Living a life that Matters

I’ve hosted my missional community on a number of occasions. I enjoyed spending my day making a spaghetti dinner with turkey meatballs in a zesty paprika sauce. I love hosting and being a blessing to others in my home. Our group has grown to 12 people not including kids. But tonight our MC was a little more deep for me. Our study really sunk in with me and the fact that we were doing ‘church’ in my home. I couldn’t help but think about how church was held in homes in Acts eating and being in fellowship with each other.

We read out of John 13 and how Jesus washed the disciple’s feet. We were talking about how we can serve each other more and others. I really am a part of a great MC and there is so much love for each other in it. This group has been a huge part of my healing process and teaching me about the gospel. I have grown so much since embracing all of them. We talked about being more open to bringing in newcomers and non-believers. We also want to be better about praying for each other and for the people in our own lives that we are on mission with. We spent most of the night praying for the Spirit’s guidance and direction for this coming year.

Tonight we also sang worship songs for the first time in a while and for the first time in my home. While we were singing, tears came to my eyes. We were singing “It is well with my soul” and I was remembering the story behind the lyrics. Horatio Spafford wrote the song after going through some tough trials in his life. I have seen a lot of joy and laughter in my home, but I have also seen a lot of hurt and pain. While singing, I looked up at the cross hanging over my door. It was a reminder that God is sovereign and that he is a God of healing and restoration. It was an amazing moment to look around at everyone and seeing all of us as one unified body lifting each other up and praising our Lord and Savior.

• – From Wikipedia

This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871 at the age of four, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sailing ship, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone . . .”. Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!