Summer, Friends, Future.

Since I have been back at school I have had plenty of time to reflect on God's mercy and the things that He has been teaching me this past summer.

First thing that comes to mind was the beginning of summer. For about the first month I had the worst period of doubt that I had ever had. I have done plenty of soul searching to find out what caused the despair but I still havent figured it out and may never know. Through this Christ has taught me to be more open with where I am at and the beauty of brokenness.

Second thing. God, in His mercy has caused me to grow great love for my friends in Tri-Cities. To be honest, that hasn't been there. I have been friends with the same friends for a long time but I only regularly prayed for 1 or 2 of them. God has shown me the people I dont pray about is because I dont have a deep love for them. This is a lack of belief in the Gospel that says that God is rescuing the lost and is constantly pointing everyone to Him. So if you are reading this. I am sorry. I havent loved you well. By God's grace that has hopefully changed after this summer because of the Gospel penetrating deeper into my heart.

Thirdly and finally. My hope for the future. My time this summer was spent with abundance of laughter. And many 1 on 1 conversations about where the Gospel is pressing on peoples hearts. My hope for the future is that a seriousness would come over myself and the people around me and in Tri-Cities and as a group we would seek the Lord togethter. I will end with a conversation about this with Marc Sims about this issue with growing deep community with my friends.

Marc: hmm, maybe that is something we need to be developing better
a community of prayer

Corey: I still love alot of our humor but (john) piper was right, there is something bone chilling about when you take God serious.
Something I definitely want to work on because when things suck real bad, i hurt for a day and joke for a long time until things feel better.

Marc: yea, we need to find that good balance of humor and seriousness
all the deep things are found in the serious weighty side of things

Corey: yeah, i mean laughter doesnt become full until you know where im at and youve prayed for me
otherwise i am masking around things instead of having joy at the root of my heart

Marc: yep.

Corey: Laughter is like sex. Write that book!

Marc: Lol, preach that sermon.

Corey:God makes it to be a wonderful thing but we just use it to numb.
ie. i just made you laugh and it was a good laugh. im sharing my heart with you and then laughter is as it should be

Marc:exactly

Corey: My sense of humor is in reverse.

God is revealing this to me continually and showing me where I need to repent. To drink deeply of grace in the hard parts of my life and share the joy of His mercy then laugh because my joy is complete in Him. This is what I am praying for us. That the Gospel will become real to us. And that we would all get real and our love for one another would grow as it grows for Christ.