A Good Start Envisions The End Result

By Bryce L. Harper

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I live in the tension of pleasing you or pleasing God.

Speaking something that excites you.

Speaking something that delights God.

If I choose to do what you want, you will be drawn to me.

If I choose to do what God wants, you will be drawn to Him.

If we did what we wanted, we will never arrive where we want to go.

If we do what we need, we will be going where we really want to go.

So… What do we need and want? I would suggest this: To live not on the fumes of the past or what could have been, but the overflow of the Spirit of God that’s here today and available for tomorrow.

All that to say, I am thankful to lead a group of people @family_wc that are passionate about prayer, worship and Word… and enjoy God’s Spirit leading us in being a heartbeat of life to our city, nation and world.

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Summer Olympics of 1992.

Quarter finals of the 400-metre sprint. British athlete Derek Redmond was poised and favored for the gold medal. The starters gun fired and the athletes burst out of the blocks.

Almost halfway through the race Derek Redmond was in the lead and then disaster struck.

He tore his hamstring and he collapsed on the track.

Medical attendants ran to assist him but all became aware, as he waved them away and struggled to his feet, that he was going to finish what he had trained for his whole life.

No one seemed to know what to do — even the race officials.

As the entire stadium looked on, an old elderly man jumped the track barriers and ran onto the track.

As officials attempted to stop him, he pushed them away. The man was Derek’s father, Jim.

He ran up beside Derek and put his arms around him saying, ‘You don’t have to do this son’. Derek replied, ‘Yes, I do’ — to which his father responded, ‘Then we’ll finish this race together, son.’

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The beauty of God is that He rescues us when we need him the most.

We do not have to finish the race alone.

We do not have to prove anything other than humble acceptance and willing submission.

Derek was racing for an Olympic gold medal, but already had something more precious than gold.

How many other athletes throughout the ages don’t have their Dad watching, much less willing to run out on the track?

This is the reward, this is the prize.

When I was broken you rescued me.

When I was lost you found me.

…But When Jesus was on the cross, He was forsaken.

Jesus’ forsakenness was humanity’s opportunity for eternal acceptance.

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The Church is stepping into a new season...

That new season is not "new" because leadership is "new", songs are "new" or because methods are "new". The new season available before us because of the diligent work done by those who have gone BEFORE us. I thank God for every leader that has gone before my generation and done the "not-so-glamorous" work of ministry. They took on situations that were financially drained, morally depraved and people who didn't want them. Yet they said yes. They prayed, and day by day, year by year, they moved the church closer to its intentional design by God. They set up the next generation to fly high... But I pray my generation doesn't become prideful. They didn't do it just so things would be "easier" for the next generation. They did it for Him. Therefor, we will strictly endeavor to do this for Him. ...And in doing life for Him God will honor our work and expand our influence into the next generation. If we keep this about Him, we will never go wrong.   Lord, refine us til all we want is You and Your ways.

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A Prayer, Revitalize Us...

I will trust God and His good news more than the media and its bad news.

I will love others no matter what they have done or will do to me.

I will forgive others because I have been forgiven much by the Lord.

I will give generously because the Church needs my tithe and offering more than I need the latest and greatest devices.

I will pray fervently, because righteousness avails and prevails.

I will serve my church, because I want to be connected to a kingdom that is eternal and will never fail.

I will attend church faithfully because She is the answer and the place I draw corporate strength and strategy from.

I will focus on what matters most, loving God and loving others.

I will raise my children in the love, peace and goodness of the Lord.

I will commit to seeking and saving the lost, because that’s what Jesus was about.

I will commit to preparing the next generation to walk confidently in their calling.

I will guide them to draw on their gifts and anointing, by demonstration.

I will reframe from gossip and slander of churches and leadership, because it has never brought about improvements. 

I will love Jesus and His Church and serve both of them faithfully, because they will continue to do the same for me, regardless of my actions or beliefs.

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Communing...

Sitting here pondering how warm and happy Jubee and Maddie welcomed me this morning when they arrived at FWC's Mother's day out class. 

