Thought For The Day

Holidays

This time of  year – Thanksgiving and Christmas – may be the prime time for families to get together. At our farm we had everyone we expected on Thanksgiving day, for at least a day, and some for several more. The food and fellowship were great. There was a lot of standing (and sitting) around the camp fire (s) (we had several in different places), great cooks turning out the goods (Matt made wonderful onion rings), and my bride supplying her usual incredibly delicious turkey and dressing along with cream style corn, green jello salad, pecan pie. . .well I could go on. The kids drove us nuts. . .I mean the kids were so enjoyable and into everything, especially the four wheelers, and seemed to have a good time – even when Papa would get a little feisty about their carelessness with the rules – of course we have rules, that how successful  society works.

It reminded me that the Church, above all else, is a family. . .The family of God! We gather on special days (Sunday’s) to be together because we llove each other. At our little Church there is plenty of food almost all the time. We have a huge (wonderful) meal every month, and someone(s) brings amazingly delicious “treats” (cookies, cakes, snacks, etc.) almost every time we meet. We believe that our “Fellowship Hall” is a place to enjoy sweet culinary goodies, and the sweet fellowship of intertwining our lives together in the Family of God.

We even stand (and sit) around the fire. Not the fires of wood, and never the fires of anger and bitterness and separation, but the fire of God’s Word as it drives us closer and closer to the goal of our gathering (see for example – Romans 8:29; James 1:4). We join together to hear and understand the Truth and be set free thereby (John 8:32), and to practice the disciplines of Llove (John 13:35).

Our family -Portland, OR; Denver, CO; Ft. Worth, TX; Big Sandy, TX;  –  can’t all be there every time, and all of us miss the gatherings occasionally, but we are best when we are together. We are happiest when we are together. We grow closer and llove more deeply when we are together. We learn together, and grow together, and every gathering creates new opportunities to meet needs, solve problems in life, enjoy experiences of grace and forgiveness, and become FAMILY.

For me, at least, that is exactly what the Church of Jesus Christ is. That is how it is designed. That is what it is empowered to accomplish. That is the goal. Hey! Don’t miss that.

2 Comments

  • jjpopham01@gmail.com

    HelLo to you and Margie!
    Thanks for the “llovely letter” – We had 2
    guests (especially great for me was that my
    grandson was able to be here, and another good
    friend from Dallas, who likes to cook – and
    brought the delicious turkey, a salad. John and
    I supplied some side dishes. Wow – I have a
    whole pumpkin pie to devour!
    Sending lots of Hugs to you, our dear friends!
    Sincerely
    Joyce & John Popham

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