By Linda J
Day 4 of the Church Fast 10/1/19
What a wonderful privileged to to pray as a family yesterday and as part of the church fast. Indeed I woke with this scripture on my heart
“How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity; it is like the precious ointment that ran down upon the head , even Aaron beards; that went down to the skirts of his garments. As the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion : from there the Lord commanded the blessing,even life for evermore”. (Psalm 133)
There is also beautiful scripture of not only coming together as family but what happens when we come together to make mention of the Lord. In the book of Malachi Father tells us that a book of remembrance is written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16).
If we walk in the light, even as he is light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Whenever we feel breaks to our fellowship with one another it means we have allowed darkness to come in . The enemy of soul has been out to destroy not only the natural families that we are part of but also the spiritual families that God has orchestrated to come together.
Let me say, the beauty of our house is the intergenerational and multinational representation of same – what a beautiful family. What a wonderful Father we have.
There are indeed different characters to every member of a family, but God knows the heart and the reason why that individual was created and came… Let us treasure what we have, what Father has enabled us and look after each other with love.
Our coming to church is not about us, its also about our brother or sister. They need us. We need them. As Pastor said last night, if a part of the body was hurting we would want to seek remedy and help.
We need to look after the Body.
My added emphasis (and as the spirit leads me this morning ) is that we wouldn’t deliberately bash our arm against a brick, nor throw stones at our head, eyes or heart. We wouldn’t neglect to feed, change or hold the little baby in the crib. We wouldn’t neglect to speak to, hurt or ill-treat our children. Therefore we need to look after each other and based on age, stage and need. Let us pay attention to those parts which may not be as comely as the rest.
Look out for the stranger that comes in amongst us – those who may be battling with demons, ravished by time and circumstance and suffering abuse or in some disarray. Let us be aware of those who are away from (or may not have) a family – allow them to contribute and belong.
Reach out. Give of yourself. Break out of the cliques or normal patterns and ways of being that might exclude others. Get to know someone new. You never know who God has placed amongst us, or sent as a witness and a testimony. The Bible says ‘some have entertained angels unawares’(Hebrews 13:2).
Family ministry is the ministry that God has given to us – to each and every one of us to care for and from the porch to the altar ie whoever and whenever we make that interface.
Father says
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?
when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him;
and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Isaiah 58:6
As we complete the fast, Let the dew of Herman fall on us. Let us continue to reflect on the Word of God. Let us pray for ourselves and the part we play in breaking yokes and building families, (the physical and spiritual family of God).
Linda J
Writing in the Year of Our Lord 2019
Day 4 of the Church Fast