Also mulling over a simple, yet impactful conversation with a mentor, a man I revere deeply.

Have you ever considered about how simplistically profound our relationship is with the Lord and with others? 

I am fascinated by the genuine love that overflows from my heart in these pockets of time, moments of what living is all about. 

Communion = the sharing or exchange of intimate thoughts or feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level. 

Kinship. Communication. Impartation.

It is no surprise to those that know me personally that my “love languages” are words of affirmation and gifts. 

Communication in the form of words and gifts does much for this soul of mine. I am slowly teetering towards words. 

Primarily, His Words, God’s Word and the whispers of His Holy Spirit. There is truly nothing more valuable in this life or the next that I treasure more than hearing the voice of God. When He gives me divine instruction. 

Whether it be through studying the relic of His infallible Holy Scriptures, through the joyous laughter of my best friend and wife, illuminating smiles from my daughters, or simple - rich instructions from a mentor...They all hold their ability to impart power. 

Humanity was made for this, for union, communion, communication, community, kinship.

For as long as I live, and in all the forms He chooses to mobilize, I live and love to hear from Him, Yahweh, my God.

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What I appreciate about my Pastor, Eddie Turner:

1. He is a man of God.

2. He is a man of God’s Word.

3. He is a man of prayer.

4. He is a man of integrity.

5. He is a man of excellent stewardship.

6. He is a man of tremendous “swagger”. (You read that right. Swagger = strut / confidence.)

7. He is a man of generosity.

8. He is a family man.

9. He is a man of intellect and wisdom.

10. He is a man I trust with my whole heart, someone I can call friend as well.

(I could go on...)

Today, I am specifically thankful that God has always surrounded me with great Godly men.

...And today, I am thankful God saw it fit for me to serve under Pastor Eddie Turner.

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Sarah and I prayed for specific features for these daughters of ours...

Sarah prayed for them to have my eye lashes.

I prayed for them to have blue eyes.

Sarah would say “...but neither one of us have blue eyes.”

There’s a lot of things I want in this life... it’s funny how it seems like God doesn’t hear you on our menial prayers that seem way more feasible and then proceeds to answer some that shouldn’t be possible, that goes against His creative DNA template.

He’s always God.

He’s always good.

He answers prayers more times than we know.

(Photo cred: Jordyn Hinson)

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America.

A lot of times when we talk of something we love we give it a name, or even a gender. A favorite vehicle you have, “she’s pretty and fast!” We’ve done that with our country’s haven’t we?

I initially began typing, “she’s seen better days...” and then backspaced. She, America, is not some entity outside of myself. For millions of humans... This is our home. We’ve had past family members, and current ones, that act a fool.

Passionate, yet ignorant.

Fervent, yet impatient.

Determined, yet unloving.

But this is our home. We’ve had, are having and will always have bad days. We have historical figures who were not saints by any means.

But these people aren’t what make this country great, it’s the people who refuse to hate and choose love, refuse to destruct and choose to construct.

I am choosing to be proud of the fact that I have grown up with as much opportunity to be successful as the next person. And much of that is because of what nation I have grown up in.

As people come and go, and we see the fall of different leaders morality, yet act out of rage that someone could possibly be imperfect, though we ignore our own personal imperfections... and throw stones at everyone else’s.

The only moralist I choose to follow is Jesus, His Word and His Spirit.

I have yet to find better.

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Justice Personified.

We will not go quietly into the night...

nor stall and remain still in fright.

Steadfast until dawn of His marvelous light,

His brilliant shine extinguishes darkest nights.

Sin still avails,

Love must prevail.

Words fall short,

Embrace is not enough.

Justice cringes intensely

Judgement awaits eagerly.

We feel the pressure,

We must be better.

God forgive us,

We pray our children aren’t like this.

We choose this day,

To train them to love evenly.

No lectures, comments or blogs.

We choose actions, laments, and God.

May the axe of divine vengeance divide,

Set the future aligned, this disease has its sentence, die.

Man, woman, child and color,

There is no difference, only order.

