Kara’s Collection: Westside Church

October 19, 2015 Kara Tippetts

From an article originally posted January 30, 2013…

But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

Exodus 4

Moses is a well loved character in this home. In my home, we have some reluctant in speech, we have some zealous in speech, but my prayer is that we would all be careful to listen carefully to the Holy Spirit before we speak.

I know my words can encourage, bite, give freedom, or take freedom. I long to speak truth, but to also speak with love so truth can be embraced. It is a hard balance. I understand the reluctance of Moses. In a mere month, a new church will be starting. An amazing group of people have been gathering for months in order begin a new work on the west side of town. Westside Church is a humbling endeavor that Jason and I have been called to. It’s exciting, overwhelming, hopeful, and amazing. Jason and I often talk about how prayers we never prayed are being answered.

Our small community has experienced much pain and suffering and it has caused us to live honestly before one another. In our small community, our members have faced cancer, robbery at gunpoint, murder of a family member, hard employment, difficult family issues. We have also experienced new babies, joy, venerability, new community, and freedom. In a short time, we have grown together, but we have a long way to go. There are inevitable growing pains. We have never done this before and we are all being stretched in ways we have never been stretched. I imagine everyone in the group has heard the call to get uncomfortable and said, like Moses, send someone else, but it’s been amazing to see what is happening when we all step out of ourselves.

Words fail me when I see this picture. This is a small portion of our community. We have done messy, hard life together. In a short time, my heart is full of love for this community. I can’t wait to see what Jesus has for us. The nearness of Jesus is our only, only good.

How are you being called to get uncomfortable today?