What has Jesus Christ ever asked you to do that wasn't for your own good? Billy Sunday
The house is quiet again, no not missing the pitter patter and squeal of little children, but the shuffle, cough ,advice of more mature people than me.
I didn't think the silence would engulf my emotions so much.
But I long for adult fellowship, I long for family times, I long for someone to have time and input in my life.
Yes I am busy, I have agenda's just like everyone else.
But just like a little child I thrive on attention.
Sunday mornings sermon again brought the focus off of me to where it should be.
The challenge? Love God ? Love the church. Really!Be on guard for yourselves and for the flock, among which The Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28.
Love the Church. Yup I've been hurt by those in the church more than once. We probably all have.
Love God love the Church, don't tolerate, don't cause dissension, don't bow out when the going gets tough. Love it.
I must confess. It is much easier to close my heart, take what I want each Sunday, give lip service to God...but not love His Church.
Loving His Church means extending grace to others.
Investing in the Church.
Praying for the Church.
How often do I take time to do this?
And if I may take this one step further
Love God, love the Church, love family.
Extend grace
Invest in them
Pray for them
I'd have to say because of past hurts, this too at times is difficult.
There requires a commitment to walk through life together, through thick and thin
In my world of take it or leave it, this appears to not be an option.
The Church is beautiful because it belongs to God.
The earth is beautiful, no doubt in today's pictures.
But the Church is beautiful?
The Mona Lisa painting is valuable because of what someone is willing to pay for it.
The Church is valuable because of the high price of the cross. The cross , the blood of Christ. His sacrifice for us.
For me , for you, for the Church.
Beauty from the inside out.
So I can't possibly say I love Jesus but not the Church.
I would a thousand times rather God's will should be done than my own. D.L.Moody
Easy? Never see that word in the Bible.
Without pain, never promised.
When God dwells at the centre of our lives, peace and contentment will belong to us just as surely as we belong to God. Beth Moore
So again I'm challenged. To walk a life that loves the Church.
We cannot be lukewarm; we have to be on fire with the cause of Christ D.L. Moody
No matter who you are or what your life has been like so far,
the rest of your life's journey can be different.
With God's help you can begin again. Billy Graham
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