Catalyst

Wow, how long has it been since I have written anything? Too long. I have a lot of things rolling around in my head. God has been doing some amazing things in my life. I just returned from Catalyst in Atlanta. It challenged me, encouraged me, and moved me in ways that I have not had in years. I am still trying to take it all in and process what I have heard. Then comes the question of, "What do I do with what I have heard?" The one thing that I do know is that God is amazing, awesome, great, merciful, giving, generous, loving, etc..
I believe that God is definately doing something in this young generation and I want to be a part of what God is up to. I heard a speaker this weekend that said, "Quit praying, 'God bless me' and start praying, 'God let me be a part of what your blessing.'" We must seek the Kingdom of God! There was so much good stuff that I couldn't talk about it all in one sitting, mainly because I am still taking it all in.
One other point that I remember is that there has been a lot said about the church, Christ bride, in the last few years. There seems to be more said on the negative side than positive. It is one thing for the main stream culture to put down the bride, but its another for the body of Christ, followers of Christ to do it also. Now I would be lying if I said that I have never done this. As followers of Christ we have all probably at one time or another been guilty of this. We get fed up with things going on in the church or with leaders in the church (those that are leading) and we put those feelings on the church as a whole. That's not fair to Christ and His bride. As one speaker put it, "God wants you to love the REAL church not the ideal one." That statement blew me away, because I have been guilty of loving the ideal one instead of the real church. When I focus on the REAL church there is nothing that I can complain about (or shouldn't complain about because it is perfect, I am the one imperfect). May I lift up the beautiful bride of Christ.