FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY!

Fellowship is defined as friendly association especially with people who gather to share one's interest.

Art Lovers Gather.

Book Lovers Gather.

Sometimes the two coincide @ Germantown Library with chess lovers added to the mix.

Runners Gather.

Jesus Followers Gather. 

Christian fellowship denotes participative sharing and mutual encouragement towards Christ. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)

CHOOSE: CHURCH FELLOWSHIP

On a recent morning "cousin" walk on Cedarwood in Nashville, I came across a bird church. 

For some reason that woodland anomaly of sorts, spoke volumes.

A quiet place. A gathering spot for the flock. A place for feeding.  A place under the cross as if they to are atune to the one who feeds the birds of the air. (Matthew 6:25)

A bird church---not unlike my own church or the church at the end of Cedarwood.

A place for God’s flock, although we’re more like stubborn sheep at times, to gather. That Monday, the Cedarwood congregation came to view the eclipse together and even invited us to join.

God’s church. A place to go and be fed. Often times it’s a place of quiet prayer. Other times, especially Wednesday nights and “fellowship Sundays,” it’s a place of “chowing down” for physical sustenance.

On Sundays, church is a place for spiritual sustenance as we come together to “feast” on God’s word and be nourished by it, just as the early church did.

Continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching  (their words came straight from God Himself) and to fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)

For me, church is the wise choice. It nourishes me spiritually and relationally with both God and man. I know “some” folks don’t feel that way. God’s word in Hebrews 10:24-25, says, “….not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”

I don’t want to be one of the “some” because I not only want to encourage others but I am so  blessed by the encouragement I receive as well.

I am grateful for the little bird church in the woods which reminded me to choose church!

PEW OCCUPANCY

7/10/11 My Utmost for His Highest focused today on attending "church services" together. This morning my brothers* and their wives and hubby and I did just that. Adams pew---last row of center section in the family church where we grew up. Special---because as a 78 year active member of Hopkinsville FUMC, our father was a recognized fixture in that pew. Sad---because through hugs and tears, many familiar folks in the congregation commented how empty it had seemed these last 4 months.

With 6 of us very much occupying that row, we commented that either the pew had gotten shorter or we had gotten wider. It was the general consensus that the pew length had been shortened. How blessed I felt to share this "last" visit with family---Mother and Daddy must have been smiling down on us all.

...let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,...(Hebrews 10:24-25)

Hopefully the next family that "occupies" that pew will be as blessed by that church as our family has been over these many years. Maybe we should hang a shingle to encourage others to try out this special pew, to do more than just show up and warm the red velvet cushion. Encourage them to "grow" spiritually while opening their heart to God's truth. Rev. Williams quoted John Henry Newman this morning, " Growth is the only evidence of life." Living a spirit-filled life requires more than pew occupancy, though that's a good place to start.

*Clifton T. Adams Jr. occupies the pew where his dad, Clifton Thacker "Brud" Adams, sat for many years.