Good Deeds: Organizing…Community Building for the Holidays & Beyond “Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.” Martin Luther King, Jr. “This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” What does it mean to let our light shine?  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others” — Matthew 5:16A He explained that no one lights a lamp just to hide it under a basket. A lamp is meant to be placed on a stand to give light to everything around it. Whether you're timid or outgoing, you're called to be a light to the people around you. He knew troubling times were ahead and that we needed to be lights in those times in order for others to survive and thrive. In a world that is filled with darkness, believers are to be the lights shining through the darkness to lead people not only to safety but to the arms of Jesus. Never dull your shine for somebody else.” “Simply shine your light on the road ahead, and you are helping others see their way out of darkness.” “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” “Let your light shine today, and let your personality blossom, too. "Never dull your shine for somebody else.” — Tyra Banks “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” — Maya Angelou "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." —John 1:5 (NIV) What Does it Mean to Let Your Light Shine? Offer HOPE when there is none. You offer encouragement when it is needed most. Offer KINDNESS despite being surrounded by hate. Offer COMPASSION in a world that cares about the bottom line. Offer Patience – BALANCE when you're met with impatience. ... "Good Deeds" is a phrase that refers to positive and altruistic actions or acts of kindness that individuals perform to benefit others or contribute to the greater good. Good deeds can take various forms and may include acts such as helping someone in need, volunteering, donating to charity, offering support or encouragement, or simply showing kindness and compassion in everyday interactions. Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person's experience, including their feelings, perspectives, and needs: Benefits: Empathy can help you build better relationships, show compassion, and help others. It can also reduce your own distress by helping you understand and reduce the other person's Why is Community Building important? Broaden knowledge Sense of Belonging Improve mental health Promote empathy Address social and economic issues Sense of Harmony Compassionate Goodwill What is a benefit of community building? When you engage in communities, you broaden your knowledge base. The simple act of interacting with a more diverse range of people can generate more perspectives and opinions to consider. As a result, communities help to promote a better sense of understanding and empathy, as well as clearer communication skills. (RECAP from Last Year) 5 Stages of Forming a Group: Psychologist Bruce Tuckman first proposed this model in 1965. It's a useful framework for understanding team behavior. These stages are commonly known as: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. (mid-1960s by Bruce W. Tuckman) Tuckman's model explains that as the team develops maturity and ability, relationships establish, and leadership style changes to more collaborative or shared leadership.Tuckman's stages of group development are a model that describes the five stages a team goes through as it develops: Five stages of forming a group 1 — Forming: The initial meeting of a new team, where members are excited but cautious. This is a time to build trust and relationships, and to define goals and responsibilities. 2— Storming: A stage where team members argue with each other, the tasks, and the leadership. This is a time when the team has moved from low confidence to enough confidence to assert itself. 3— Norming: A stage where group norms and roles are established. 4— Performing: A stage where the team is comfortable with each other and their work, and productivity is high. The leader rarely intervenes, and conflict is usually constructive. 5— Adjourning: The stage where the project ends Morgan Scott Peck, famous for his widely read book “The Road Less Traveled,” went beyond individual psychology to explore how groups function together. His focus was on building more than just surface-level connections—he referred to it as “True Community.” Let’s delve into the four stages of community development proposed by Scott Peck: Pseudocommunity, Chaos, Emptiness, and True Community. Four Stages of Community Development 1 — Pseudo community: This is where individuals pretend everything is fine, even if there are differing thoughts and feelings. On the outside, it may appear friendly, but it conceals true thoughts and emotions. To progress beyond this stage, it takes courage and a willingness to go deeper than the surface. 2 — Chaos: Moving from pretense to genuine connection can be messy. Conflicts arise, and things may seem unruly. However, according to Peck, this chaos is necessary for authentic community. Embracing this discomfort is a key factor in personal growth and understanding others. 3 — Emptiness: After the chaos settles, there’s a stage of emptiness. Here, individuals let go of old ideas and become open to new possibilities. It’s not a frightening emptiness but rather a space where true community can take root. 4 — True Community: The ultimate goal is “True Community,” where individuals have navigated through challenges to form deep connections. This community is characterized by understanding, respect, and a shared purpose for everyone’s well-being.

We’re talking about being tied up for purpose, not “a purpose” or “on purpose” just purpose. At the beginning of the year, we kicked off with our theme of “Purpose.” Each weekly devotional connects back to our purpose. In the text (Matthew 21 and Mark 11), we read about a donkey and her colt who have been tied up, never used by anyone, with owners who were amicable with them being used, as it was prophesied (Zechariah 9:9) that they would be used by Jesus during His triumphal entry. Matthew 21:1-11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[ a ] 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna[ b ] to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[ c ] “Hosanna[ d ] in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Mark 11:2-6 2 “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. The prophecy referred to in Matthew 21:4-5 comes from Zechariah 9:9 Hosanna means Lord save us now 6 points about being tied up for purpose: Recognize Multigenerational Purpose (passing the mantle): • The donkey and her colt were not tied up alone, they were together in purpose; and prepared for the moment. • When we have children and/or people connected to us sometimes our gift, mantle is something that is shared or passed along (e.g. Elijah and Elisha in (2 Kings 2:13-15). • It’s likely Jesus road the donkey on the more difficult parts of the journey and the colt in the city. • I’m tied up, you’re tied up, we’re we’re tied up together for our respective purposes. 2 Kings 2:13-15 13 He then picked up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him. When he returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan, 14 he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen off him, struck the waters and said, “Where is Adonai, the God of Elijah?” As he indeed struck the waters, they parted here then there. Then Elisha crossed over. 15 When the sons of the prophets at Jericho saw him some way off, they said, “The spirit of Elijah has rested on Elisha.” So they came to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him. Visibility • Be visible, while tied up for your specific purpose. •Jesus had th e donkey and colt on reserve since the Old Testament or the beginning of time. What to do/not do while you’re while you are tied up and when you’re waiting to be deployed into purpose? • Be prepared, be ready, be relevant. • Don’t wander fr om your assignment during your waiting period. Sometimes when things are not happening as fast as we want or the way we would like, we try to trade in our gifts for what trending or bargain with God for another calling — when all along we’ve been called for a specific purpose. Psalms 46:10 God says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Let your answer (to God) be YES! • The donkey, colt, and their caregivers did not resist the request. • When we answer the call of God in any capacity we’re out to be willing to go where He is taking us. • God is always with us, so He’ll never send us somewhere alone. • Only God is omnipresent, Satan is not, nor is he God's equal. • When the donkey and colt were called they were cooperative and fulfilled the prophecy carrying Jesus during His triumphal entry. Palms represent victory. • They were waved and laid down before Jesus indicating He was the one they were waiting for, the Messiah. • The victory was Jesus overcoming death and the grave. • The people were shouting Hosanna which means "Lord save us now" Peace. • Jesus entering Jerusalem riding a donkey and/or colt symbolized the arrival of peace. • Operating in our purpose we should be ushering the peace and presence of God when we’re on assignment. • As children of God who are called according to His purpose, we are agents of Peace as Elder Shan Wilson shared in the Advent Series' devotional on PEACE .