Keep this in mind

Since this is Sunday afternoon as I write, I want to remind all churchgoing people this as you are enjoying your Sunday dinner. It's okay to have the pastor for dinner as long as he's there eating with you. Think about it.

Strength in numbers

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.Hebrews 10:25 KJV

Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 Amplified Bible

People are always saying that they can worship God as well at home as they can in church. According to the Word of God, that's just not so. But what constitutes a church? The word "church" means "called out assembly." Where does this assembly of believers meet? Ideally we meet in a building maybe several times a week. I know several of us meet at various blogs and through email.

Why should believers meet? To help one another, to give each other strength, and to pray for one another. As Christians we should serve each other spiritual food.

If one has a burden, they should go to the brethren, and seek prayer. We should lift those burdened up to the Lord. It's a lot easier to lift someone when there are several helping lift.

A match will burn quickly. A match put to some kindling well placed between logs in a fireplace, will start a fire that will keep many warm.

God gives us all a role in helping one another. If you can't be in church as often as you like, seek fellowship among us. You may find something that will benefit you in your Christian walk. Or you may have something that may benefit the rest of us.

But by all means, seek out folks that you can have some physical fellowship with. People that will love on you when you have a struggle. And people that you can love on when they are hurting.

Cliff Note:While I was making my comment as a followup to Suzanne's comment, I was checking out The Message's translation of the verse I quoted. I want to share this with everybody: "And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." Matthew 18:20, The Message.-Very powerful!

On translations

In the last post here, I used verses from "The Message," Eugene Peterson's translation of the Bible. I regard this as a study aid, to enhance my reading of the King James Version. At one time, I felt that the KJV was the only reliable version. I still take the KJV to church with me.

There are some who feel that newer versions are corrupted, and others who feel that you cannot be a Christian if you don't use the KJV exclusively. I now have a problem with that thinking. I want people to be able to have God speak to them.

Any thoughts?

Forgiveness to others has benefits

23-24"This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.

25-26"Or say you're out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don't lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you're likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won't get out without a stiff fine.

Matthew 5:23-26 The Message

14-15"In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part. Matthew 6:14-15 The Message

I want to look at the other side of the forgiveness issue and that would be our forgiving those who do us wrong. The Bible commands us as Christian to forgive those who do us wrong. And if we do not find it in our hearts to forgive we cheat ourselves as God will not accept our offerings nor will He hear our prayers.

14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. Romans 12:14-21 The Message

As you can see by the verses I have taken from The Message, there are many benefits from having a forgiving heart.

Forgiveness

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:12-22 KJV

One thing that really breaks my heart is when I do something wrong to someone close to me, and no matter how many times I try to apologize, they will not forgive me. How many times are you required to apologize before someone else is required to forgive you?

According to what I read in the Bible, you are required to forgive immediately without the person apologizing to you. Our prayers aren't even going to be answered if we have anything against our fellow Christians, which is one of the reasons the Church has very little power nowadays.

Churches and families have split over some of the dumbest reasons and people not willing to forgive over things. Whether it's a church or a family the hurt over this never heals and there are some very ugly scars left, usually in the form of appearance in the community.

Forgiveness doesn't change the past, but it sure does make the future easier.

Blogs of Note

I noticed as I was reading the prayer requests here that I had a new visitor. Elizabeth, or ekelly, has a relatively new blog, called Elizabeth'sChristianBlog. I would guess, by reading her words, that Elizabeth is a relatively new Christian. She seeks fellowship with other believers, so go on over there and give her a look see.

Elizabeth came here through Kathy's Klavier. Kathy has a guest poster right now, her husband, Eddie. He is sharing his testimony with all of us, how the Lord helped him through disease when he was in his early 20's. This promises to be a very inspirational series. Kathy has also left a couple of prayer requests here.

If you have a prayer request, let us know and all who read them will take them to the Lord on your behalf. If you feel a burden to pray for the requests, click on the link on the upper right on the side bar.

Do you work to please God?

The "Faith and You" column written by Terry Pluto from this past Saturday's Cleveland Plain Dealer is titled "The way we work says something about how we live." Terry touches on things we do at work and that we should be glorifying God in the way we work. One of the examples Terry uses is when we are trying to show how spiritual we are by reading our Bibles when we should be doing our jobs. Workplace gossip is also touched upon in this article. the story is well worth a read so check it out.

Cliff Note:Also remember Terry Pluto is the featured author. He has written many books about sports, as he has been a sports writer for the past 30+ years. He has been a Christian since 1997 and has written two faith books, "Everyday Faith" and "Faith and You." click on the links on the sidebar for more information about how to order these books.