encouragement

I think I learned something at housechurch tonight. I got the answer to a question that's been nagging me for a long time.

I used to think that if a bunch of people were excited and sharing what God's doing in their lives and I was the only one who's down I should just keep my mouth shut and not ruin a good thing. Or the opposite, that if I was trying to encourage someone who's down I shouldn't tell them what's exciting me. That fell apart last night in housechurch.

I had the prayer shift right before the gathering and Emily came in and talked with me for a couple of hours. She could tell I'd been kinda discouraged and listened to me talk about what's been going on. Then she told me, bubbling over with excitement, about how much God has been working in her life. It really encouraged me. I don't think my downess stole from her excitement at all. So I think all those ideas I used to have were wrong.

Then everyone else arrived and we had such a good time praying for each other. Some were super excited about what God's doing in them. Others were feeling more discouraged about the challenges they're facing. It was so cool and encouraging. We're really getting close as a group and it's exciting. God, please keep working in us. Please don't let this be just the passing hype of the moment. Keep working and do something deep and permanent in us.....