DRIVE REFLECTIONS
(from the weekly emails)
D - DIVINE ENCOUNTER
What promptings have you heard or sensed from God this week?

I guess I wouldn't mind seeing a burning bush or two, but frankly I'm not sure what I'd do with one if I saw it. It might really freak me out. I find that God encounters me with little nudges in my spirit -- realizations, insights, invitations to pray, to call, to respond, to listen, to rest, to act, to choose.

This DRIVE question has forced me to become more aware of an ongoing conversation with God throughout the day. It helps me to go through the day expecting God to communicate with me. Or maybe I should say that it helps me go through the day expecting myself to actually listen to God who is always trying to communicate with me.

I do have a tendency to get easily distracted and preoccupied (just ask my wife), so I started carrying around with me a little black notebook. In this notebook I write down the ways God prompts me, which is another way of saying that God encounters me. I started writing these down because I thought it would be good for me to actually be able to look back and see how God met me throughout the day.

I was in the car the other day driving down the freeway when the name of a friend of mine I hadn't talked to in a long time flashed into my memory. I sensed that God was saying, "Give him a call." So I did. Turns out he just needed a little encouragement. For me, that was a Divine Encounter. I wrote that down in my little black notebook.

Here's another one from a few days ago. During a Step 3 conversation with a friend, we were talking about making a decision to turn our lives and will over to the care of God. Somewhere in the middle of that I sensed God saying to me, "You don't know when you take your will back, you only know that you have. Once you realize you have, just give it back." That was a Divine Encounter. I wrote that down in my little black notebook.

I got an email from a friend who was experiencing the death of someone very important in his life. He was asking me to pray with him. God prompted me through my friend to enter this journey with him. So I did. I wrote that down in my little black book.

There are a lot more. Let me just say that as I've been walking through DRIVE I'm becoming more aware in each day, in each moment of each day, that God invites us into more. I'm becoming more amazed too. I'm making a commitment to respond to whatever I sense God saying.

If you want to know more about this DRIVE thing at Mercy Street, just click here.

With you in the journey,

- Gregg

I have a tendency to go, go and not stop until I go to bed at night. So, this DRIVE question has got me to sit still. Now I take time in my day to stop and listen. Here is one of my promptings from last week.  I have a friend that has Lupus.  She has to take Chemo every other week. The doctor told her that she would have to take chemo for the rest of her life. I got this feeling that I needed to pray for her, so as I was driving to work the next day. I called her as she was going for her chemo and asked if I could pray for her.  She said of course you can.  To me that was a prompting from God to do something. Sometimes I have a hard time understanding.  So I just keep listening and learning. God is so good all the time.

Love to all through your journey,  

Debra

During worship week I began to realize that we are more sensitive to God when we are expecting to encounter him. The more sensitive we are to God, then the more receptive we are to being a part of what he’s doing. A couple of weeks ago Gregg introduced D.R.I.V.E. (more info here). The ‘D’ - Divine Encounter - is essential to the rest of the acronym. It’s easy to have your head down all day getting stuff done. And it’s easy to coast through the day in your typical routine. But what I’m beginning to realize is that I’m missing God throughout the day. Its unintentional, I’m even trying to ‘work’ for him but as I am so focused on the results of what I am doing each day, I’m missing the adventure with God. I know that God can’t wait for us to wake up each morning so we can begin to encounter him. The crazy thing is that we cram our lives with stuff, even good stuff, that we don’t take the time to look around and find God in the things we’re doing. A Divine Encounter is what happens when we realize that God is sitting right here reading this email with us. Find an adventure with God this week in the midst of your routine. God wants to be found. “Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him” – Acts 26-28 The Message

- Richard

REACT OR ACT
This is something that I am trying to work on daily.  So this week something came up about this.  I had a choice to react or act.  I decided to act after praying a really long time.  I told the person that I had a disagreement with that I was sorry you are feeling that way. Then I walked away. I believe that God intervened because normally I would react. For me this question is teaching me to be more aware today.  I ‘m making a commitment to be more aware of what God wants me to do.

