

The response to this horrific accident has been incredible to see. God has used folks from all over the world to shower John and Jane and the girls with love and support. Organizations like AAO, YWAM, and other organizations that the Rays have touched all ran to their sides to support them during this difficult time. I had the privilege of being chosen by a couple of our church elders to help. I am still blown away by all the love I have seen and still see. This will be a long process for the Rays to go through, their lives are forever altered, but they will rise, and they will get back to work serving Christ and furthering His Kingdom all over the world. I am inspired by the Ray family!

Finally, I just want to say that I have been changed by what I have seen, what I have heard, especially from John and Jane during this time of sadness. The call to action, the sincere unconditional love they express, it has been one of the if not the most inspiring times of my life. I pray that I too can love others like they do. I pray that my wife and I will teach our children how to love others like they love others, and to live like Olivia lived. Like she still does in the hearts of everyone that knew her. Folks that is how you leave a Christ centered legacy, live like Olivia lived.

If anyone who reads this wants to help folks in Mexico live in real homes. Then go to gorayfamily.com and find out how!

God Bless!

James Selvey

Wandering Disciple