I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
I only have a brief post today because I have a meeting with the ladies at my church. It’s called “The Gathering” and we are gathering together to study God’s word and to fellowship. I am looking forward to it but also a little anxious as the introvert in me has a tendency to be when I know I will be in a large crowd of people. Nevertheless, I am stepping out of my comfort zone in order to receive from God whatever He has for me there.
I pray that all of you will be nourished by God’s Word today, not just the milk but the real meat of the truth in His Word. May you be blessed to be a blessing!
I am generally a very introverted, timid person. I don’t like large crowds (or even medium-sized ones). I avoid being around a group of strangers, not because of them but because of my own timidity. Today I have a women’s group meeting at church. I have looked forward to it and dreaded it at the same time. I look forward to it because of the fellowship but I dread it because I’m so shy and it’s hard for me to talk to people and feel as though I fit in. Usually, in group settings, my husband is there to run interference, check on me, draw me into conversations, etc. But with a women’s meeting, I’m on my own. Thus, the dilemma.
As I prayed this morning and spent time in God’s Word, this is the Scripture that I read. I did not go looking for it, but God directed me to it through a devotional that I read daily. Just in time for my meeting today! God will be with me, He loves and accepts me and I can count on Him to stay right by my side even when I’m feeling alone. I know that all of this is very strange to my readers who know that I taught in public schools for over thirty years, a profession that required public speaking daily. But I should note that I always had lesson plans to keep me focused on my tasks instead of how self-conscious I was feeling. In the group today, I fear leaving my comfort level, but I am also going to be bold and go regardless of my timidity. How’s that for stepping out in faith?
My other verse for the day is all about God’s calming my fears, so I’m trusting Him to come through for me and that I will make some new friends there. (The ladies that I used to be with at these meetings have moved to a different church.) Inhale and exhale, deep calming breaths…almost time to get ready to go. God is my Redeemer, my Savior, my Father and my Best Friend, so I’m counting on Him!
We are meant to be people with community, with fellowship with one another. The early church met daily and had communion and fellowship. These days, we meet once or twice a week and in order to be with other believers. While I was in Maryland, I attended virtual services. It wasn’t the same as being in church, but it was better than missing church altogether. Churches are not perfect places because they have imperfect people in them. However, we are told to get together with one another and I think that is for our own benefit. Being with other believers and sharing about my week or upcoming events helps me to focus on how God is taking care of me through everything.
It is for our encouragement that we get together, not to judge each other or to look for faults, but to see Jesus in each other and be aware that He is returning soon for each of us.
Have a blessed day and may you find somewhere and someone with whom to fellowship this week, to share your testimony and to encourage one another.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 