Today was all about spending time with friends. It hadn't originally been planned that way, but that is certainly how it ended. I was going to run a bunch of errands, attend my last week of team meetings at work, have dinner with some friends and come home. That just goes to show you, you can make your own plans but the Lord orders your steps.
My co-worker called at 9:45 and asked if I was headed into town. She needed to drop her car off at the auto repair place and wanted to know if I could pick her up. I headed out the door and tried to figure out how to adjust my day. We took care of several things she needed to do and decided to have some lunch before our meeting started. We sat around the lunch table in fellowship. After our meetings, I headed home to collect Steve for dinner with friends. Two couples had asked if they could take us out for a farewell meal at Chi Chan's. We have never been, but found ourselves eating a great Japanese meal while talking and laughing the evening away. When everyone looked at their watches they were shocked it had been 3 hours. We were having such great fellowship, no one even noticed the time.
We had been told a couple who previously attended OASIS were in town and everyone had been invited to our Pastor's house to catch up with them. On our way home, Steve asked if we should stop by. It was so late so I said, "Drive by and if there are cars we will stop for a minute." Well there were still quite a few people standing on the front lawn, so we pulled in. This couple had left OASIS to Pastor a small church in Michigan. It took about 10 minutes before Steve and Jim were talking "shop". Our new church in Florida, is VERY similar to the one Jim is now pastoring. Before long we were back in the living room talking. We spent another hour in fellowship.
As I sat reflecting on the day, I realized I had spent almost the entire day with friends just sharing life. We had shared about work, church, travel, children, grandchildren, selling of houses, well just about everything. It had been such a great day. Each conversation had in some way been about life as a Christian or about what God was doing in our lives. Jim had shared with us, he and his wife live quite far away from other Christian leaders. The closest Pastor is 30 miles away. The closest hospital is 45 minutes away. The community is small and their congregation is still maturing in their walk with God. He said they often find themselves alone; sometimes even lonely. I felt a little guilty that we would be close to all our family and surrounded by other Pastors'. We at least have an already established support system in place. We have fellowship in place before we even get there.
We were meant to spend time with one another. There are occasions when it is important to find solitude for ourselves, but our nature is to spend time with others. That is one reason to attend church. It provides an opportunity for you to fellowship with other believers. Take the time to invite someone to spend time with you in fellowship.
In His service
Mally
My co-worker called at 9:45 and asked if I was headed into town. She needed to drop her car off at the auto repair place and wanted to know if I could pick her up. I headed out the door and tried to figure out how to adjust my day. We took care of several things she needed to do and decided to have some lunch before our meeting started. We sat around the lunch table in fellowship. After our meetings, I headed home to collect Steve for dinner with friends. Two couples had asked if they could take us out for a farewell meal at Chi Chan's. We have never been, but found ourselves eating a great Japanese meal while talking and laughing the evening away. When everyone looked at their watches they were shocked it had been 3 hours. We were having such great fellowship, no one even noticed the time.
We had been told a couple who previously attended OASIS were in town and everyone had been invited to our Pastor's house to catch up with them. On our way home, Steve asked if we should stop by. It was so late so I said, "Drive by and if there are cars we will stop for a minute." Well there were still quite a few people standing on the front lawn, so we pulled in. This couple had left OASIS to Pastor a small church in Michigan. It took about 10 minutes before Steve and Jim were talking "shop". Our new church in Florida, is VERY similar to the one Jim is now pastoring. Before long we were back in the living room talking. We spent another hour in fellowship.
As I sat reflecting on the day, I realized I had spent almost the entire day with friends just sharing life. We had shared about work, church, travel, children, grandchildren, selling of houses, well just about everything. It had been such a great day. Each conversation had in some way been about life as a Christian or about what God was doing in our lives. Jim had shared with us, he and his wife live quite far away from other Christian leaders. The closest Pastor is 30 miles away. The closest hospital is 45 minutes away. The community is small and their congregation is still maturing in their walk with God. He said they often find themselves alone; sometimes even lonely. I felt a little guilty that we would be close to all our family and surrounded by other Pastors'. We at least have an already established support system in place. We have fellowship in place before we even get there.
We were meant to spend time with one another. There are occasions when it is important to find solitude for ourselves, but our nature is to spend time with others. That is one reason to attend church. It provides an opportunity for you to fellowship with other believers. Take the time to invite someone to spend time with you in fellowship.
In His service
Mally
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