FELLOWSHIP

One hundred worshipers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.... A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), The Pursuit of God

Just this past week, on Wednesday Night my husband Jim and I got together with a group of other believers and had true fellowship with one another. My husband joins a group of men once a month for breakfast, and they also get together every few weeks for coffee. They call themselves "The Ole Geezers"

On Wednesday Night the men invited their wives to a Barbecue at Dave and Roma-lynn's home. This dear couple are two of the kindest people Jim and I have ever met. They complement one another. They give so much of their love and time and themselves, they are true servants. They run a Senior's Home, and you know the residents just love them so much.

Any way back to the barbecue, it was such a wonderful time of friendship, love and laughter. We all brought our own meat and then either a salad or a desert. We all filled up on the delicious meal and then sat back for some music and some sharing. I have to say, Baptists know how to eat LOL....and cook.

David loves music, I believe his whole family is musical. I think they have at least 5 pianos throughout their home. David is a very talented Pianist and has a lovely voice! The first part of the music was another couple Cliff and Dawn and David. Cliff on the violin, Dawn on the Organ and David on the Piano and the rest of us had either playing Bells, Tamborine and even Castanets. We sang many old time hymns which were nice to hear. A lot of churches don't play the old time hymns as much and I find them much more biblical then the songs today. We had genuine fun together. Dawn, the dear lady playing the Organ has had health problems in the past year and yet here she was at the front playing for us and her husband Cliff right beside her playing the violin so wonderfully.

After the music was over, My husband shared a few words on the subject of "Fellowship" It was a good message on how fellowship is just not mere friendship it is a relationship based on Unity and Like-mindedness. It is based on a relationship of not just rejoicing together but also mourning together. It is based on acountability, we are accountable to one another. It is a communion that is uncommon to the lost. Who else but Saints can rejoice in life and in death. We can fellowship in Christ alone and be content.

John 15:12-19 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

True friendship that leads to true fellowship, is when trials come into ours lives, a friend will walk with you though it. A true friend, will be someone that will look you in the eye and tell you did wrong. A true friend will be with you through good times and bad times.

Proverbs 17:17 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity

(Rom 12:15 NRSV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.


Prov 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

So as I look back at last Wednesday, and think about David and Roma-lynn, Cliff and Dawn, Ron and Sue, Jack and Velma, Norm and Amelia, Dario and Dolcie, David and Pat, John and Jim I thank the Lord for such wonderful Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. I thank the Lord that my husband has these men that love the Lord with all their hearts, for true fellowship, for accountability and for love for one another. God wants this for us all, He wants the Saints to fellowship and grow together. He wants the world to see the love we have for one another. Our fellowship and Unity should only be based on Christ and Christ alone.

PS We missed Al and Barb, John and Lura and Sarto as they could not attend

Cristina