Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
12 4 2023
Gratitude changes your perspective and heart. The Final Gathering!
We had our final gathering of our Courageous Men’s group last Monday. We had selected a borrowed pasture out in the country. Driving down dirt roads to a cow pasture complete with inquisitive cows invading our space, a nice bonfire, burgers and potatoes on the grill, and a simple but precious gathering of men who dared to come again to foster closer relationships. No politics, no fear of talking about God or some hurt they had been carrying.
Just a group of regular guys looking to be a part of something God had orchestrated in their lives.
It is said there is a fine line between a groove and a rut. Most of these men originally came because they were in this rut of isolation and varying degrees of loneliness and too many wore a cloak of feeling separated and unheard. They would tell you there was this inner urging that said…GO… check out this group…OR come closer to me, this group will help you discover me more sincerely. Some came because they were devastated over a failing marriage, a crippling health crisis, a job loss, or the death of someone dear. Too many came with multiples of these capped off with having no one close enough to talk to about them. No real friends. typically, no friend of faith that could point them to Godly answers or Godly solutions of hope and grace. Heck, some didn’t even know the meaning of grace or how to hold onto faith. Too many of these men came in a rut of independence that had led them to the emptiness of being alone with nothing but an empty bucket to draw their meaningfuls of life from.
But there were so many others who had already discovered the truth of God’s presence here.
The men, one after the other, started to share what this group and what God, through these men, had done in this last semester of Monday night gatherings. Andrew who was at our young men’s table was hesitant to facilitate when their leader had to leave But he was coached and encouraged to step up.
He shared how it changed his life and how he and his wife are now starting a new ministry at the church.
Willie is another new leader who stepped up and spoke of how the Holy Spirit has blessed him and changed him and put these incredible relationships in his life to walk in God with. One of our seasoned leaders John talked about how his table will be meeting off campus during the holiday recess because they don’t want to lose the connections that have grown. His son Jacob followed his Dad and joined our young men’s table. He spoke of always being more quiet but was growing in God and with these new men in his life. (Talk about legacy). Men stood up around the campfire to share their hearts. Some were brand new to our group and shared how it had changed their lives, restored their marriages, and how these new friends had stood by them in times of failing health. Others spoke of finding a spiritual anchor in this group to walk with, share with, cry, and rejoice with.
The theme? Thankfulness and overwhelming gratitude.
I have always believed that to some it is given to seed, to some to water, and some to harvest. You could see that everywhere around this blazing bonfire. You could see the seeds germinating and taking root in the newer men who listened. You could see the watering of these seeds as men… some emotionally, shared their testimonies. We heard of some of the harvests as others shared their victories in the most vital and private areas of their lives. These are men who would tell you they never opened up much because they had no one to open up to. Men who shared their hearts because they found caring hearts to listen and desires to pray with them and help them.
I could see many new seeds were planted last week. Seeds of encouragement, inspiration, faith, and hope that the power of the Holy Spirit is alive and well at Grace Family Men’s Group. And that God is more than real, he is present all around, as demonstrated by real men speaking up about their faith, their trials, and the roads and relationships God has provided for them to grow through them in victory.
I felt I could hear God’s voice saying; ” I am so proud of you for the testimony of your hearts. You came when I called you and I have poured out the love of my spirit in you and among you. I have heard your pleas and prayers and seen the fruit of your faith and it has inspired hope in a new wave of men,…into their families and neighborhoods and I could not be more proud of you. I will protect them as they step out in their fledgling faith. I will bless the work of their hands and keep them from failing. I will set an army of angels around them to protect them as Satan throws his fiery darts of fear, failure, and discouragement.to try and destroy you. I will intercede for you and be there for them at the right hand of the Father as I continue to grow each of them into mighty warriors that I will use to love and touch others. My love springs eternal in each of them and no one can take them out of my hand.
Not fire or water nor tribulation.
No matter what you are going through today, remember that your help comes from Me. I have given you faithful friends and family to help you, but it is I the Lord who has the power to deliver you. Ps 121:1
In closing, this was our last formal gathering for several months as we take a holiday break till early Febr. Many of them will continue to meet in their smaller groups of guys off campus because they don’t want to lose what they have grown together. If you do not have that connection or would like to be part of a group during this holiday time reach out to me and I will be sure to help you find your people.