Love our weapon to wield.

Justice our combative shield.

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Disturbed. Heartache. Furious. Sad. Determined.

Some of the emotions that flooded my heart since watching the video.

I can’t stand racism...

And more than that, I can’t stand injustice.

The underlying fundemantel disconnect is sin.

We are “missing the mark”.

2 white men got in their truck with their shotguns and pursued an innocent black man as he was on a routine jog. His skin color shouldn’t put him in a category of being more likely to be dangerous, it’s the other way around now.

I’ve always jokingly said, “I’m racist, I hate white people.” Because I’ve always felt like a black man trapped in a white mans body. But the reality for some is that our “black” brothers and sisters are trapped in a “white” men’s world. Not on my watch. I refuse to let my children grow up in it.

My generation will eradicate this thing...

My 3 year old daughter just 2 days ago waved and said with enthusiasm “Hi, how are you doing!? Do you have 2 puppy dogs!?” To a nice, friendly, beautiful “black” couple walking their dogs in our neighborhood. She does the same to the happy hispanic family and the kind asian family in our neighborhood too.

We need more of that in our world.

My children, in my home, are growing up not seeing color.

I post this for every friend I have and say we don’t and refuse to see color, but we see the racism, sin, and we mourn with you... and will forever go to war for you on this battlefield. #ahmaudarbery

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Tired... But full. Exhausted, but at peace.

A month of commuting, preparing our family to move to the ‘Boro, and re-engaging with a new community of believers and leaders has us expectant.

A lot of thoughts right now as we spend our last night in Lawrenceburg. All we own is in boxes. All we are is in God.

Why now? Why leave? Why move? When everything was going so smooth? When everything was so comfortable AND Sarah just had a baby, why up and leave in the midst of so much?

Because of Jesus. Because I can never repay Him for what He has done in me. Because He has been speaking to me about “more” since the beginning of 2019. I automatically attached that word to where I was, but He was signaling to a different place.

That became evident in the words of wisdom and knowledge from people close to me who were unaware of what God had been saying to me.

I had instances of people say verbatim what I wrote in my journal, and what I had heard God say to me in my private times of prayer.

This doesn’t mean where I was is “less” or “not good enough”. It just means He is the destination, not a specific geographical location, not a singular place, He is my abode, my pursuit.

This past month I’ve been very encouraged with what I have seen happen. What I sense is significant. There is so much more, and this is a foreshadowing of something greater, because there is always more.

It’s not because of me, it’s because of great leadership, volunteers, friends who bond together and say “whatever you need, let us know.” I’ve heard that everywhere I have been the past 5 months in the midst of this transition.

I lay awake overwhelmed with thanksgiving. God, you’ve been too good to me. You surround me with so much support, love and provision.

I know this is significant, because we are leaving something significant. I never saw myself leaving, but God did. And I refuse to ever be against what He wants, no matter the abruptness. He is well worth this subtle shifts, mild inconveniences, first world problems.

I do believe this. God is positioning people for maximum output... Be it unto me according to thy Word.

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“I read my Bible last night.”

-Mary Catherine Jubilee Harper-

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2009-2019

what a decade:

🎓Graduated college.

👰🏼Married my best friend.

💁🏻‍♂️Waitor/Volunteer YP.

👨🏻‍💻Part-time YP / Full-time Juvenile Counselor.

🛩Traveled-Alaska, NYC, Brooklyn, Pittsburgh-PA, LA-California, Montana, Maine, Miami, Mexico, Key West, Cozumel, Jamaica, Haiti, Argentina.

🙌🏼Experienced God in numerous settings.

💼Became full-time YP.

🏡Bought our first home.

👨‍👩‍👧Had our first daughter.

🤰🏼Baby Daughter # 2 coming soon.

Countless details in between.

Every season is a catalyst for the next.

Squeeze as much growth and development as possible out of every moment and day.

It all matters, every seasons, one isn’t better than the other.

But what the details above can’t show are the RELATIONSHIPS God gives you.

