SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMMER SUMMER! I can’t get over it. It’s been a week now and I still feel like I am on repeat in the ever classic High School Musical “school’s out” scene. A week back in the 772 and I am just struck with the reminder of how much I really do adore my home. My family that makes it a home. But also just where I live. Its absolutely beautiful. Some dear, surely lifelong friends came to visit (yes, we couldn’t last a week without one another) and I think the whole “showing off” your hometown thing really set the tone of appreciation and praise to my good Father who is a creator. Who created things that just make me smile, speechless. Like the sun, and the ocean, and being on the boat, and the sunset. All the classic Florida things that just scream his majesty. Man. Beyond the just summer excitement cloud I have been floating on, there has been so much reflection. I’m a nostalgic person. So the end of an incredible spring semester, a new summer season ahead, and the wide, scary future of adulthood nearing closer with each passing year, all mesh into a lot of processing and emotions the past few weeks. So there is A LOT I could write about for this blog. BUT something that has just been so pressing throughout my spiritual growth in college and magnified so much in this last season is the POWER of community. Christian community is a small taste of heaven; to have brothers and sisters who are seeking Christ alongside you. The body of Christ to function within the confines of their specialized, unique parts, all unified by Christ as the head. Wow. With just finishing up a toughy class of human anatomy, to say I’m beyond impressed by the functioning and detail of our body is an understatement. It is a miracle. And in the same comparison Paul uses to describe the church, the body of Christ in its purest form is a miracle. It’s amazing. Detailed. Specialized. And alive. And more than ever can I testify time, after time, how I have experienced the LIFE of the body in this season.
“12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 I most definitely could write pages about this passage- but on this cloudless, putting the sun in Sunday morning, I am STOKED. STOKED for the body and what is ahead this summer for the members of community I am surrounded with from Gainesville. Because church for me this morning meant putting together a world map filled will support letters, names, pictures and push pins. I have brothers and sisters around the world this summer. And there aren’t enough words for how excited that makes me. Who am I to be able to live life with those walking in the call of “Go and make disciples of ALL nations” (Matt. 28:19)?!? And this is in no way to say that my summer ahead in little ole Fort Pierce, Florida is not fulfilling that call. Because it more than is and that’s a blog for another time because you can best bet if you know me at all this was not Jessica Wright’s plan for her four-month summer. Was it the Lord’s? 110 %. So what’s the point? Well one, to let my world traveling friends know that my part in the international mission’s body this summer is to give and pray. And to publicly, boldly, and excitedly claim that. I am with ya’ll in prayer this summer- use me. And what an honor that is. Am I good at praying? Nope. But the sweet Spirit has so clearly told me that my summer will be one of learning how to pray in petition of others. To cover the church with truth. To take part in the Lord’s plans without having to be the literal hands and feet. It is a journey I am so excited about. Secondly, to thank you guys. For encouraging me and being the truest examples of living out your faith in the form of missions. Fundraising is hard. Going to new places is scary. Dealing with logistics and parents can be difficult. Sacrificing your plans for HIS plans- that takes faith. A strong, bold kind of faith. It’s incredible and may Satan not tell you otherwise. Thirdly, for the body who is still in Gainesville, went home (ME ME ME) or all the in between crazy cool summer plans ahead- this is for you to. Boundaries of countries in no way deems being sent. We are all sent this summer. We are all “to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) How cool. Lastly, to challenge us as the body. To be invested in our church. To ask the Lord what our summer calling is. To listen. And to go. To be in the Word. To let truth flow in, so the enemy has no grip. To utilize what some may deem the off season as one for rigorous spiritual training. So as summer has so truly begun with palm trees, the inter- Wright sister tan competition, Rita’s /movie nights, and lots of beach for this truly Florida girl- I am expectant and “eagerly desiring greater gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31). Expectant of my mighty God to move mountains in the ALIVE body this summer- internationally and right at home. Because it is a summer to be SENT.
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AuthorI LOVE JESUS, GRACE, PEOPLE, PUNS, TRAVEL, ADVENTURE AND THE FLORIDA GATAS Archives
October 2016
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