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!

FORAGERS

Foodies search far and wide for the "best food." Brooklyn offers a plethora of restaurants, diners, food trucks, open air cafes and even grocery stores for said foodies. We found such a grocery store in DUMBO, (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) near Brooklyn Bridge Park, Foragers.

With the BEST house roast beef on ciabatta for Pop Pop and a baked bialy for Lucy, we had a bench picnic at the park before going to ride Jane's carousel.

With Josh and Megan as our guides, we have been foragers, searching all of Brooklyn for unique food. Seek and ye shall find---especially with a good guide. Fresh oysters with mignonette, blue crab rolls, lobster potato salad and the BEST EVER crabcakes served with pickled corn and arugula. YUM! All of that was just at one place, Brooklyn Crab, in the Red Hook area.

Believers are also foragers when they seek truth and are willing to search the entire word of God---wide and deep. (Proverbs 30:5-6)

One "kids" himself when he says he wants to "find" truth and yet does not bother to study the whole word of God. Not just picking and choosing out of context, making God's word say what one wants it to say. A pretense. Pretending he/she wants to be led to truth but not bothering to truly seek that guidance.

Spiritual fodder. Fodder for the soul. Feeding truth to one's innermost being. (John 17:17)

Defining Christianity

Defining Christianity

5/3/12 Today’s “K-Love” quote was T. D. Jakes definition of Christianity---definitely food for thought.

“Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where to find the bread.”

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. (John 6:35)

  Ah-h-h the aroma of the “Bread of life”-----the spiritual food needed by all men.

A Veritable Feast

9/20/10 The passage for "Meditation Monday" is Isaiah 55:1-3. Choose the version that fits your taste.

. (New International Version) Invitation to the Thirsty

1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread, 


and your labor on what does not satisfy? 


Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, 


and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me; 
hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, 
my faithful love promised to David

(The Message) Buy Without Money

1-5 "Hey there! All who are thirsty,

come to the water!

Are you penniless?

Come anyway—buy and eat!

Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.

Buy without money—everything's free!

Why do you spend your money on junk food,

your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?

Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best,

fill yourself with only the finest.

Pay attention, come close now,

listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words.

I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you,

the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.

I set him up as a witness to the nations,

made him a prince and leader of the nations,

And now I'm doing it to you:

You'll summon nations you've never heard of,

and nations who've never heard of you

will come running to you

Because of me, your God,

because The Holy of Israel has honored you."

(English Standard Version) The Compassion of the LORD

1"Come, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

3Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;

and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

(King James Version) My Grandmother’s Choice

1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Let me know which version feeds your soul the best.

SOUL FOOD

10/19/09 Hungry for the Word? In God’s Word, Christ is revealed as the “Bread of Life” and the “Living Water.” Try to digest a small portion today. For me, great value comes from ingesting bit by bit, line upon line, as it were, rather than a large passage. Don’t get me wrong, context is gained from seeing the larger picture of a chapter or lengthy passage. But I tend to scan longer passages rather hurriedly, looking for words to pop out and speak to me and that’s not always a good thing. In years past I would skim a passage quickly in order to check another thing off of my spiritual “to do” list. Conviction! (Okay so I still do it on occasion.) It’s a faux meditation---a way of appeasing my conscience. Sometimes it’s just a habit----because it’s Monday and that’s what I do on Mondays. Not a bad habit to get washed by the water of the Word. It is cleansing. But God……knows the difference and so does my soul. It is way too easy to nibble at this banquet of spiritual food when I should be feasting.

Just as our physical bodies need “healthy” nourishment so does our soul. Without good food packed with vitamins and minerals we can become susceptible to disease---too weak to be effective in our work. Without our spiritual food, the scenario plays out in much the same way---weak in conviction, susceptible to temptation and unable to be effective in the work God has called us to do.

John 7:37-38

37Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

Today, my friend, drink fully and joyfully expect the flash flood of love that will flow from you to others.