Monday, January 27, 2014
"But if we walk in the Light as
He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood
of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin". (I John 1:7)
Hey Gang: I have had the
following story in my archives for years. For some reason I never felt it was
important to send it along to you. But I recently talked with a man who
said he searched for a church for years where praise and worship was important,
molded in with pure Bible Study; but he failed to find it and now he has chosen
to be his own church. After hearing his story, I returned home and got
out the worn and torn endorphin file and dug out this story:
"It seems that a member of a
certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped
going. After a few weeks, the Pastor decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. The
Pastor found the man at home alone, setting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for this Pastors visit, the man welcomed him, ledt him to a
comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.
The Pastor made himself at home but
said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the
flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the Pastor took the fire
tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side
of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still
silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the
one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and
then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the
initial greeting. The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was
time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and
placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow,
once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to
leave, the host said with a tear running down his cheek "Thank you so much
for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in
church next Sunday."
Sooooo, my friends, Home Bible study
and prayer are essential to keeping our keel deep in the water, but the
fellowship of believers keeps the coals burning in our heart and souls.
Blessings,
Gramps
PS 2024 is a good year for change. Our
Pastor has been emphasizing the importance of connection with God and His Word,
and others. Covid fear has continued to isolate many for various
reasons. If you feel isolated or just
alone, remember the coal that lost its glow until re-connected in the fire
(church family). Find a Bible believing
church and choose to get connected. Spread the Holy Spirit fire. Gma J
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