Love,

Debra
R - RESPOND

How are we responding to what we receiving from God this week is the "R" question in our "D.R.I.V.E" journey.    Well, I first have to admit though I have been intentional about my time connecting with others; I have not been as connected to God in my personal time.  Most days over the past few weeks, I am going through the motions of my morning meditations, reading them, not spending time sitting in it...dabbling in scripture,  not as committed to it as I have been.  I know that God wants me to connect with him so that my life is more fulfilled and my time with others takes us to deeper questions and conversations.  A couple of weeks ago as I sensed God prompting me in such a gentle way...you're going off toward the shoulder Suz, get back on the road.  I knew I had to ask for accountability from another friend on the "DRIVE".   So as I get encouraging messages from her throughout the week reminding me to invest time with God, I keep myself in daily readings, scripture and most of all I try to sit and listen.  Though I did not really have any great revelations on where to go, what to do, this sitting and listening to God has brought me to a place this last week to be with a sister who is going through a stressful time and a couple of friends going through devastating times and I just sit and listen.    As I look back on this question...how am I responding to what I have been receiving from God?  I am responding in the way I received from Him, in silence and presence to others.  

Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him.  Lamentations 3:28 

Sometimes God's silences are His answers~

- Suzanne


Well to be honest, I can often overlook or dismiss what I’m receiving from God because I’m just too distracted to recognize it… distracted by my busyness, negative/fearful thoughts, resentments, desires, self will, etc.  This happens more often when I’m not completely surrendering my life over to the care of God.  However,  when I do ask God to direct my life (with the faith and trust that He can do a better job of it), my eyes, ears, and heart are a lot more open to receive, recognize, acknowledge and respond to His many blessings, miracles and promptings.  When I’m in a place of gratitude, trust, and surrender my response to EVERYTHING is much better than when I’m in a place of self pity, fear, and trying to control and run everything on my own.  I can better respond by sharing God’s love, blessings, and hope with those around me when I slow down and let Him direct me.

- Trish

This question has been tough for me this week because it’s shined some light on some of my behavior I’m not happy with.  It’s made me realize that often instead of responding to what I’m receiving from GOD, I respond to what I’m receiving (or not receiving) from others, from my circumstances, or even myself.  And those others and I are human, imperfect, and at times unpredictable.  For me, it’s much easier to express things like compassion, love, mercy, and forgiveness when I REALLY feel like I’m receiving them.  And even then I tend to give those things only to those I’m receiving them from.  The real challenge comes during the tough times when I feel like I’m not receiving those things at all, or when I’m responding to people who I believe are giving me the opposite.

Matthew 5:43-48 says, "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

So, I’m still trying to “grow up”.  I’ve been challenging myself to respond to life on life’s terms in a way that reflects those things I know I’m constantly receiving from GOD, whether I really feel like it or not.  Most of the time this requires me to do the exact opposite of what my instincts tell me.  But this week, since reflecting on this question on a deeper level, I think I’ve made some progress.

- Trish
I - IMITATE

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." – 2 Cor 3:18

Imitating Christ means knowing Christ and reflecting him in the way we live. Imitating Christ means allowing Christ to transform us into his likeness.

I looked up the definition of reflect…
    1: to turn into or away from a course
    2: to prevent passage of and cause to change direction
    3: to bend or fold back
    4: to give back or exhibit as an image, likeness, or outline
    5: to bring or cast as a result
    6: to make manifest or apparent
And the definition of transform:
    1: to change in composition or structure
    2: to change the outward form or appearance of
    3: to change in character or condition
Don’t all of these definitions seem difficult and painful? They all require action on our part… Turn. Prevent. Bend. Give. Bring. Make. Change. We cannot imitate Christ without Christ’s help. We cannot reflect what we do not see. We cannot transform into what we do not know. Spend time with God today, with an unveiled face, allow God to transform you. Know God. I read a couple of weeks ago about how do we describe knowing God? Sometimes the metaphor, “being born again” describes what it means to know God. This book had a different metaphor that has stuck with me… What does it mean to know God? It means, “We have been seized by a power of great affection”. God has rescued us and drenched us in his affections. He knows us; we know him and we want other people to know him. What God does in you, he wants to do through you. Reflect the One who has seized us with his great affections.
- Richard

