Vision: More Than a Blog, Building A Faith Community

It has been in my heart to share my hopes for building a community of believers in Jesus to encourage each other to go deeper and after ‘the more’ of God so we can better serve our families, churches, and spheres of influence.

I am a member of a beautiful, life-giving, Christ-honoring home church (North Jersey Vineyard), as many of you are where you live. We must be plugged into a local body to serve and see Jesus transform our cities, one person and family at a time. I am part of a life group to build a deeper community and grow together because we need to support and encourage each other in the faith.

I am also a member of an online community of intercessors led by Corey Russell, where I am blessed to join kindred spirits from all over the world to learn in 3-week online classes and bi-monthly small groups.

I feel the Lord is leading me to invest in Secret Spring in new ways in preparation for the coming days. There is value in uniting with other believers from different churches to pray for our pastors, churches, cities, and nations. The times demand Kingdom unity beyond our individual churches to fight and push back spiritually the evil of this world. Our agreement across Christian streams will be critical in the days ahead.

With this in mind, I hope the blog and the forthcoming resources will be helpful for the body of Christ to stay focused and walk victoriously through the challenges that will come. I love sharing what God has and is teaching me, and I love when others do the same so we can mutually encourage one another.

I want to share the scripture that helped inspire this community so its biblical basis is clear. While many passages support it, I want to look at Philippians 3 because Paul shares some powerful revelations. I know it’s long, but I will highlight some of the most important parts related to our discussion.

“My beloved ones, don’t ever limit your joy or fail to rejoice in the wonderful experience of knowing our Lord Jesus! I don’t mind repeating what I’ve already written you because it protects you— beware of those religious hypocrites who teach that you should be circumcised to please God. For we have already experienced “heart-circumcision” and we worship God in the power and freedom of the Holy Spirit, not in laws and religious duties. We are those who boast in what Jesus Christ has done, and not in what we can accomplish in our own strength. It’s true that I once relied on all that I had become. I had a reason to boast and impress people with my accomplishments—more than others—for my pedigree was impeccable…..Furthermore, as a fiery defender of the truth, I persecuted the messianic believers with religious zeal. Yet all of the accomplishments that I once took credit for, I’ve now forsaken them and I regard it all as nothing compared to the delight of experiencing Jesus Christ as my Lord! To truly know him meant letting go of everything from my past and throwing all my boasting on the garbage heap. It’s all like a pile of manure to me now, so that I may be enriched in the reality of knowing Jesus Christ and embrace him as Lord in all of his greatness. My passion is to be consumed with him and not cling to my own “righteousness” based in keeping the written Law. My only “righteousness” will be his, based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ—the very righteousness that comes from God. And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus and to experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in me. I will be one with him in his sufferings and become like him in his death. Only then will I be able to experience complete oneness with him in his resurrection from the realm of death. I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me his own. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them. And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.”

Philippians 3:1-16 TPT

Goals for the Secret Spring community (in order as they appear in the passage above):

– To testify and boast of what Jesus is doing in our lives, family, and community (v.3).

– Grow in our knowledge of Jesus and embrace Him as Lord in all His greatness and consumed with Him alone (v. 8-9).

– Experience the overflowing power of His resurrection working in me as I share in His sufferings and complete oneness in His death and resurrection (v. 10-11).

– Run with passion to discover the purpose Jesus made me for and called me to (v.12).

– Learn from but forget past failures and fasten my heart to the future (v. 13).

– Grow mature in this area and inspire others to do the same with passion (v.15-16).

I want to intentionally seek the Lord like never before because we live in unprecedented times. There is so much information, yet very little truth. We must stay grounded in the Bible and get His Words deep within us to discern the times and truth from deception.

Will you prayerfully consider joining me in building a community based on Phillippians 3?

Joining only requires reading and engaging with blog posts and accessing resources as they become available (downloads, classes, prayer times, and more).

I encourage you to follow on WordPress or subscribe via email not to miss a post and share it with any friends and family who may long to join such a community. We can build a Christ-centered community TOGETHER!

Jesus, we love You and want to live fully for You. Please gather us for Your honor and glory. In Your name. Amen.

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