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Listen while you read: "Jesus Friend Of Little Children"1 (Lyrics) |
Hebrews 10:25 – Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)
The mornings are dawning colder, and I have needed to wear gloves the last few days when I go down to feed the livestock. This morning, even in my gloves, my fingers grew cold quickly. Time for the mitts, I thought.
This episode reminded me of today's verse, and the importance of meeting together with other believers on a regular basis. Gloves separate our fingers, which is why they get cold faster than when we wear mitts, which allow the fingers to be together and share their warmth.
Christians who separate themselves or become separated from other believers, for whatever reason, have a much harder time of things spiritually. Their zeal for the Lord and His service wane, and discouragement often sets in, due to a lack of encouragement from their brothers and sisters in the Lord.
I know this first-hand, for I live in an area where finding fellowship with other believers is not always easy. Perhaps you do, too. The Lord has shown me, however, how to not give up meeting together with His people. Here are some of the suggestions that He has placed in my mind over the years:
- Find a good worship service on television or online, and be faithful in meeting with your chosen media congregation. Soon, you will actually feel that you are part of that body of Christ, for indeed you are, especially if you tithe, pray for them, and keep pace with their online sites.
- Stay in contact weekly by phone, e-mail, texting, or blogging with Christian friends or family.
- Start an over-the-phone Bible study. My sister and I did this every Tuesday last winter, and it was a marvellous time of fellowship.
- E-mail your thanks and thoughts to the daily devotional writers of whichever online devotional sites you may follow. It will be amazing how, over time, you become e-mail buddies with some of these Christians. My PresbyCan Daily e-mail buddies are people whom I now cherish and look forward to fellowshipping with.
- Skype or engage in Face Time with other Christians, as there is nothing like actually being face-to-face with other believers in regard to finding encouragement in the Lord.
- When travelling, make and take the time to find a church to worship with on Sunday and stay for coffee time in order to really meet and enjoy your fellow believers.
So today, if you are in a position where you have become separated from your fellow believers for one reason or another, make it a point to rectify the situation as quickly as possible, by either following some of the above suggestions or by asking God to reveal to you how best to begin meeting together with other Christians once again.
After all, remember that the Lord never sent His disciples out alone. He sent them two by two, as He knows how important it is for the encouragement and growth of our faith and encouragement in Him.
Prayer: Father, thank You that in Your wisdom, You have called us to fellowship together, and You have provided many different ways in which we can do so, depending upon our situations. Bless those today who may be separated from their fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord, with the encouragement and means to rectify the situation. In Jesus' name, we ask. Amen.
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Friday, April 19, 2024 – In Middle East — Thank you for praying for our Bible Study. We are having great times of fellowship and growing in His Word. Pray for God to make disciples who will be sensitive to His leading to share with others who will also trust in Him and share Him.
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Fellowship with believers.
Thanks for this Lynne! Very timely.
Thank you for the wonderful devotional.
Yes, Lynne, Thanks for sharing this devotional. Blessings.
As always, a beautiful devotional and some good advice.
Great Devotional Lynne, and I’m thankful for our bond that transcends the miles.
Wonderful analogy of the glove and mitt. And some great tips for staying close. Thank you for sharing.
Well written Lynne.
Keep writing those good devotionals.
Lynne – what excellent suggestions! Thanks for this helpful devotional. I agree 100{8395b6ce96fcf25a14d80edc3b65c36a8995b6c1ba5f8c16ac11d8adaa79f35b}. May God Bless you and your cold fingers!
Thank you Lynne. As always you offer us such wise and thoughtful ways to keep us moving in the direction in which we need to go.
Good thoughts and ideas Lynn.
Hope this encourages all who live in this tech age.
God bless.
Thank you, Lynne, for today’s message. Your suggestions could also be used when winter weather keeps us from attending our regular church services in person.
Blessings.
God sent this devotional to me just when I needed it. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with others. My glove needs to be warmed with other firm believers so I can continue God’s work for me. Thank you for reminding me that I am not alone.
This was the push I needed. I moved to this town almost a year ago and have found it difficult to get out and find a church. My neighbours have invited me to go with them so I hope to get back to church again.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Dear Lynne:
Beautifully said Lynne. These a e great tips for everyone. Please keep up the wonderful work you are doing .
God bless you my email friend.
Lynne
The analogy of the gloves and mitts is right on.
Well done.
I do enjoy the Daily Devotional.
