God is good.

His plan is perfect.

The last week has contained moment after moment leaving that exclamation on my heart, written in texts, spoken to those around me, and offered in praise and thanksgiving to our God.

And, you know, saying that God is good doesn’t meant that each moment felt good or that the perfection was immediately evident. Yet, in the midst of it all, through the tough and the sweet, the breaking and the building, the difficult and the easy, the pieces that fell apart and those that worked according to plan… in all of that God shows His goodness and perfection. I’m truly in awe.

As a camp staff we’ve been focusing on fellowship, on what it means to connect our heart to others. Reading bit by bit through Ephesians we’re now deep in the trenches of chapter 4 and its been speaking profoundly to our individual role in the corporate body of Christ. How community, which is only only found in the working of the spirit, results in maturity of faith and strength of character of the individual.

Tonight… well let me just say, I’m almost at a loss of words as I try to express in written form the beautiful fellowship we were blessed with as the staff gathered in a time of affirmation.

Sitting together we shared affirmations (the recognition of that something is true) with one another.

And it was beautiful.

Hebrews 10: 24-25 says, “ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

To see this in action was beautiful.

Tears welled. Voices caught. Smiles grew wide. As we intentionally looked into the hearts, actions, and spirits of our fellow staff… then choosing to share… our hearts connected.

Through the bond we felt encouragement, built up, supported, connected…

Why don’t we do this more? Why are we stingy with our words, standoffish with our hearts? As we ended our time, the challenge was to continue to build one another up in our day to day living. The power of beautiful fellowship around our circle tonight was palpable. Imagine if we lived it daily, moment by moment?

Beautiful fellowship.

What specific steps can you take to open your heart to true fellowship? How can God use you to help encourage someone today?

God- I thank you for the body of Christ… that in you we are not alone. Give us the strength to be weak and rely upon one another. Humble us to share words of affirmation and build one another up in love. Thank you for your goodness and perfection worked out in our lives. For those Lord who are struggling to connect or have suffered the breaking of the bonds of friendship, bring them comfort, draw them close to you. Help us to be brave enough to be open and real, allowing you to bless us with beautiful fellowship. Amen.

~Jillene