My first thought is “what is God NOT trying to change in my life?” I’ve been through so many significant changes, transitions, tranformations during the last year that I could write a book. So I think I will keep it simple and concentrate on today and the words “to make me more like Christ.” I very much enjoyed Gregg’s talk last week in the Saturday night service entitled, “Younique: Face.” He threw out the question of what it would be like if we saw God in each others’ faces. I have learned enough during my journey that I know God wants us to imitate Christ. As that’s not an overnight accomplishment, I know that I must grow to be more like Christ. First and foremost, I must be sober. I’m quite sure that Christ was sober! Today I hold my recovery in the highest regard because without it, I am nothing; I cannot be of service to God or my family. I continually seek to enlarge my spiritual life and try to surround myself with people who are doing the same and encouraging me to grow in Christ. I ask Him daily to help me to live my day in a way that is pleasing to Him. By being given the opportunity to work at Mercy Street was an answer to prayer as I asked God to help me be of service to Him. As I continue to do those things, Christ’s presence grows inside me and shows in my face. Joy!

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

- Gay Tuttle

Imitating Christ’s Good Goodbye

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about goodbyes. What is a good goodbye? As I sat trying to remember how Jesus said His goodbyes, no passages came to mind. I looked to be certain and sure enough Jesus never actually said goodbye. He gave a lot of instructions that the control freak in me really likes; but the words that struck me the most deeply were those He spoke to His disciples when He appeared to them after His resurrection. They were gathered together with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders. John 20: 19-23 describes the scene for us. Jesus came through the locked door, stood among them and said “Peace be with you!” He knew they were in distress. He then showed them His hands and His side. He was letting them know that because of His death and resurrection they could have peace no matter what their circumstances. He repeated those words again in verse 21, “Peace be with you!” A week later Jesus made another appearance. On this occasion the disciple Thomas was with them. Again Jesus enters through a locked door and exclaims, “Peace be with you!” Anytime you see a phrase in the Bible repeated like that it sure enough means, “Listen up!” During this final week of Lent as we remember Jesus’ death and celebrate His resurrection I pray we will receive and accept as the disciples did, the peace that Jesus offered. Verse 20 says “They were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” Scripture is replete with references to the peace found in Jesus Christ; the One who is our peace. The disciples were about to venture out in the various ministries to which they were being sent. They were most certainly going to need the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding. I don’t know about you but I can definitely relate! Based upon what I’ve discovered, I believe that instead of saying my usual goodbyes this week I will make a conscious effort to imitate Christ and say, “Peace be with you.” It’s a good goodbye.

Love,

Mary


What is God trying to change in our lives to make us more like Christ?  How are we partnering with God in that change?

Lately I have had animals on the brain, dogs in particular.  Lindsay and I just adopted a brand new puppy named Lily.  We have been trying to be good dog owners and have been taking her for morning walks.  Yesterday we were walking her in the neighborhood and we rounded one corner, and there staring us down was the largest Pit Bull I have ever seen roaming free; its owner was no where in sight.  The first word out of my mouth was, “$#*!”.   This is often the same way I feel when coming to the “I” in the DRIVE acronym.  I can  go through “Divine Encounter” and “Respond” with relative ease, but by the time I round the corner, “Imitate” is staring me down right in the face like a frothy pit bull.  “Imitate” exposes those things within my soul that if gone unchecked have the power to destroy me.  There is a story a friend of mine told me three weeks ago about a girl who owned a boa constrictor snake.  Over time she got into the practice of allowing this boa to sleep with her in the bed.  The snake would line up right next to her and sleep down her entire body length.  Over time, she noticed that her snake was not eating its regular diet of mice.  Concerned, she took the snake to the vet, and he asked her if anything had changed in the snake’s daily routine.  She said the only thing she could think of was that she was allowing the snake to sleep with her in the bed.  The vet told her that she had to stop this immediately.  He said, “The snake is not trying to cuddle with you, it is preparing to eat you!!”  This reminded me of God’s words to Cain in Genesis when he says, “sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it's out to get you, you've got to master it.”  For me, “Imitate” is my weekly check up to see whether I’m cuddling with sin or killing sin in my life.  Some things that have been helpful for me as of late in partnering with God to kill sin are:

