She is the women’s community at Mount Mosaic.

2010: A Note from Deby

I love this time of year… the feeling of rested-ness (is that a word?!) and full of hope and possibilities for another new and fruitful year.

Can you believe we are in the year 2010- how quickly time is zooming by. The marathon of life is fast pacing and galloping into this new decade of 00’s that many actually thought would end in the millennium year 2000.

However this last decade has not been without its serious tragedies that we have all shared the grief and loss in. from 9/11 in New York, to the tsunami in Thailand, Indonesia and Samoa and now the tragedy unfolding in Haiti. Only a calloused and unfeeling human being would not be touched and moved by the stories and lives lived by people around the world.

The capacity and resourceful resilience of people is incredible and humbling.

Bringing things a little closer to home even those among us in Mosaic (here in the Bay) have known loss and tragedy, they also have suffered and known heart ache.

How do ‘we’ (yes you and I) show love and care to them?

I’m reminded of the encouragement and promise we are given that creates hope for those ones among u:

Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Even in the face of fear, we too must “be strong and courageous.”

How do we move forward with confidence and assurance?

Fear =false evidence appearing real

Faith = R.I.S.K

Courage is fear prayed for.

It is being bantered about in the media at the moment that the generation growing up around us, have been sheltered and protected from risk so therefore reach teenage years longing to experience it. Through drugs, drinking and sex, (sounds like the 60’s to me!!) they can throw caution to the wind… but deep inside they are longing to feel the exhilaration lacking from healthy and wholesome risk taking.

We as adults model to them our best and our worst. The safety at all costs we create, and as ‘Kiwi’s’, keeping options open rather than commitment, or dedication to seeing it through no matter what, or letting our Yes be Yes and No be No’s.

As a leader in Mosaic I would love to see us, shoulder to shoulder and eye to eye, friends standing along side being about ‘Kingdom business’. Valuing it worthy of our focus and attention. Making the load lighter and not wearisome for those faithfuls at every event turning the lights on then out, as the two lines form. Those there to serve and those there to be served.

When will we recognize that we can all play our small part. Maybe we are not on Haitian streets digging into the depths and the darkness and pulling bodies from the destroyed buildings. Maybe we are the voyeur looking at news items wondering as the bodies pile up “why doesn’t someone come along and wrap each body up, or place in body bags rather than the tangled exposure we are viewing?” Of course this is for our own comfort and convenience. We are the ones that could send the money to pay for those body bags or send money for others to go and help. Or pray for that insanity of lawlessness that shoots children or those trying to help. Or the desperation of humanity that would tip bodies out of a coffin to steal it for some personal gain.

But again we refuse to ask the question-what can I do? what is my part to play. We live as consumers and not how can I serve this world with sensitivity beyond my own needs and be Jesus’ hands and feet to a broken and dieing world-blind to itself and what is really needs.

So stepping down from my soap box and just addressing 2010, Id love for you to join me in asking “What can “I” do that has meaning and purpose for this coming year?

I certainly have lots of ideas and those creative ones I often lean to always have to be harnessed and tamed. I would love to see more creativity unleashed in Mosaic. I think expression is a wonderful gift in all of us, but at times our own fears hold us back from taking the steps toward it or expanding it.

What if we each one just attempted one new outlet, vent of art, expression, passion or creative explosion. Now multiply that by the number of people you know hang out with us or are connected to Mosaic.

Thats is a lot of things happening!!

Now we all know that like the stone thrown in the pond causes ripples that effect beyond itself. We can be like that when we step up and risk. Our own fears cast aside by just meeting the needs of humanity in front of us.
What one thing, right now, today, can you think of that you could do that changes that ripple in the pond?
What one explosive thing can you attempt that has a cause and effect beyond yourself and your own needs for 2010?
Yes we are a global village- not ‘those people’ over there………but brothers and sisters in an extended family of humanity.

We are family… We are connected, as we are all but six degrees of separation or in ‘Newziland’ all but two degrees!!!
So take your arms from around yourself and extend them palms up-take a look at them.
Speak it out….. “you and I hands are going to attempt a project this year. beyond ourselves.”-for many hands make light work.

Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, “No-one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back

So go SHE Mosaican’s put your hand to a plough and see where it takes you! all the best for a successful 2010.
Deby