Load Lifter // Micah

Have you ever noticed how burden often begets burden? A heavy heart is made heavier still when one inflicted with a pain is overtaken by the unexpected discouragement accompanying the trial.  This state is only perpetuated when a current of shame, shame for having despaired in the first place, keeps the broken reed from reaching the air on the surface. If unlifted, what began as a hurt, can become a weighty sea threatening to drown the life of the one held under its wake. The broken one is left to think, "what would God want of me now, I am of no use?"

The answer God gives to that question is "everything." He wants everything to do with the heavy of heart who come to Him in humility and truth. He does not ask the broken to fix themselves, to make themselves presentable, that they may merit His presence. He does not say to the drowning man, "learn to swim, and if you get the hang of it, swim my way." 

No, he says, "cry out to me and I will come." He says, "come to me and I will mend.” We were not made to bear the load, but instead to know the Load Lifter. 

"The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.” Psalms 145:14

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 

- Micah McElveen

Wisdom From a Blanket // Micah

Standing alone, individual pieces of fabric are relatively weak and unimpressive. However, a threads attractiveness and functional value are tremendously enhanced when interwoven with others. Weaving unearths a phenomenon producing an end result that is both strong and beautiful.

One would think that three interwoven cords are three times as strong as one, but it isn't, it's greater. Something mysterious yet scientific occurs when individual strengths are combined. Instead of resiliency output doubling, a multiplying force materializes bringing to bear a power the Greeks called "synergia." Articulated in English, synergy is "the working together of two things to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects." In other words, 1 cord plus 1 cord, interwoven, equals 3 cord strength. When cooperative elements are effectively intertwined a powerful functional capacity is unveiled.

A similar reality is produced as two become one on the visual side of the equation. Blue and green merged produce hazel, a beautiful third hue. Previously fixed color palates are expanded through the enmeshing of distinct tones. The allure, like a kaleidoscope, can be quite breath-taking, as the combining of varying shades allows altogether new colors to emerge.

As a magnificent quilt, which provides beauty to the eye and protection from the elements, is a result of a thousand threads that alone do little, so is the body of Christ. Powerfully beautiful potential is unleashed when we come together in one accord under one Lord offering our time, talent, treasure and influence to be intertwined for one world-changing purpose. As we pursue the otherwise impossible, the good of man and glory of Christ in all Nations, may we heed the Wisdom From A Blanket.

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." Romans 12:4-5

- Micah McElveen

Abide // Audrey

I've been thinking about some of what I believe I've been learning during this season of my life.

With the birth of Arrow, along with other struggles taking place at the same time, forced a halt on the full-steam-ahead lifestyle. This inspired me to choose present over perfect, like Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, instead of being Martha, scrambling to try to be a perfect host. Like Peter jumping out of the boat to be with Jesus instead of working out his perfect logic. To be with Christ and to abide in Him, can have miraculous outflow. To be a present mommy to Arrow, instead of trying to be a perfect mommy, gives me freedom. To be a present wife, instead of the perfect wife empowers me. To really listen with my heart instead of trying to first formulate a perfect response, I am given room to grow and feel.

I think at the end of my life, I can look back and be full of joy & peace, knowing that I was there, present, and walking close in Spirit & abiding with my Savior. I can know I was at rest with putting down the measuring stick, or I could look back, saddened by the fact that I missed so much by never resting in Christ's love for me. I don't want to give up perfect peace and choose, instead, to wrestle the beast of perfection and be worn out, never to have attained it. A yearning to be with Christ and in Christ will make me more like Christ. A yearning to be perfect like Christ, apart from His presence, apart from abiding and resting in Him, leaves me worn, tired and empty. For in our own strength we fail, but with Him we find fullness of joy and life abundant.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

- Audrey McElveen

Diversified Unity // Micah

For many, the terms “Unity" and “Diversity" are antonyms, opposing concepts that do not co-exist. The thought of functioning in “unity with others" implies becoming clones, while “diversity" equals chaotic disorder. You are either united and therefore undiversified or diverse and not unified, or so the logic goes.

The Bible provides a picture of a third way, bonded uniqueness being walked out in progress oriented harmony. When unique individual giftings and diverse perspectives are harnessed in fully aligned pursuit of a crystallized objective a synergy results, which ushers in a powerful momentum. Being a part of this type of movement is awe-inspiring and produces a feeling much like the one felt when all players on a field “click" and pull off a dramatic final drive come back. Several components are essential for this to occur: dedication to a common objective, harmony around essentials, accountability to clearly defined roles, and humility in collaboration.

This is what God meant for His people in pursuit of His global rescue mission. A powerful reality emerges when the people of God come together around the mission of Christ for the glory of God. The collective ingenuity and combined effort produces results otherwise unattainable, while the diverse collaboration inside the body of Christ displays a broader welcome to those outside the family. With all our differences may we be a people that comes together for the Kingdom's Advancement.

“For just as in ONE body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are ONE body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to ONE another. And we have DIFFERENT gifts according to the grace given to us…" Romans 12:4-6a

“…I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be ONE, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:20b-21

- Micah McElveen

Family Matters // Micah

Inside each of us there is an innate longing to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, something that will last. That is why groups like a club, team, tribe and so on are so universally pursued, even though they are only a shadow of what is ultimately fulfilling. It is true that we may run into periods where we long for “alone time,” but even the most introverted of us somehow know we were not created to walk in permanent isolation. Indeed, we were created with a longing to walk as members of a lasting Kingdom. Said simply, we were made to be a part of the Great King of King's family, pursuing the eternal aims of our noble Lord’s Kingdom. Through Christ we are offered entrance into precisely that. 

“Your kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.” Psalms 145:13

 “And so, since we have been justified by His grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” Titus 3:7

Not too Far to be Near // Micah

Near in Hebrew (kaw-robe) connotes ‘neighbor, at hand, family.’ God says of Himself that He is ready and willing to draw near to us. This is baffling and truly amazing. It is balm to the soul to realize that the ‘Lord of All Creation’ wants to be and is near His children. In an increasingly relationally disconnected and detached age, our precious ‘Emanuel’ (God with us) is still ever close. May we relent to His pursuit and lay down our defenses as He seeks to draw us near to Him. - Musings

“...The Lord is NEAR all who cry out to Him, all who cry out to Him sincerely.” Psalm 145:18b

- Micah McElveen