Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community Another false narrative that prevents us from being generous is: If I give it away, I have less. This assumes that what we give away and share is now lost and that now it contributes to my lack. But the true narrative is that…

Devotions from James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community. The good and beautiful community is a generous one but sometimes we miss out because we hold false narratives. One such narrative is “God helps those who help themselves”. That is not Biblical but said by Ben Franklin who was a deist. This narrative works…

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community The Good and Beautiful Community is not afraid to hold us accountable. To hold someone accountable is not easy and we must do it with discernment.  In I Thess. 5:14 it says “We urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted,…

Devotions from James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community In the good and beautiful community we are asked to reflect the glory that is ours as His children. This involves encouraging one another, admonishing and watching over one another in love. Also to become involved in specific activities on a regular basis that are…

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community To be both a comforting and challenging community at the same time we must remind each other of who we are, show each other what we can be, and have the courage to hold each other accountable. Our identity is one who is loved,…

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community Sometimes we may think that the community exists to serve me and my needs, and that they should not tell me what to do. We live in a consumer culture and it leads us to believe we are entitled to have all of our…

Devotions based on James Smith book. The Good and Beautiful Community If we have been harmed greatly it may seem impossible for us to forgive that person. We may not be in the place where we want to forgive, even when we know we should.  The community can help in such situations and can stand…

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community Even though we are called to forgive there are boundaries. We are called to bear one another’s burdens but we are not called to be repeatedly harmed by someone else. There are times we must remove ourselves from persons or situations that take advantage…

Devotions from James Smith’s book The Good and Beautiful Community A community who has been forgiven must become a community who forgives. How wonderful that His forgiveness to us is unrestricted so how can our forgiveness be restricted?  So often our inability to forgive someone else is based on our sense of justice. Maybe they…

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community As we practice forgiveness and reconciliation, we will find our own selves being healed. The student mentioned yesterday didn’t forgive in order to feel better but feeling better he was able to forgive.  His heart was changed by the good news that his sins…