Thanks Lynne for such a wonderful devotional with all the suggestions which I shall try and follow. I went back to my Church after my husband’s sudden death and was comforted to know people were praying for my family.
I admire you for your loving care of all the animals you own.
God bless.
Lynne,
You always have such relatable analogies. Your devotionals always delight, encourage, and provide food for thought. Thanks for helping to get my day started on the right footing by speaking in modern day parables. It is indeed time for mittens! May God continue to use you in such a joyful manner! Have a wonderful day as you move through it doing good and spreading His love. Blessings.
Good Morning Lynne. Once again God’s timing is perfect. Your devotion “spoke” to me for sure this morning. My husband and I are both active in our church and in our community. Lately I do not think my time is well spent with some of the activities. I find time is precious and often I feel that I have not made good use of my time. But as you have so clearly pointed out in this morning’s devotion it is good to be with church minded folks and it isn’t only about what “I” get from these activities but also what I “GIVE”. So thank you. I did need to hear what you said this morning and I read well and have “listened” to you.
Hi Lynne. Have seen your postings before, this one really spoke to me.
I like your analogy of a gloved hand and how two or more together stay warmer and share wisdom and learning.
Early morning is when I read my Bible, nice and quiet then.
I’m involved with a local church for an Alpha session. Sharing and being shared with makes me feel part of something much bigger.
Thank you for your post.
Dear Lynne,
Thank you for today’s devotional message — how inviting and how encouraging. May the dear Lord bless you as you continue to make these devotional messages so warm, friendly and reassuring.
I really look forward to your writings, there is always a smile on my face as you go around what sound like a beautiful property filled with nature. In my head, I can almost visualize your interactions and involvements with the animals…what an amazing grace!!
God bless you now and always.
Hi Lynn,
Good morning, I read your devotional with interest this morning. I am away preaching a lot on Sundays and as a result we have become “out of the loop” at our local church. Mind you we have made a lot of friends in other churches.
When we go on vacation we try to find a church where we can worship, have even attended Church in Spanish. We also go to the local Dutch church.
Thank you for writing and keep up the good work.
Blessings.
Hi Lynne
Guess I am one of those fellowshipping over the internet. Yeah for that ability to connect with people all over the world! Atlin is a small community, I am sure, but so much wider than it ever was through PCC and the global connections.
You have an amazing (God-given) ability to connect simple everyday things with a spiritual truth – how do you do that! Well I know how, thanks to inspiration from the Lord. I would never have made the leap from the separated fingers to the mitts to the body of Christ and fellowshipping … but it definitely makes sense.
Thank you.
Greetings, Lynne.
This is such a valuable message to us all; it will be a blessing to many, I am certain. So many of us will have experienced the isolation and its effects at sometime in our Christian lives and there is no telling when that could recur. In our spread-out area I am thankful for how the Holy Spirit has drawn individuals and families of different denominations together to worship in our home churches, where our common faith in Christ overrides differences we would likely have maintained in a bigger urban setting. We are indeed stronger together for being together.
Thank you, and God bless you.
(BC)
Dear Ms. Phipps,
Thank you for your words today. May your gloves and mittens always keep you warm. I like the way you drew the analogy between fingers and people. The resources you mentioned were most helpful.
I am new to PresbyCan. My national church has no form of daily devotional. Several weeks ago, we visited relatives in North Carolina. Her daughter and son-in law attend a Presbyterian church. We went for Bible study, church and Sunday school.
We enjoyed the worship and the people there so I decided to look into what the Presbyterian church had to offer.
Blessings.
Great message Lynne. Thanks for sharing your ideas encouraging believers to connect with other Christians regardless of their location or circumstances. Blessings.
Thank you Lynne for your wonderful devotionals. They are always thought provoking and a blessing. I also enjoy hearing about your animals.
I pray the Lord will continue to bless and use you.
Hi Lynn, I have been reading your devotionals since they were first on the PresbyCan and have enjoyed and learnt from everyone of them. I thank you for using your God given talent to express your thoughts to encourage others and to give food for thought. I have also enjoyed the picture you paint of your life in Atlin, though I am sure it is a lot of hard work! I have heard it is a very nice place. Your devotional is very timely for my husband and I. God Bless.
Hi Lynne!
Thanks for bringing this important topic to our attention. You and I in the same situation, away from an active church body. Speaking of watching church services each week, I think of you each time I view the weekly television program of the “Hour of Power;” I feel we are worshipping together – praise God!