  1. Walking in the grace of God, I am no longer under the law in Christ
  2. Reading Scripture and other literature
  3. Having a Circle of 5 – have 5 people who I am brutally honest with and who hold me accountable
  4. Attending 12 step meetings
  5. Taking weekly inventory
  6. Praying and meditating daily
  7. Having fun and enjoying life

    There is so much grace to kill those areas of our lives that are not like Christ and to grow in those areas which are.  May we all walk in that grace today!

- Landon Schott


A few weeks ago, I was sitting with friends at a coffee shop (all freezing our butts off by the way) and it was one of those nights you remember because the conversation was so encouraging and vulnerable it also could have been the esspresso's and Bosnian coffee, not sure.  A great point came out of it that I have been chewing on for awhile.  "It's not so much our power to be like Christ, it's the power of Christ already in you." It may sound like a card at the bookstore but just think about it for a second longer.  It's not about my power to try and be like Christ, it's His power already in me because He lives in me. 
 
So it's been changing my week a little bit in subtle ways.  I have been working on instead of trying really hard and muscling my way though being like Jesus, take a moment to surrender and let go and get out of the Holy Spirit's way.  Take a moment to give God's voice in my heart a chance to be heard and go with that.  I talked to a neighbor who is a ceramic artist and got to know her, I talked to a beautiful woman who cleaned up my tray at the mall and encouraged her, sent some text messages to friends just to say I love you and I'm thinking about you and you know what?  It was effortless...almost.  I surrendered my heart and myself and was willing to go where the Holy Spirit led and He led me to be like Christ- He lived in me and through me.
 
I have been given a new perspective on imitating Christ.  I have been given a lot of new hope, I am not focused on my failures or shortcomings but I am focused more on how I can surrender more and quiet down the thousands of voices yelling in my head and give my attention to the One voice I need to hear.  Surrender is the key, not trying more.  I hope this week you will surrender and find the power that is already in you to be like Christ.  Romans 8 can explain it better than I can:
 
"...in order that the righteous requirement of the law would be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:4
 
~Lindsay

What is God trying to change in our lives to make us more like Christ?  I believe this is a really important question for me to ask myself if I want to keep growing as a Jesus follower, even though it’s not always a fun question to think about and answer.  This is a question that makes me look at my character defects, and it’s hard to look at those sometimes, but very necessary.

How are we partnering with God in that change?  This is an important question about action and intentionality.  For me, this is about partnering with God through prayer and being intentional about my spiritual growth.  This often means doing things that are outside of my comfort zone.

Imitate - to follow as a pattern, model, or example.  In order to “imitate” something or someone I must know what it is I am imitating.  I can’t follow a pattern without knowing what the pattern is.  Knowing Christ is what helps me follow, model, and example Him better.  My busy schedule requires me to be really intentional about making time to get to know Him more.  This isn’t always easy and I’m not always good at it, but it’s ALWAYS worth it.

- Trish


I guess if I am going to answer the question about what God is trying to change in my life to make me more like Christ, honestly right now, I would have to say, “Love.”  The other night my sister posted a quote to my wall on Facebook that read, “We love our people whether they turn out well or not, and the successes do not vindicate our ministry nor do the disappointments nullify it. What is important is whether we have loved in a real way - not preached in an impassioned way from a pulpit."  I was hit hard with this quote because at the same time I was wrestling with a question Gregg asked me, “Is it enough for you if the youth at Mercy Street just know that they are loved by God and others?”  I knew that my answer should be yes, but there was a hesitation in me because I want more than that.  The longer I sat on the question I came to realize that the “more” I’m looking for has more to do with my own ego and sense of validation than the Spirit of God.  Recently I did a word study in the Bible on the word “hate” to see how many times God actually said he hates something.  Surprisingly, there are only 14 references to where God says he hates something specific, almost all of them have to do with behaviors with one instance where God says he hates the wicked heart.  Never, though, in the whole Bible does God say he hates another person.  God loves His enemies, and if He loves His enemies he must love me.  So I have been confronted with the question, “How are you doing with loving people?” and not just the people you get along with or the ones that do what you want them to do, but how do you love those that don’t merit love at all?  The only way I have found this possible is to position myself to receive that unique kind of love from God.  I get alone, I get quite, and I am reminded that He loves me as I am. 

