Category: Reflect Actively (Page 1 of 8)

Reflect Actively for Deeper Fruitfulness

Let’s see where this goes

December 1, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Are you dealing with any situations that are not improving?

In Luke 13 Jesus tells a parable of a fig tree that did not produce fruit for 3 years. At the sight of it the landowner says to cut the tree down. The caretaker however asks for 1 more year to tend the roots and fertilize to see if a crop would come.

As we studied this passage a couple of weeks ago, I was challenged by the invitation to wait on unfruitful places and tend to the roots in hope for fruit. In this I considered God’s tarrying with me in many spaces investing for a hoped for crop.

What spaces is God inviting you to tarry with him, investing fertilizer and time?

Not the time until they arrived

November 7, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

A few weeks ago we studied the story of the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-36. This is a familiar story, where Jesus walks seven miles with two disciples who are going home after his death. Amazingly they do not recognize him until he is in their home, breaks bread, gives thanks, and gives it to them.

What most struck me as we studied this passage, shows up in verses 33-36. Jesus then waits for them.

After the two recognized Jesus, he disappears and they hurry seven miles back to Jerusalem. When they arrive with Jesus’ other followers, they tell their story and then Jesus arrives.

He does not come right away and say “Guess who I found on the road” or “You wouldn’t believe how distracted these two were”. He waits.

Waits for them to arrive, waits for them to tell, waits for the reactions…then he shows up with a word, “Peace”.

This encourages me as I pray for others walking away on a road or begin walking it myself. I am grateful to serve a God who meets people on the road and waits for them to return.

Not always up and to the right

June 10, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

It is easy to think things should always grow, right? Every day, things getting better and better? Maybe it’s just me…

Well, that is not how it works. Yesterday as we gathered as a community, we were reminded of the story of Haggai. A people after laying a foundation of a temple in Ezra 3, were shut down by the king and had still not finished the work 16 years later.

It is with those disheartened people, who had lost hope of rebuilding, that God speaks to in Haggai. The message, it is time to rebuild the house of God. And God gives an amazing promise, the glory of this temple will be greater then the former (Hag 2:9). What? Greater then the adorned temple that Solomon made with all his (and David’s) riches? It will not be the jewels leading to the glory, but, in time, the presence of Jesus in that space.

This experience is something like what James Choung and Ryan Pfeiffer describe in their book Longing for Revival. The curve of breakthrough faith (shown above) does not just go up and to the right. Instead it leads through crucified hope and a crisis of faith.

What areas do you find yourself disheartened? Places you are not moving ahead on something you had anticipated growth or sensed God’s invitation. What would it look like for you to engage those areas with work and prayer in faith? Trusting God’s movement that will come in time. May we seek, like the people of Israel, breakthrough and the movement of God.

New Name

May 26, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Two times in the last week, I had the same profound experience.

The first came at a year end conference where the speaker walked us through a listening exercise. In it Jesus comes into the room with us. We realize there is a name written on our forehead. It is not flattering – “not good enough”, “second”, “unwanted”…

Then Jesus walks over. He washes off this name and writes on a new one, what is it?

As the speaker led the 200+ students and staff through this experience, many sensed a new name – “worthy”, “loved”, “ready”. After sharing and praying with the person next to them, over 2/3rds of the audience, including me, said they had a significant encounter with God.

Fast forward four days, I am at church and the preacher is speaking on identity. In her sermon she listed five names she had taken on herself and then the names God replaced them with. At the end as a church community we listened for the name that God speaks over us.

We see this kind of work often in the life of Jesus, renaming those that others have cast aside. We also see this in Revelation 2:17 where God gives a new name to the victorious.

What is it for you? What is the name that God speaks over you to replace one you have held on to?

What might God want to do

May 3, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

At Urbana 1997, I heard God speaking to me. “I have given you gifts for this, if you will follow me, I will use you.” At Urbana I said Yes to God’s invitation, to join staff with InterVarsity.

25 years later, I will will join 10,000 others invited to surrender all to Jesus and join in God’s global mission. We will do this through multiethnic worship, creating space for all peoples to come before God. We’ll have time of Scripture exposition and Bible study in Acts. We’ll hear testimonies from the global church. And everyone will have the opportunity to connect with top mission organizations, receive prayer ministry, and get next steps coaching to discern their calling.

Do you know someone (or yourself) who should consider joining me? Send them Urbana.org to register now.

A mouth full of laughter

April 26, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, We were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, Our tongues with songs of joy.” Psalm 126:1-2a

Remember a time when your mouth was full of laughter? What did it feel like? Like biting into a ripe strawberry? A mouth of pop rocks?

For the psalmist, the laughter-filled mouth was a communal experience of God restoring the fortunes of the Israelites. When have you experienced a moment like this, God restoring the fortunes of your community? Recall it in such a way you can taste it, share it with others in your community who experienced it and laugh and sing together.

Why? This memory is not nostalgia. Like the Psalmist, when held, it can lead us to a place to remember and believe that whether suddenly (like streams in the Negev after rain) or slowly (like the seed planted with tears and grown to fruit) God will bring restoration to places of brokenness around us.

Let us recall together and respond in faith filled prayer.

Believing for Life in the face of death

April 20, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Two weeks ago at our annual Field leaders conference we engaged in several ways with the story of Lazarus in John 11. It was particularly profound as so many of us have experienced death and other losses through this pandemic.

In the story Jesus arrives once Lazarus was dead 4 days, the point they believed his spirit had left the vicinity and decay had started. Nothing to be done but leave the stone in front of the grave and weep. Jesus joins in this weeping, an amazing picture of heart of God, but also invites Martha to roll away the stone, so that he might speak Life to what is dead.

As a team we considered the places we have considered past saving, where God invites to roll away the stone, that he might speak life. Join us in praying and believing that God is one who speaks Life into places of death.

A powerful foundation

December 22, 2021 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Ezra 3 tells the story of Israel rebuilding the temple. At the laying of the foundation many celebrate with joy, while some of those who saw the former temple weep. The various responses are indistinguishable but can be heard far way.

Many of our staff are in a space like this, rebuilding work well established in the past. Our invitation to them is like the Israelites, hold the joy and weeping together as worship before God. And our prayer is that this sound will testify to the work of God in this place.

As you could imagine, the weeping can overcome the hope that foundation represents. Pray that God would help our staff to see and celebrate the new thing growing in their midst.

Signs of Life Springing Up

September 7, 2021 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

A brick wall, not very inspiring right?

Last week, I participated with colleagues around the country noting #signsoflife we saw on campus. I shared about a wall.

It stood behind a staff, a toddler when I first met him, now sharing with me about his ministry at the University of Arkansas. I walked past this wall 20 years ago when I staffed the campus. Now a staff team invites students to encounter Jesus. This wall reminds me of the continued work of God through many seasons, even as He moves us to new places.

Across the country, InterVarsity chapters focus on new student outreach on campus and virtually. Please pray for them and also share with me #signsoflife you see around you.

Engaging Faculty

May 7, 2021 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

In this pandemic, we see college and university faculty connecting digitally and pursuing God together. From a faculty roundtable at Northwestern in January with 900+ participants, to 180 faculty engaging in a digital Camino, to our highest number of participants (297) at the Believers in Business Conference. Last week an event on race and theology drew 90 faculty from across the country.

Like for others, it has been a challenging year for faculty and InterVarsity’s work. At the same time we praise God for His movement amongst faculty. Join me in giving thanks to God!

Do you know a faculty member that would like to connect to other Christian faculty? Connect them with us.