Church Family
In going to West Virginia for six months, my husband and I had to leave our church family at Valley Isle Fellowship in Maui. Until you leave, you do not fully realize what a blessing the body as a whole has been to you faithfully over the years. Here in West Virginia, we need to adjust to a new church family at Mom's church. It's a different kind of joy as you meet and fellowship with new faces of the body of Christ. The bond of Christ still is so evident with warm welcomes and hugs from those halfway around the world. It's a warm thought to realize that the Holy Spirit joins our hearts with those we left behind through prayer.
We can still picture the familiar faces we left behind and pray for them and trust that God will keep us bonded in love until we return to them in six months.
If you are not connected to a growing loving spiritual church family yet, I cannot emphasize enough that you are missing out on one of the greatest means of growing in the Lord, and there is a church family somewhere that is missing out on what you can offer them through your presence and the use of the spiritual gift God has gifted you! The body of Christ functions best when all of its members are working together in unity and love toward the goal of building itself up in Christ. If you are not exercising your special gift, the body as a whole is lacking.
"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:16).
You may say "I have nothing to give". If you can smile or offer a hug, you can give more than you can imagine. I personally appreciate that kind pat on the shoulder, that sweet hello from a friend, that gentle smile across the room as much as I do the pastor, the soloist, the ushers who are so visible each Sunday. You are important to others! Find a church, then find your special niche in the body to contribute to its growth and health.
As I adjust to a new church family this summer and begin to make new friendships and receive new blessings here, I will pray faithfully for my church family in Maui and trust the Lord to do his work in the body of Christ there and all over the world.
The bond of Christ is a beautiful thing no matter where we are!
Sandy
We can still picture the familiar faces we left behind and pray for them and trust that God will keep us bonded in love until we return to them in six months.
If you are not connected to a growing loving spiritual church family yet, I cannot emphasize enough that you are missing out on one of the greatest means of growing in the Lord, and there is a church family somewhere that is missing out on what you can offer them through your presence and the use of the spiritual gift God has gifted you! The body of Christ functions best when all of its members are working together in unity and love toward the goal of building itself up in Christ. If you are not exercising your special gift, the body as a whole is lacking.
"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:16).
You may say "I have nothing to give". If you can smile or offer a hug, you can give more than you can imagine. I personally appreciate that kind pat on the shoulder, that sweet hello from a friend, that gentle smile across the room as much as I do the pastor, the soloist, the ushers who are so visible each Sunday. You are important to others! Find a church, then find your special niche in the body to contribute to its growth and health.
As I adjust to a new church family this summer and begin to make new friendships and receive new blessings here, I will pray faithfully for my church family in Maui and trust the Lord to do his work in the body of Christ there and all over the world.
The bond of Christ is a beautiful thing no matter where we are!
Sandy
posted by Sandy Fewell at 1:49 AM
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