They have been CRAZY.  I’ve had two relatives die – a grandmother and great-grandmonther, both whom I’ve been pretty close to growing up. I worked ALL last week at a kids conference in Fort Walton Beach Florida called Breakaway.  I learned a valuable life lesson about grace and I got to experience first hand why it’s SO incredible.  The mere fact that when we screw up beyond all thought of redemption, we are offered the compassion, love and acceptance that we don’t deserve makes me wanna go hug someone or something. 

Then yesterday, we had our first launch team meeting for Connect Rome.  We had about 25 people show up, and others that wanted to but couldn’t.  God has really showed up in the whole launch process, even now when we’re still 6 months out from launching, he makes himself look super huge.  I look forward to the coming months to see what else he might do.  You can follow the whole process on Josh’s blog better than you probably could on mine.  

I’d like to share something that I read on Kristian’s blog this morning.  He was applying this to worship leaders, but it’s applicable to anyone who wants to be a part of adding to the kingdom that Jesus has called us to.  It is John 15:1-8 which says:

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 

If you are actively pursuing God’s calling in your life, these few verses should be your home.  We are called to not only build others up in the Lord, but also to feed our spirit with the principles that are Holy and Righteous.  We are called to be his hands and feet, but how can we when we have trouble walking on our own?  Hmmmmm.