- Landon

Sometimes I get stuck in these rutts of "doing Christianity".  I feel like I'm mindlessly doing "Christian-y" things: be nice to people, open doors for others, say "praise God" when something good happens or tell people I'll pray for them.  But it doesn't take very long until I feel empty or I snap and yell at some poor guy who enters the freeway going 45 miles per hour.  In that moment, when I am angry at a total stranger I think to myself  "Dang, Jesus is not down with that."  The small meltdown then leads to my reassessment of where I am with God, my motives, my selfishness, my hopes and insecurities.  I am always reminded that "Christianity" is not my calling, it's not my purpose, it's not why I wake up in the morning.  Jesus is.  Jesus doesn't rescue my soul while it's in darkness so that I become another follower to another movement; He rescues my soul so I would be His follower, moving where He moves.  In the book of John and I John, the author repeats the word "abide".  The word inferences living with, dwelling and residing with - cohabitating even.  Jesus' desire is not that I would adhere to a body of ideals, opinions and rules that exist outside of me that are imposed on me but that I would live from the inside out - that on the inside of me, I am dwelling with and loving Jesus on the inside so that it begins to affect my outside.  Imitation then comes from abiding - living with.  So this week, I am praying that by dwelling with Jesus internally, I would love like Jesus externally.  May you abide in Him today and live from the inside out.

~Lindsay

 

V - VENTURE

My son has been heavy on my heart. He has been in the darkness for along time. I have been praying and sitting with God for the past two weeks. Asking God what can I do to help Chris? First it started Saturday during prayer time. It was like God pushing me to go pray and so I did. Then yesterday my son’s girlfriend knocked on my door. She is very concerned about his drug use. Then I called Clay, we decided to go to Chris’s and talk to him. We asked him what he wanted to do. His response was that he is a heroin junkie and wants help please. He is with us now. We are getting him the help he needs for his addiction. This is all God’s work. No matter what never give up your faith. Miracles are always happening.

Love,

Debra

Everywhere; or so it seems. Right now the ventures that I am taking have less to do with giving to others and more to do with receiving. It's easy for me to think that "venturing" with God always has to do with going to Montrose and talking to every drag queen I can find (which is great conversation for anyone who wants to try it); or doing something bold, adventurous or edgy. And while there is a time for such things- this is not my most recent venture. My venture is being ok right now with not being ok right now and being willing to trust others with my not-very-polished self. My venture is to be honest with myself, with God, with my husband and my friends about who I am and where I am and not trying to gloss it over. I have had to boldly share that I am not doing well and received care from friends who wanted to offer it. I have had to just sit and receive love from others and their prayers even if it felt like my vulnerable and hurting heart was so open to injury. My courageous adventure is to sit quietly and still hope, not hide myself under a rock and you know what, if I'm pissed, just say it. I am slowly coming out of my comfort zone of compulsively fixing myself and situation and just being loved as I am, where I am. "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God." Psalm 42:11

-Lindsay Schott


Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Did you enjoy worship week? We’re ready to do it again with WEDNESDAY WOSHIP & PRAYER starting next week! We have an opportunity to join up with some of our friends in the third ward. We’re really excited about Mercy Street venturing out to the city. I hope you will join us for one or all of the Weds night worship and prayer nights in December. We’re looking for people to help with prayer and scripture reading each night. If you’d like to help please contact – Richard@mercystreet.org or 713.354.4462. This has been a long time coming. Come check it out on Weds nights at the Eldorado Ballroom. The legendary Eldorado Ballroom is the oldest music venue in the city and has hosted concerts for artists such as: B.B. King, Ray Charles and Tina Turner. We’re coming together from 6:30-7:30pm on December 2, 9 and 16 to worship and pray together. We’re praying for the heart of the city, in the heart of the city! See you there.

