Baby on the Way

Something that I thought of tonight... Some people are wondering why their churches aren't growing when they are working so hard to have the best music, speakers, events, etc.  I think God helped me realize (at least part) of the problem. All through the Bible the church (which by the way is the people not the building) is referred to as "her," "the bride" or the "mother." We are also told that Jesus desires his church to grow and promised he will "add daily" if we do our part... So what's missing!?  I'm sure the lack or delay is not on God's part so simple elimination would tell us we are the ones that lack.

What is it we lack? It can't be desire, we want new people coming into the building and having their own experience with Jesus!  It can't be work ethic, we have been sweating in labour for years over this thing we call outreach!  Let's take a step back, look at our titles of her, bride and mother and compare... What is it all three have in common? What are we missing? What can we do to create the change!? 

• "Her" relates to the feminine and what is it the sets the female apart from the male, other than the obvious?  Maybe it's a certain level of care, empathy, love?  But all those can be achieved by both genders... What about preparation!?  Yeh, I mean, no matter who the guy is the girl is bound to spend more time in the washroom getting ready for the first date! 
• "Bride" is quite obvious as far as meaning... And we all know no one in the wedding party prepares like the bride!  No one looks at every detail with such attention or spends what are supposed to be sleeping hours thinking of every second of the upcoming ceremony... And not just the ceremony itself but the week before and after, the bride has to detail everything around the event!
• Finally, "mother" again an obvious definition comparison.  But the mother is not just the one who goes through the labor pains only. The mother loves the father and gives herself completely to him.  She makes herself available to him in any way she can. The mother trusts the father with her mind, heart and spirit holding nothing back from him, having no secrets unknown to him.  But more than than any other aspect of life, more than her own life the mother cares for the child. The mother plans for the children to come in her life, before she has heard the heartbeat of a baby, before she's felt the flutter in her belly, before she has felt the breath of the baby on her cheek, before she's seen or touched the baby, the mother readys for the arrival.  A mother stores up clothing, changing materials, nourishment and much more.  A mother gives her own body, her time, her habits, she's careful to only do things that will benefit the child... A mother who is expecting a child "nests."  She makes ready for the new life coming. She makes safe the surroundings for the little one.  A mother prepares the people around her and advises them how they will treat that precious gift.  A mother cleans any dangerous junk out and makes a comfortable, loving environment ready for what's to come.

So there it is.. We need to PREPARE, spend some time in the washroom of prayer cleaning ourselves up and making ourselves attractive for both Jesus and the people looking on. (I once had a friend tell me I was the first Christian that ever made her feel a lifestyle change to being a Christian was doable based on appearance alone... Not to mention personality but I think I've hit the reminder button enough on people always watching Christians to make sure they are Christ-like...? Yeh I slipped it in again ha!) PLAN the details... Make sure we have the ability (or at the very least have contacts who have the ability) to lead a new comer closer to God... To answer some tough questions with the word of God, understanding, love, empathy and compassion. If we don't plan the before and after the event will fall flat of the expectation. Finally, we must start NESTING! It's not just for birds you know (ok, corny but I couldn't resist! Ha!) Give everything to Jesus first, anything you think he is even hinting toward is worth it when you love Him. Trust Him, keep nothing from Him and stay as close to Him as you can get!  Before we hear the heartbeat, felt the flutter of excitement, before we have felt the breath of new life, before we've seen or touched the promise we muse ready!  Start storing up some things we will need to remember when the new life starts coming, make safe the surroundings, start preparing the people around and advise them how they will treat that precious gift, clean any dangerous junk out of our homes and lives and make a comfortable, loving environment ready for what's to come!