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Sometimes we find ourselves too busy too fellowship as we should. We Christians are a family and we need to interact with one another.

Many times after church I see my brothers and sisters and we fellowship’ We fellowship music, works sports teams…..just about anything you can imagine. It’s good to fellowship these things.

We need to take time to interject The Lord into our fellowship. Just something as simple as God provided that for me this week or I felt His love when I was going through a hard time.

Fellowship is fellowship. Christian fellowship should include the Christ.

I do not mean be a hyper religious knot head but some one who finds it important to share God’s goodness in the context of everyday live.

Remember, praising God should not only be done on Sunday. His praise should be shared with people during our week…not preachy, just thankful.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is just hang in there. When God has promised but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen we often get discouraged and change our doctrine. Often we don’t need a new doctrine but a new determination to believe God and His Word.

Joseph is a great example. In Genesis 37 he received a dream about his future. But things did not go smoothly in a straight line to the dream’s fulfillment. He was thrown in a pit by his brothers. They decided not to kill him…a ray of hope. But they sold him as a slave and so he was a slave in Egypt. He had favor with his master…a hopeful sign. But the his master’s wife falsely accused him of assaulting her and he was put in prison.

In prison he interpreted dreams for a chief baker and a chief butler. The latter was asked to remember Joseph when he was released… a ray of hope.  But the man forgot him and two more years passed.  Who would blame Joseph if he got mad, bitter, or disavowed the dream.  We have no record that he responded in such a way. When Pharaoh  needed a dream interpreter Joseph was able to help and was able to step into the role God had for him…the second most powerful man in Egypt!

In an instant gratification society we need reminders that not all things that are true are instant.

While trusting God, waiting, and working for better things let’s pause and enjoy some of His creation.

The sun rises over the clouds in front of the summit of Haleakala volcano in Haleakala National Park on Hawaii’s island of Maui, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Park officials say the sunrise on Haleakala attracts over a thousand people a day, resulting in an overload of visitors and creating a safety hazard. As a result, anyone wanting to see the sunrise on the summit will now be required to make reservations in advance and pay a small fee. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) ORG XMIT: NY301

Blessings to you all. Hang in there.

Tim has been unable physically and technologically able to blog these last two weeks. Tim says Keep Smiling. He’ll be back next week.

Do believe that conditions in the world are getting worse and worse? Do you believe evil is overwhelming good and God and His plan are in danger? Some Christians do. They may not admit it but if you hear them talk, you can tell they believe these things. Psalms 2 tells us how God responds to the efforts of the evil. Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision…. God’s not a little worried. Please don’t be worried yourself.

Our society says that Christianity would be all right if we didn’t make exclusive claims and admit there are other religions that are just as good as getting people to God. But in John 14:6 Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: and no man cometh to the father but by me. Do we believe our culture or Jesus’ own claim?

What do we believe? Who do we believe? If it is not Jesus and His words, are we really followers of Him?

An apology

I had intended to get a post out every Friday or Saturday. I have been unable to do that every week. My apologies that some posts are a day or two late.

Let us enjoy looking again at some of God’s creation. God Bless you all.

The sun rises over the clouds in front of the summit of Haleakala volcano in Haleakala National Park on Hawaii’s island of Maui, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Park officials say the sunrise on Haleakala attracts over a thousand people a day, resulting in an overload of visitors and creating a safety hazard. As a result, anyone wanting to see the sunrise on the summit will now be required to make reservations in advance and pay a small fee. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) ORG XMIT: NY301

Today I want to share with you the issue of loss. Not fun you say? Well not every part of life is positive. But as Christians we even have positives that help us through personal loss. A couple of my absolute best friends went home to be with the Lord recently. You know the rare kind of friends with which you can fellowship anything from the trivial to the most personal and spiritual. My friends Dave, Carrie, Krystal, Sam and others have lost spouses or parents recently.

And when that happens nothing is ever quite the same again. The family dynamics  change. It takes courage to admit and accept that a big part of our lives have changed and even more courage to turn the page and go on.

As Christians we are blessed with the Lord’s love and comfort to help us carry on. He is glad to comfort and strengthen us. Our community of faith is a great comforting resource. And even beyond that remember death is not just an end for our loved ones but a new beginning. I am comforted that our love is not over and we will see each other again.

That I am looking forward to. So all my Christian friends suffering loss remember though we grieve we do not grieve as do those in the world. We have hope and resources others do not have. It is natural to go through grieving, feeling loss…but I am so grateful we can move on (which does not diminish the love we have for those we had that passed).

Blessings until next week

Due to circumstances this post will be short. But I did want to post something, if no more than a reminder of the goodness we have in God. He is the Creator, the Savior, the keeper of our souls. He is the one whose love sticks to us like supernatural super glue. He is our shepherd and comforter. He is the Almighty and He loves you. Though my post is short, the list of your benefits as Christians is not. Enjoy His stuff. Enjoy your life.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Finally, Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil 4:8 KJV

Think on these things.

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all hos benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Ps. 103:1-5 KJV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul;he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of  the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and staff comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. PS. 23 KJV

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17 KJV

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that more abundantly. John 10:10 KJV

It has been said that man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, and about eight minutes without air-but only one second without hope.

“Totally without hope, one cannot live.” Hell is hopelessness. It is no accident that above the entrance to Dante’s Hell is the inscription: “Leave behind all hope, you who enter here.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The importance of hope is often underrated. Likewise, the danger of giving up hope is underappreciated. If you give up hope you may well be giving up life. It is very easy to give up hope if you’ve given up hope in an area before. It becomes easier and easier. In those losses, you can give up those parts of your life and future. It is much better to try and fail than fail to try because you have no hope.

Hang onto hope tenaciously. It could be a matter of life and death.

I share this today for many things seem hopeless in my life, but I cannot go there. Giving up could mean destruction. I must believe and hope and love. In bleak circumstances, I choose to embrace life. I pray that you will embrace the positive too. JESUS

The Body of Christ is rich in its whole and in its many parts, its people. Today I celebrate some of those riches. I celebrate great friends, Tim and Carrie Merfeld. Tim has just left us for Heaven and Carrie is bravely coping with a great deal, of course.

My friends modeled love and generosity. Their love for Jesus and for people made it easy to identify them as Christians. They have been great friends and hosts when I visited them. I am so much richer for their friendship.

Tim and I shared many serious things and some not so serious. We joked that we knew we were truly Christ’s because Tim was a Cub fan and I am a Cardinal fan and we still loved each other like the brothers we were and are.

I honor my sister Carrie. A woman of God, spiritual and practical. I pray for strength, grace, and peace for her.

All around us are riches, the people of God. We are richer than we have realized. Look around enjoy your riches.

This week’s post is short but you can be assured that being a blogger I’ll make up for it later. Grace and Peace to you in this coming week.

The Great Creator

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Gen.1:1 NIV

In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the Beginning. Through Him were all things made. John 1:1-3 NIV

We look about us and it is not hard to believe that the God we serve is a great and Wonderful God.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega”, says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev.1:8 NIV

That is who you serve.

That is who Loves you.