I had the privilege of listening to Andrew’s message this week and I am convinced that God is doing something in our church family’s heart and assignment. Andrew shared how Proximity Changes Everything. He shared how he could see the changes in Wildfire and he shared how over the years, proximity changed him.
Listening to Andrew brought tears to my eyes because I could fully relate to how people have so greatly impacted my own personal life. I have had amazing fathers and mothers and friends in my life that are constantly calling me higher, pushing me harder, supporting me when I slip, and encouraging me every step of the way.
Yet, in this moment of great appreciation for so many who have walked alongside and before me came a great sadness and conviction. How many people out there have no one to walk beside them? How many people don’t have anyone calling them higher, pushing them harder, supporting them when they slip – people encouraging them in their daily lives?
Every morning when I wake up, I go to each of my children and wake them up with hugs, kisses, and pats. They always respond with groans and moans because they don’t want to wake up! I sit with them, encourage them, massage their legs, and pat their bums. How many children out there have no fathers or mothers helping their children wake up?
This is not meant to be a sad story, and don’t feel bad if you aren’t crying. But when I cry, I know God is getting my attention. I’m a 200+ lb man that cried once during Lion King and only when the Holy Spirit catches my attention.
We are a Kingdom Family – God has been maturing and setting us up our entire lives to be who He intends us to be. But God is asking us to be Kingdom Parents, not just to our own children, but to a world who desperately needs Kingdom Parents.
I’ve never felt such simple words bring such conviction to my heart:
That day when evening came, he (Jesus) said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side”.
– Mark 4:30
The “other side” is a place we don’t go to. We all have an “other side” in our lives. But go to the other side. Expect God to show up. Proximity changes everything.
In obedience, God is calling us to go to the other side. The Kingdom Family is much bigger than the Lifespring Family and I believe God wants us to extend our wings. We may not know where that is exactly, but I believe God is preparing our hearts for the assignment to come. Amen