Psalm 48 - God of this City

Psalm 48 – God of this City

You know…I think the Psalms are so cool. Just when you think you can’t think of another way to praise God…..his majesty, his beauty, his love, he compassion, his strength, his forgiveness…..the Psalmist praises God for His city.

Here God is praised for the beauty and splendor of His city. For the tremendous strength she (Jerusalem) represented. Her walls and her towers strike fear in those that would attack her….yet within the heart of the town, lies God’s temple where the people could meditate and seek God is peace.

I pray ANC continues to be such a church….not the physical 4 walls…..because we don’t have that, but I pray that the church (the body of Christ) continues to be a place of peace, comfort, joy, forgiveness, hope, and light. A body that will always welcome a ‘Sojourner’ .
We got to film 3 testimonies yesterday….we plan to use for Easter. They are about what God is at work doing within the hearts of those at ANC. I am blown away at the congruity between the 3 testimonies of people who didn’t prepare what to say, weren’t led any particular direction and they all come from different backgrounds….yet they all talked about the love, the acceptance, the community, the ease of entry, and the lack of condemnation they experienced.

I am also so proud of the work that the PlantR Network is doing. PlantR (http://www.plantr.org) is a group of Austin Area Church Planters who have come together to bring God to this city. What is awesome and unique (in my limited) experience is the level of camaraderie and unity there is in this group. Everyone involved seems to make themselves available to anyoen else there…..to be used as a resource. There is definitely a team approach…and there is a recognition that God is up to something huge in Austin.

Another soldier in this city is Alan Graham..and the work he is doing through Mobile Loaves and Fishes. ( http://www.mlfnow.org) I pray for Alan and others as they will spend the next 72 hours on the streets, to raise awareness, get some great time with God and experience what the streets are like…..some (not Alan) for the first time.

I also applaud the efforts of everyone involved with Cap City Kids. Last night we attended a benefit concert and met those involved with the non-profit. Cap City Kids (http://www.capcitykids.org) provides basic needs (school supplies, clothes, backpacks) as well as mentoring to the 4000 homeless kids in Austin alone. I was blown away by one 6th grader who is an example to not only homeless kids, but kids in general.

My prayer is that Austin becomes such a beacon of hope for revival throughout this land…and it is looked on as a city of God.