Gordon MacDonald writes eloquently about the primal value of “a happy few”. This is a group of close people who will say anything, help you, challenge you, love you, ask you the difficult questions, stick with you, stretch you etc.

This group is the #1 safegaurd in your life…yet some of us live with out this vital fellowship.

Debbie and I sat in a coffee shop in another city with a woman who has just gone through an ugly divorce and is actively involved on staff at a vibrant church. She was telling us about how her “happy few” are vital in her life. They are not people who simply hold her hand and agree with her. They are ones who challenge and push her to think and change as well.

A guy just called me. He is a 10 hour drive away back in Champaign and he realises that today is one in which he needs a bro to pray for him. So he called and we talked about the Cubs and the beautiful day and about our lives. There was mutual encouragement. I challenged him. I told him to call me anytime today if he needed. It was pretty simple what happened in that 20 minute call, but it is the #1 safegaurd in his life.

Heb 3:13 has these operative words: “encourage one another daily”. Does anyone do that for you?

Sounds like there are a bunch around Grace who are discovering their divine burden. A burden that God has placed on their heart to do something about. In many cases, the action steps can be difficult to identify. Well, here is your first action step! Tell us what your divine burden is…right here in the comments section. Tell us the thing that breaks your heart, that makes you angry, you care about that others dont. Don’t wait until you can articulate it perfectly. Instead, just share it from your heart, raw and uncut. Just sharing it with others is a great first step of action, and it is an encouragement for us all to see how God has blessed each of us with a burden.

Did that statement Sunday provoke anyone else?

Did the idea that we can actually steal from God make anyone else think twice?

Does the idea that I popped out that if people who consider Grace their church home tithed, we would be in good shape financially…does that seem like a cool possibilty?

Does the biblical deal of the joy that goes to a giver charge you up?

Any stories from what you took in Sunday?

Debbie and I were downtown last Friday and saw several people we knew. One was a young woman we had not seen for years. After visiting for a few minutes, I asked her if she would like to visit Grace…I gave her an invite card for the Blessed* series. She said the timing was good and that she would like to come soon.

Then we walked around the corner, ran into a couple we know and had a similar encounter.

Get this: that little card in your hand is a wonderful way for you to help someone on the path to forgiveness.

Give it to someone today and blog me back your experience.