As we sit to read some of our devotionals from yesterday, which we hadn't gotten to due to the prep for our first #waymacresPigRoast, Joe shared that Isaiah 43:19 kept coming up. It was a verse in his "Vision" devotional for 7.6.24. It was a reference verse in my "Peace in His Presence" devotional the day before, 7.5.24. As we know, God shows up and confirms his workings and your obedience His voice through #GodShots like these - showing up multiple times in the same way in a short time.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it ? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
-Isaiah 43:19
One of the things I love about this verse is its reference to the way the Lord makes (#waymacres) and the new thing He is always doing! He certainly has been doing a new thing in our hearts and lives and we're so blessed to be able to share it with others.
The pig roast was so beautiful! We handed out flyers on our street and got to meet neighbors we hadn't met since having moved here two and a half years ago. Joe and the boys invited the woman in line in front of us at Aldi on Friday - and she and her husband came! They even knew some of the other families here! The encouragement we received yesterday from so many people was priceless and we are beyond grateful for the blessing of so many others in our lives! One of the men from Joe's fellowship brought some new faces, some homeless women he met in Allentown. The first thing one of them said when she met us was "this place is Heaven!" - her joy and the smile on her face was the greatest blessing to us. THANK YOU, LORD for working through others to bring us closer to you and allowing us to be vessels for your work to bring you and your love down and closer to others! Watching the kids excitedly perform a worship song on the microphone was so beautiful.
One thing worth noting - and it was asked of us a few times yesterday - is that Waymacres is NOT "a church" in the sense of the religious institution that has claimed the name in this country and around the world. Waymacres is a place. WE are, however, THE CHURCH. Joe and I have been to a few churches since we left the Catholic faith and have prayed every day for God's leading and discernment and wisdom. We've found doctrine and denominations to be things that God's children cling to first and foremost - it's evident in the question we are asked often "which church are you members of?" to which we always respond, "The one Jesus is coming back for, and there's no sign out front and no man-made doctrine or even a roof over it for that matter". WE are The Church. Everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus as our Savior and King and repents and honestly and earnestly seeks forgiveness for their sin IS THE CHURCH. We are a farm - dedicated to the Lord - a place of fellowship, community, healing, hope .... we did Church yesterday at the pig roast!
We believe part of the "new thing" the Lord is always doing is refining His people, looking for those who are seeking Him - whether you know it or not...if you're seeking ANYTHING, the ONLY thing that will satisfy your soul is Jesus. And if you're not sure about that, He invites you to test it out. If you've tried other things and have come up short of have been left wanting ... we encourage you to ask someone who knows Jesus (not just who knows about Jesus - there's a real difference) and see if you can identify with any of their experiences or feelings. Our circumstances are irrelevant and comparing creates room for the enemy to divide. Identifying with feelings, experiences and emotions creates room for the Lord to draw us closer to each other which draws us closer to Him. Love God. Love others. He works THROUGH US. Anything that creates division between people - including doctrine and legalism within the institution of the "church" is, as far as we've experienced, not of the Lord. We seek unity here. We are seek fellowship. We seek closeness with God. And ... He delivers!!
We are so excited to see the plans the Lord has for this place and the people He leads here, We cannot express the magnitude of the JOY we are so blessed to experience as a result of our imperfect but faithful obedience to His calling.
May God Bless you this day!!
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