The following is from a post by our friend Michael Harrison, lead pastor at The Community Fellowship in Collinsville, Virginia.

Romans 10:15 (NLT) — And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

I don’t have beautiful feet. Hate to admit it but my toenails are horrible. Almost as bad as the guys from the movie Dumb and Dumber where the people had to put on masks and use a grinder to work on their toenails. Maybe my feet aren’t that bad.

But that verse is talking about the feet of people who spread the news and hope of Jesus. Several times this week I have been able to share the hope that comes from knowing Jesus. In the last 14 hours some of those conversations have blown me away. It is my heart to help more hurting people in our community, and God continues to open the doors. I was sitting in a meeting last night when a friend told me about some people in Martinsville who are about to be homeless. I spent a good deal of time this morning learning more about that.

Come to find out, we have more of an opportunity to serve and share and be who Jesus made us to be all the time offering that hope. But this will only happen if we have beautiful feet. That is the kind of feet Jesus was talking about.

Do we share His hope? Are we helping others have a reason to live and to see that God will change their lives? It is time that we make sure our feet are ready and that our feet are beautiful because we are sharing the stuff that will change lives … the hope that Jesus alone can give.

Ephesians 6:15 (NIV) — and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

What opportunities to serve other are there that may be staring you right in the face today?

Need some help with some ideas? Check out SERVOLUTION for some great ideas.

How’s your zeal for the house of God?

I am a self-confessed, seeking-no-cure Churchaholic. I don’t want to be a recovering addict. Ever. Check out how David put it when he wrote Psalm 69.

“….zeal for your house consumes me….”
Psalm 69:9 NIV

During a staff meeting at Healing Place Church today, Pastor Dino Rizzo spoke about this verse. Here are some thoughts for you to meditate on:

As God’s people, we must guard our hearts from diluted and distracted zeal.

What does diluted or distracted zeal look like? Common indicators are drifting, indifference to change, and complaining. It is important that you know what your own indicators are in your life. What does your “check engine” light look like on the dashboard of your life?

Possibly these:
You don’t take risks any more.
You take risks in the wrong areas – pushing your moral edge.
You procrastinate.
You’re easily offended.
You no longer go the second mile.
Your serve has slacked off.

If these things are beginning to show up in your life, it very well could be that your zeal is waning. So, what does it look like when zeal is red hot?

You have a big sense of belonging.
You give others around you a sense of belonging too.
You’re surrounded (and participating in) lots of laughter. Life is joyful.
You see this house is seen as a gift from above – not something you have earned, nor merited by your talent or skills.

Here’s a question for you:

How’s your zeal for the house of God?
Have you begun to fade in your zeal? Or are you red hot with a deep, life-driving passion for the presence of God and the place where people can experience it – to defend it, promote it, honor it, and sell out to it?

In science we study the concepts of light and dark adaptation. When we wake up in the morning in the dark and turn on the light, our eyes have to “light adapt”. Which means our eyes have to get adjusted to the light before we can truly focus. In the same way, when we go from being outside in the sun to being inside a darker environment, our eyes have to adjust to the lack of light before we can maneuver safely.

The same principles exist in the spiritual realm.

We get more used to something the longer we are around it, and it takes a time of adjustment to change.

The more we compromise and allow sin in our lives, the more we will get used to it being there. We will not be able to easily walk away from that sin simply by being in the light for a short time. It will take a time of adjustment; of being in the light (in the scripture, under sound teaching) until we get used to being there. Our eyes (our perspective) will start to see in a new way… more clearly.

At the same time we should allow other a time of adjustment, a time of change, to move from grace to grace as God takes them to greater and greater spiritual heights. We are all changed in a process of being in the light of God.

This article was contributed by Robin Buquoi, one of our amazing volunteers at HPC Online. Check out her blog here. Thanks, Robin!

Tonight at 8pm CST, Healing Place Women will host a very special online event. We’ll have an interactive chat area where ladies can connect and discuss DeLynn Rizzo’s teaching as we play the video from this week’s HP Women. It’s not just a great “in-case-you-missed-it” opportunity, but it’s also a great chance to invite a friend or two to join you for some great teaching for women off all ages.

Use this facebook event to RSVP and to invite all your friends to meet you right here this Friday!

And be sure to come early and hang out in the chat lobby!