Fellowship

Just a quick thought from a very positive experience on Thursday evening during this past week....

Linda & I are involved in a small group that will be doing the “True-Faced Experience” beginning next meeting (Lord willing!). However, as we have met a couple of times this year, only the small group leader, his wife and Linda & I have been able to meet.

That is not a complaint in the least. As a matter of fact, it is a praise. As we sat, chatted, laughed, discussed and pondered a variety of topics -- like: “What is the essence of a church?”; Does the TV series “24” have any merit or anything to teach us in the context of life (I think it does!); Our roles in ministry and God’s timing; and so much more even more personal -- I was struck as to how quickly the Lord had invaded my heart (and Linda’s as well, as I found out later) with the presence, love and friendship of this couple.

Even as we closed the evening (of 4 hours together!) in prayer, the thought crossed my mind that as we leave to give my “brother“ a hug -- not the typical handshake -- further confirming and affirming the growth of the depth of the relationship.

The startling thing that took place as we left was that as I reached for my brother’s hand to shake it and then (as ”planned“ during prayer) to pull him close for an embrace, he simply opened his arms and wrapped them around me!

Isn’t it amazing how the Spirit draws us TOGETHER in fellowship as we walk with Him with others?

Aahhh, the blessing of real fellowship is truly so sweet. Thank You, Lord, for such a wonderful blessing -- to reveal Yourself THROUGH others in real AND tangible ways.

When is the last time you embraced someone and expressed YOUR thankfulness for his/her presence in your life?

Sometimes I feel so slow-minded

I have been using a journaling tool for almost 9 months now that I found for the Macintosh. At first, I used it for only for my own personal spiritual journaling.

Near the end of November, 2005, I upgraded the program and was able to blog directly from it. That has been a joy and a challenge.

This morning, it occurred to me that I could also use it as a prayer journal (thus the reason for the title of this blog). It is so easy to update and keep in a usable form that I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me sooner.

At this time, I now use my journaling program for:
1. Personal/spiritual journaling
2. My “Missionary Musings” blog
3. My prayer journal
4. Keeping track of random thoughts regarding my strategic plan for our work in Slovakia

Okay, now to more useful -- and hopefully more encouraging -- thoughts.

Today, I came across this thought from C.H. Spurgeon (one of history’s greatest preachers and renowned pastors):

“Whoever communes with God is always at home.“ C.H. Spurgeon

A profound comment, yet so elementary. I’m reminded that the more I remain ”in communion“ with the Lord Jesus throughout each of my days -- hour by hour, minute by minute -- the transformation from this life to the next will be less drastic. I will leave this earth and enter His presence and it won’t be such a shock to me as compared to not remaining in communion with Him -- in which case the transformation from this world to the next will be drastic!

Another thought that continues to spin in my thinking -- and that needs considerable attention with regards to application to daily life -- is that as I remain in communion with the Lord, and as I enter the ”work-a-day“ world of the marketplace, business, sports, school, or whatever, I take the Lord Jesus with me -- essentially, I take the essence of the Church to the world and bring it (rather HIM) to the world.

Spugeon continues, ” The divine omnipresence surrounds such a person consciously; his faith sees all around him the palace of the King, in which he walks with exulting security and overflowing delight.“

I can’t help but see Charles Schultz’s character PigPen right now. Everywhere he went, that cloud of dust and dirt followed him. Everyone with whom he talked could not deny the presence of something ”bigger“ than PigPen himself. Everyone with whom he had contact was touched in some way by his mysterious ”cloud.“

I certainly don’t mean to demean our Lord’s presence or be sacrilegious, but I simply want to illustrate that PigPen’s ”presence“ was obvious, almost tangible, ubiquitous, and UNAVOIDABLE.

My challenge to myself is this: When I come in contact with people throughout my day, is the presence of the Lord UNAVOIDABLE to them?

Just another rambling musing from an old missionary.....