Through verses, and lots of good quality talk time with other Christians God is really showing me how beautiful fellowship is! It's so awesome to see the intricate way God has brought our lives together! How in his big plan of things is the great bond of friendship with other believers!
I used to be the girl to answer "Good!" to every "How are you?" Like the world expected me to always be good! Yes I smile a lot, but I do very much have my wreck days! Almost as if I'd let people down if I wasn't good, if life wasn't going great! In meeting a beautifully obedient and passionate Christian, Katie Clifton, God started teaching me about being raw and real with people. Pushing me to share my faith more openly. Instead of covering up spiritual wounds with bandages, exposing them and sharing them with other people who can relate and learn from it at the same time! Exposing the real raw problems and wounds.
God really taught me this at Reality Weekend this past January. I kind of helped lead the great group of girls at the home we were staying at! In that, during the times of awkward silence after a tough question, to break the ice I would share what I got from it, or how God had worked in me in that way. Forcing me to reveal a real side of me that doesn't come up until much later in a relationship. That's also when I decided to start blogging to continue sharing my faith in a bigger spectrum. Deciding to be real and truthful, even when it meant calling myself out on some flaws. Showing and sharing the hurt of my heart, those insecurities that mock me in the back of my mind. It's not always easy, and not always fun, but it has made a huge difference in many relationships! Building me up as a Christian and finding others with the same lurking insecurities so we can grow together in Christ! This semester I've really worked on stepping out and sharing real things about my faith and walk with God to other Christians, and non-Christians.
Today a beautiful cousin of mine, Savannah, came into town. She said she really wanted to go to Starbucks, check some emails, that kind of thing. As Savannah and I actually have had very little alone time in our lives I tagged along, not nearly knowing the wonderful outcome! We were there for HOURS, completely lost track of time! Sharing with each other about our faith, and certain struggles we've gone through! Talking about how God has held us and brought us through all these different situations, and also realizing a lot of traits we have in common! How much we could relate to the other's story!
I'm so glad in God's big big plan for the world he designed fellowship. Christians building up Christians! It's truly a beautiful thing! All of us under one true King worshiping, celebrating, and even sharing our hurts.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 God made us to build each other up! To encourage and keep our other Christians accountable for Christ's way!
"I
want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there
is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest,
focused on Christ, God’s great mystery." Colossians 2:2
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20 It super cool seeing God give us words through serious fellowship time! When someone comes to you, telling you about a struggle and God gives you want they need to hear!
"That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus,
about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each
other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking
and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them." Luke 24:13 I totally feel like God did that with Savannah and me today!! It was amazing!
"If
you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has
made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit
means anything to you, if you have a
heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each
other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front;
don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help
others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage.
Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." Philippians 2:1-4 Read this in the "How To Love A Friend" reading plan on YouVersion Bible App!
Fellowship is a beautiful thing!
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