In every season of my life I can quickly spill out the names of individuals God set me up to have deep, meaningful relationships with.

Those relationships are what mean the most to me.

Obviously one constant one, Jesus.

And the one He saw fit for me to join in covenant with, Sarah Harper

It’s not what you do in life that matters, but who you get it to do life with that matters.

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Him.

Wondrous beauty, lofty might, thine hills You turned to smoothest flights.

Religious mandates stress thy soul, to which my spirit retracts it’s mold.

God calls me not to toil, but to receive His anointing oil.

From scars He draws thine elements,

the Holy ingredients of redeemed penitents.

I sadden not at pain untold,

His eyes know the dark caves crawled.

Through nights of tears He seen me through,

He manages this heart and grants me cheer.

I rest my mind in pages,

That speak of His ways through the ages.

O’ sweetness of mercy, calamity of grace.

He’s my reality, O’ lover of face-to-face.

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7/11/2009 to 7/11/2019 = 10 Years Married.

{1st 5 years of marriage we lived in Cleveland TN.}

- I waited tables at 2 different restaurants and Sarah worked for an after school program for the YMCA.

- Later WE became counselors for Camelot Care Centers, Sarah did Foster Care counseling, I did Prevention In-home counseling.

- WE both volunteered as much time as we could to help local youth ministries.

- WE both were deeply impacted in 2014 by a 90 day movement that happened at RTTN in Chattanooga, TN. That movement sent us to where we are today.

{The last 5 years we’ve lived in Lawrenceburg, TN.}

- WE did full-time ministry for the first time.

- WE bought our first home.

- WE have seen and are seeing God change lives of students and families every week, month, year at United Church.

- WE got our first truck. (She wanted me to have one just as much as I did.)

- WE had our first child, # 2 is due 1/1/2020

{Things WE did throughout both locations}

- WE have never made a decision without the others full agreement.

- WE always want each other’s input.

- WE keep each other humble yet are each other’s biggest fans.

- WE love God, His Word and His Spirit.

- WE love dance parties and laughing til there’s tears.

- WE love honesty and never holding back our smile.

- WE love the deep things of God.

- WE love cruises, the beach and the Smokey Mountains

- WE love snow days and homemade cinnamon rolls.

- WE love simplicity and meaningful conversations.

- WE love each other’s family.

- WE love talking about our dreams of the future on long road trips to Texas and Florida.

- WE have not done this thing called marriage perfectly. But in one way WE have.

- WE have done it all TOGETHER, UNIFIED.

If there is anything I have learned in 32 years of living and 10 years of marriage and 3 years of parenting it’s this...

It’s not just WHAT you do in life that matters, but WHO you get to do life WITH that matters.

Love you, Sarah Harper.

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Weddings are beautiful. Officiated one today. Thoughts rushed into my mind just moments before the ceremony began.

The beauty of marriage is not the day when vows are made, the beauty of marriage is the years that have transpired, vows are kept, and the blessing of wholehearted covenant is exhibited.

Some may wish to go back and experience the day of their wedding. I don’t. Because the overflow from that moment is too great.

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“It is a thing most wonderful.”

1 It is a thing most wonderful,

almost too wonderful to be,

that God's own Son should come from heav'n,

and die to save a child like me.

2 And yet I know that it is true:

He chose a poor and humble lot,

and wept and toiled and mourned and died

for love of those who loved Him not.

3 I cannot tell how He could love

a child so weak and full of sin;

His love must be most wonderful

if He could die my love to win.

4 I sometimes think about the cross,

and shut my eyes, and try to see

the cruel nails and crown of thorns,

and Jesus crucified for me.

5 But even could I see Him die,

I could but see a little part

of that great love which, like a fire,

is always burning in His heart.

6 It is most wonderful to know

His love for me so free and sure;

but 'tis more wonderful to see

my love for him so faint and poor.

7 And yet I want to love Thee, Lord;

O light the flame within my heart,

and I will love Thee more and more,

until I see Thee as Thou art.

Author : William Walsham How

Date : 1883