Pathways.

A few years ago my husband smashed down an old brick barbecue that used to stand in our back garden. All the bricks and rubble were all put into a pile at the back of our driveway. The mess never seemed to make it to the rubbish tip, so it sat there looking very unattractive for many years.

Recently I wanted to make a few more paths inside my veggie patch so to limit myself walking and crushing seedlings. I was heading to my car to go out and buy pavers when I saw the pile.. while looking at it I asked myself if I could use the rubble. Could I use these broken bricks, pieces of mortar, and cement sand to create my pathways?

I took the bricks and used them, I took all the broken bits and put them in a trench for my path, I then filled it with the mortar pieces, then the only thing left in the driveway was loose cement sand, I collected that and poured them on top of the other material... which worked well, as the sand fitted into the gaps and made the path very strong. I had all that I wanted/needed... and as a bonus, my driveway is now clear.

It was with me, in my backyard all the time. I was wrong to just assume that I must always look elsewhere to get what we need. Should we not, as Christians, try to look within for a moment and see what we do have and explore what is here but unseen at the moment. I believe that God has given us gifts and talents to work together as one body to fully function... cover all the bases.

We shouldn't need to travel oversees to see/experience powerful ministries... our own local churches/bodies should be functioning. I feel that we are placed together for a reason and then we should have all bases/gifts/ministries covered, developed, developing, discovering...etc. Can I encourage you to explore this .... what is your part ... are you growing into things of God... are you asking, are you developing, and you practicing, are you using what has been put aside for you.... not for you, but for the body, for the communities... for people. If our churches and people are functioning then through this unity others will see Him.

We need to encourage others to explore this, and be prepared to teach and support them in this. If we want people to grow we must expect some mess... but for me, mess is a symptom of activity.. which is exciting. But, don't just encourage others, take a good look at yourself.. are you growing, are you do your part? Speak to others, read, research, ask God... start exploring (if you already haven't).. you must take some responsibility for your own growth.

Things hidden in the ground aren't found unless someone bothers to dig and go looking. So start scratching... what do you have in your backyard? Don't go to costly Bunnings to buy what you need but ask God to reveal what He has already placed in your area/church body.

Walking with you,

Akita.
22-8-08

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Ephesians 3 v 11-16

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets,
some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking in the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work..

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Akita Olsen

Bunbury Vineyard Church.
PO Box 1475, Bunbury,
WA 6231, Australia.
www.bunburyvineyard.org.au

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