What: Wednesday Worship & Prayer
Where: Eldorado Ballroom - 2310 Elgin, Houston, TX
              (East of 59 on Elgin)
When: Wednesdays, December 2, 9 and 16

- Clay Everitt


Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
Peter Wastholm coined the phrase, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Being a definition nerd; I looked up “venture” in order to discover the variety of meanings and applications. Out of the thirteen possible, I chose meaning number one. “An undertaking involving uncertainty as to the outcome, especially a risky or dangerous one.” Each word in our DRIVE acronym has questions to challenge us and move us forward in our relationship with God and other people. The word VENTURE inspires the following question. “Where is God moving us out beyond our comfort zone this week?” Another question we might ask ourselves is “What is it that makes our comfort zone so comfortable?” It could be related to fear of the unknown. We might also find that remaining where we are is just easier. Venturing out might involve some work that we aren’t prepared to do. I was reminded this week by a staff member of the call on Moses life to venture out. I reread Exodus Chapter Three with an eye to the venturing aspect of his call story. Moses was a shepherd who spent his days doing what shepherds do. One day he led the sheep to the far side of the desert, to get to Mt. Horeb (the mountain of God). That was the place Moses had the burning bush experience with God. It was there that God told Moses God’s plan to bring the Israelites out of captivity. As I was reading through this time I realized that Moses had to go through the desert to have a mountain top experience. This was indeed an undertaking and Moses was filled with uncertainty. Going up against Pharaoh was definitely both risky and dangerous. The good news was that God promised to be with Moses. I am convinced that God doesn’t ask us to venture out alone or unequipped. Being a follower of Jesus may be filled with uncertainty and it may be risky and dangerous. We have to decide whether the risk is worth it. Are we willing to risk our complacency, our comfort or our fear? Is there a danger that our lives will be changed forever as we seek to follow Jesus? Moses went through the desert but he ended up on a mountain top. Risky? Yes. Worth it? Definitely! As you continue to participate in the DRIVE series keep in mind… ”Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Love, Mary

Hopefully you were able to be at Mercy Street last week for our Easter celebration. We started the night faced with this veil in front of us with all these questions that seem to define who we are. Am I free? How much is my life worth? What do I really desire? Am I loveable? Am I alive? Am I accepted? Etc… These questions are a reality but do they really define us?

Jesus came and he refused to leave us drowning in these questions that haunt us. Jesus came and answered these questions. He gave us a new identity – in him. It helps me to understand ‘believing’ as just giving in to God. As Gregg put it last week, say “yes” to God because God has said “yes” to you. In order to be fully alive we have to “be living” and the only way to freely live is to “believe”.

As the night went on the veil was torn down. These questions no longer define us. In fact, all these questions are answered by the one turning point in all of history – Jesus on the cross. Our identity has been changed. God doesn’t love us because Jesus died for us, Jesus died for us because God loves us.

How do we respond? What do we do with this new identity? Live it. Remember how much your life cost. Remember how much your life is worth. God revealed himself on the cross; he gave us forgiveness and freedom on the cross. He defeated death and gave us something to live for. How is God moving us out beyond our comfort zone this week? Live what you believe. Believe. Be living.

- Richard

Venture: How is God moving us beyond our comfort zone this week?

I find that my mind is usually directed to the future. I tend to forget things pretty quickly, sometimes even in the middle of conversations. So I find that I have to be intentional about being present to the present, participating in what's happening now, present to the Presence of God. Otherwise I miss the moments that are right in front of me.

Thinking about the venture question, How is God moving us beyond our comfort zone this week, has made me realize that my zone of discomfort may be what's happening right in front of me, while my comfort zone has to do with my future orientation.

