Enjoying the Journey
Posts Tagged ‘fellowship’
The Last Few Days and the Days Ahead
My heart is full of the goodness of the Lord to us! Over the last few days it was a privilege to gather with so many pastors and Christian workers in Walkertown, NC. As we planned and prepared for this year’s Southwide Baptist Fellowship none of us knew if it would be possible for friends to actually make it to the meeting. This has been a year where many conferences have been cancelled or forced to move to a virtual format. How thrilling it was to see people come together for a few days of prayer, preaching, and fellowship. Several folks commented how hungry everyone seemed to be just to be with other laborers. It was a reminder to me…
Read MoreThe Danger Of Being Around Good People
I often hear it said, “They are good people.” This is a subjective statement, of course, because it is filtered by the person’s standard of goodness. We know from Scripture that “there is none that doeth good” (Romans 3:12). The Apostle Paul, by any measurement, a good man, testified, “In me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). If there is anything good in any of us it must be Jesus! Only the Holy Spirit can produce goodness in the life of a sinner (Galatians 5:22). Still, we understand what is meant when someone says that a particular man or woman is a good person. They are nice. Kind perhaps. Gracious. But there is an inherent…
Read MoreIt’s Family!
Family was God’s idea. It is the perfect expression of the Heavenly Father’s heart. “God setteth the solitary in families” (Psalm 68:6). From the beginning He knew that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). And yet in our sin cursed world, even with the existence of physical families, there are so many abandoned, neglected, and lonely people. One of the miracles of salvation is that through Christ we are placed into a new family – the greatest family in the world! Scripture refers to it as “the whole family in heaven and earth” (Ephesians 3:15). This family has never all met together at one time…but we will one day. In fact, there is going to…
Read MoreThree Weeks From Today!
Preacher’s are engaged in the greatest work in the world. It is a work that will outlive this world! 1 Timothy 5:17 says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.” Those who are engaged in such labor must also have times to rest and refresh their own souls. Friendship and fellowship is absolutely essential to keeping your own heart renewed. Even the great Apostle Paul rejoiced when he was given liberty to go to his friends and be refreshed (Acts 27:3). Three weeks from today we will be gathered with a group of preachers at The Preacher’s Rest in Hickory, North Carolina. This gathering is designed…
Read MoreOne Month Away
Last night I had the joy to be in Murfreesboro, Tennessee for a wonderful tent meeting. God met with us in a special way. In just 4 weeks the Southwide Baptist Fellowship will meet here at the Franklin Road Baptist Church. Pastor Mike Norris and his gracious people will be wonderful hosts and this is a meeting you will not want to miss. The Southwide Baptist Fellowship will meet October 9-11. I look forward to the meeting and believe that the Lord will use it to encourage us all in “fellowship of the gospel” (Philippians 1:5). We are praying much for this meeting and hope you will make plans to join us! Below is a link to a postcard that…
Read MoreDaily Fellowship (Daily Living – Part 9)
Recently as I was caring for some personal business the Lord reminded me of a wonderful principle. God’s people should be helping God’s people. The verse that the Holy Spirit brought to my mind was Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” I personally do not believe this means you may only conduct business with believers, but I do believe that Christians should intentionally be looking for ways to encourage others in the family of God. One of the buzzwords in religious circles of late has been about the need for “community.” Jesus had another name for it: “church.” This is not some…
Read More
