HOME CHURCH GLEANINGS

Fellowship is such an integral part of the life of Christians.....mutual encouragement is given when together. (Romans 1:12) Even God's word encourages us, "not neglecting to meet together"....encouraging one another. (Hebrews 10:25)

With the COVID-19 virus directions to be vigilant and practice social distancing, how grateful  I am for the availability of fellowship via our devices,

This morning from our Sunday School class conference call, a YouTube sermon broadcast at my son's church and a livestream from my home church, our fellowship was practiced in brand new ways. 

Many of these presentations were "adjusting" and a few glitches occurred (some tickling our funny bones) but here are a few if the gleanings:

1. All included prayers verbalized over a variety of petitions.
2. God's word was always included---Psalm 91, Roman's 10:9-17, Revelation 21 & 22:1-5
3. Singing was worshipful from a church office as well as a Music Minister's home

My notes: Practices include; 

• FAITH OVER FEAR, 
• CALM OVER CHAOS, 
• PEACE OVER PANIC.

All gleanings enhanced our Serene Sabbath home church.

CHOOSE WONDER

Have you ever been so awed by Him? The wonder of His grace? (Psalm 86:10, Isaiah 25:1)

This morning was such a time for me. A time of affirming.

As I was praying through Psalm 88 (NASB) for a Christian friend who has experienced much darkness and seemingly little resolution, I was struggling for just the right words. 

This is such a sad psalm, seemingly without resolution, much like my friend. A soul full of trouble. If it's not one thing, it's two or more. An anguish of great depth---all exact causes unknown to me. 

But God....in His love and mercy showed me, in my NIV version, a notation made by verses 13-14.

The notation 2/17/07 indicated I had prayed this very verse for myself, at a time when there seemed to be no answer from the Lord. 

Today is 2/7/17. All those 7s in the same month, for the same verse. It was a BIG affirmation. I could continue to pray with hope because I had been where my friend is---in the pit. But God....was there in the midst working even when I "felt" rejection, as if He had hidden His face from me.

Now I could approach His throne of grace with confidence for my friend---as a friend who had been on the "same side of suffering" and had found God had been in the midst of it all along. I understand where she is---though the struggle may be different, the ramifications of being in a dark place are the same. 

May she now see His wonders in the darkness and His hand in the land of forgetfulness. (Psalm 88:12)

There's the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder as sunrise I see,
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
is the wonder that God loves me. ("Wonder of it All," Adventist hymn #75) 

Choosing wonder and awe of the Lord for myself and my friend knowing God's love is there in a place of darkness when one cannot "see" it at the moment!
What a wonder!

Encouraging Words

K- Love brightened my day yesterday with an "Encouraging Word."

That's the intent of the radio program's (94.9 FM/Memphis) daily Bible verse.

"Then when you call, the Lord will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply." 

(Isaiah 58:9, NLT)

Those encouraging words encouraged me, allowing me to share with others in prayers.....from Mexico to Binghampton and on to a hospice room in east Memphis.
Paying it forward.
How about praying it forward? .....all the way to the end of the chapter.......to satisfy the afflicted soul, (v.10) to allow the Lord to guide, (v.11) to honor Him (v.13) and once again to delight Thyself in the Lord. (v.14)
That's what encouraging words are meant to do.

Meditation: Visual Aid

9/16/13 A visit last fall to the Chatlos Memorial Chapel at The Cove in North Carolina, aka Billy Graham Training Center provided me with the "visual"aid for today's Monday Meditation. This verse is one I often pray or my "daily" folks so.....I thought a little more insight, via meditation, would be helpful. 

God's grace. God's countenance. God's Peace. Word pictures can also be visual aids as we meditate.