Moments-yet-to-be-made get in the way of moments-in-the-making.

I resonate with Richard Rohr when he says, "We cannot attain the presence of God. We are already totally in the presence of God. What's absent is awareness."

So I'm trying this week to follow my own advice to ask the question I asked you on Saturday night to ask yourself, "What now, Lord?" And maybe a better question, "What's now, Lord?"

Together with you in this journey,

Gregg

 
E - ENGAGE

Who have we blessed this week through our words or actions? What learning, encouragement, or challenges were raised by it?

A much easier question for me to answer this week or any week would be “who has blessed ME?” I can count any number of people who have touched my life in a positive way during the last few days. And if I’m doing what my sponsor says to do, even the negative ways become blessing if I have learned something from them and they add wisdom and value to my life. In this way, everyone becomes my teacher and their teachings reap blessing, hopefully sooner rather than later. In this way, I need to thank God for each and every human being that crosses my path no matter the circumstances, good or bad. Thank God for progress, not perfection; I fail miserably at it sometimes but soar at others.

I would like to think that I blessed each person that I came into contact with this week by simply smiling and saying, “Hello.” NOT TRUE. Sometimes I don’t feel like smiling, let alone speaking, and sometimes they just don’t respond for various reasons including the same ones that keep me from initiating contact in the first place: preoccupation with what’s going on with ME! Work, kids, bills, dinner, the weekend, what’s-his-name. I’ve noticed that the fuller my life gets and the more God restores, the bigger the preoccupation gets. I can’t think about anyone else as long as I’m thinking about my favorite subject: ME!!! And even if I did reach out to ask, “How’s your life going today”, I really just want you to say, “Fine” because I don’t want to get involved. I don’t have time --- It might take the focus off of ME!!! I don’t think this is what they are talking about when they say that this [AA] is a selfish program.

In The Ragamuffin Gospel, Manning writes, “Though Christ no longer visibly moves among us, we minister to Him in the ragamuffins within reach. Each encounter with a brother or sister is a mysterious encounter with Jesus Himself ….. Quite simply, our deep gratitude to Jesus Christ is manifested neither in being chaste, honest, sober and respectable, nor in church-going, Bible-toting and Psalm-singing, but in our deep and delicate respect for one another.”

I spent last weekend in Sugar Land with my children. Most all of my Sundays there are full to the brim with laundry and cooking. We love to eat! I left a huge pot of chicken and sausage jambalaya on the stove for them to eat during the week and spooned a generous helping out for myself for Monday’s lunch at work. I knew it would be better the next day, heated to sizzling in the microwave with more than a dash of hot sauce. Yum, I could hardly wait. On Monday morning I headed for the bus stop exactly one block from my front door. There was a homeless man sitting around the corner from the Palm Reader on Taft and Fairview. I knew he was hungry, I knew he probably hadn’t slept all night, I knew he was hopeless. But for a moment, I forgot about ME and without hesitation, I offered my nicely packed lunch to the man. He took it without a word, probably embarrassed at his plight, and began to eat with his hands. I watched as crumbs fell from a slice of red velvet cake that I had baked for my kids and tears welled up in my eyes. I used to be him. I thanked God for my life, however humble, and the reminder of where I once was and could be again. I don’t know if I blessed that man on Monday morning. I do know, however, that his being there blessed me! A mysterious encounter with Jesus Himself …
“The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

- Gay



ENGAGE: Who have we blessed this week with our words or actions?  What learning, encouragement, or challenges were raised by it?
 
The word this week in the “D.R.I.V.E.” process is “engage” and I can read the question and always find at least one person I have blessed with a kind word or offered to return their grocery cart from their car.  Today, I am reminded, though random acts of kindness are a great gift to someone, we are also being called to engage with those around us, known or unknown as one who follows Jesus, reflects his love to others as he would want us to.  Saturday night at Mercy Street I received a gentle reminder as C-4 shared an experience she had the past week.  In the prior weeks talk, Gregg “challenged” us to pray for others by name out loud and in the moment if possible.  C-4 was with others, not in a “church setting” and someone shared with her a concern they were struggling with and in that moment, stepping out in faith she did not just say, I will pray for you but I will pray for you right now!  She shared how doing that through the week opened up dialogs about a persons own spiritual journey.  Who knows where some of those dialogs will lead but I would bet there will be more!
 
The challenge raised by this question in not only who am I engaging with but who I am investing in…as a disciple?  Jesus called his disciples “friends”  I have certainly been “discipled”, befriended,  invested in and blessed by others on my journey and am being challenged to get back in the “drivers seat” and D.R.I.V.E.!
Where are you?
 
I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.  John 15:14
 
Peace,
Suzanne

 

Who have we blessed this week through our words or actions? What learning, encouragement or challenges were raised by it?

With over 3,984,349 people living in Houston, how many people do we actually talk to…acknowledge…help… engage? It’s easy to go through the week, wrapped up in our schedules and retinues, and miss God. And it’s just as easy to go through the week and miss an opportunity to be used by God in someone’s life. The DRIVE cards help me be aware of what God is doing. I really believe that life is supposed to be an adventure with God. Ephesians chapter 3 ends with this… “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” God can do more than we can ask or imagine and his power is at work within us? That is crazy. God uses us to bless people. When we serve and encourage people it’s more than trying to help someone have a good day; it’s us being a part of what God is doing. Every time we mow our neighbor’s yard, pay for the groceries for the person behind us in line, tell people we appreciate them, have coffee with someone, volunteer, smile, welcome, give, etc…is an opportunity for God to use us to do more than we ever asked or imagined. Today could be an adventure. Do something.

- Richard


I have always been one who wants to be sure people are appreciated and acknowledged.   Lately, just as God would want me to, I have tried to make eye contact, smile and engage with the “strangers” I encounter throughout the day.  The learning that has come from this is that I have loved on the stranger but missed this opportunity with those in my own family and friends.  Right there in front of me, yet I overlook and go on about my day.As we begin our DRIVE series as a community.  Search out someone at Mercy Street to “engage” your time with through scripture, reading a book together or going through the DRIVE questions.  I would love to see and hear where God takes you.  It has been an eye opener for me. 2 Peter 1:5-9
So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. 

Happy to be on the road with you!

Suzanne


Who have we blessed this week through our words or actions? What learning, encouragement, or challenges were raised by it?
What are we known for?
One of the most random descriptions of anyone in the Bible is found in Genesis 16, an angel describes this guy named Ishmael by saying “he will be a wild donkey of a man…” We’re all known for something. Ishmael was known for being a ‘wild donkey of a man’ (whatever that means). What are we known for? How do people describe us? Is the world any different because we are here? ENGAGE is the ‘E’ in D.R.I.V.E. and to me it’s the most challenging part of D.R.I.V.E. because in order to ENGAGE we have to actually do something. But, we don’t have to perform miracles - all we can do is just give what God has given us. Jesus heals the paralytic – we just rip apart the roof and bring our friend to him (Mark 2). Jesus multiplies the bread – we just pass it out (Mark 6). Jesus provides the water - we just bring people to the well (John 4). 2 Corinthians 5:20 calls us Christ’s ambassadors. An ambassador is a representative or a messenger. God has entrusted us with his message of reconciling people to himself. As cool as it sounds be to be known as ‘a wild donkey of a man’, let’s instead live in a way that we are known in this city as people who ‘represent Christ in our words and actions’. What God does in you, he wants to do through you. This week, give what God has given you to someone else. Just do it.

-Richard


The word ENGAGE is to bind (as oneself) to do something.  The word BLESS is defined as bestowing joy, bringing happiness.  We can set out to engage with folks and bless them.  Sometimes if we take time to reflect over our days, we will find times we unintentionally engage and in turn bless others.

So ask yourself… Who have I blessed this week through MY words or actions?  Did I learn anything from that? Am I encouraged or challenged by the feelings from this event. Email me and tell me about it!  Suzanne@mercystreet.org

Still driving!

Suzanne

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. - Psalm 19:14