Tuesday Mornings with . . .

I can’t remember when it started, but it has to be five or six years ago. One of the doctors that I work with and another co-worker go to the Northwoods Vineyard Church here in our town. They asked their pastor if he could join them in starting a Bible study at the clinic where we work. Tuesday mornings at seven was the chosen time.

I maybe wake up fairly early every morning, but I really don’t like talking to anyone or even seeing anyone for at least a couple hours after crawling out of bed. I used to be quite the grouch at work when I first arrived. But I knew that God would get me through those Tuesday mornings and that I would learn to be a morning person.

I still can’t say I’m a morning person, and though I can smile and converse, I can’t honestly say that I think too deeply. But I have managed to make it to Bible Study many Tuesday mornings.

We have gone through five or six books of the Bible and studied three or four other books on living the Christian life. The group has fluctuated over the years, averaging from four to ten people. Many people have come and gone as their schedules and other outside factors have come along. It seems that when someone drops out there is always someone else who starts coming.

We open and close each week with prayer and the discussion in between often veers from the book we are supposedly studying. If anyone has a particular need, we will spend the time encouraging them and praying with them. Or we might spend an entire hour on one Bible verse or even one word. It never fails to amaze me how rich the Bible is, each verse, each word means something. Definitely a book which the writer should study for writing tips.

But that’s not the real reason I included a thank you to this group in the acknowledgements of my book. It is a rare thing in this society to be able to openly share your faith with others and even more rare to share your fears and doubts. The members of our Bible Study have supported me and strengthened my faith more than words can say. I’ve been reminded through that group, time and time again, that God is always near.

 Thank you, guys, and thank you God, for bringing us all together.

Gather up your flowers

 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 

Matthew 18:20 New International Version

Friday afternoon, my husband and I went to the greenhouse and bought the usual tomato plants and pansies. I thought this gerbera daisy was too pretty to pass up, even though I didn’t know where I would put him.

Then yesterday, we were at Home Depot and they had a whole bunch of gerbera daisies that looked so good together. The picture does not do it justice, because I was hurrying, fearing that store security would catch me and tell me that I couldn’t take pictures.

So, I had to buy some more of these cute little flowers.

Sometimes, as a Christian, I think I can do it alone, I don’t need to go to church, be with all those people. I read my Bible, I write an inspirational blog for Pete’s sake! I try to be kind to others, keep the commandments, etc., so sometimes I think that I don’t know the company of other Christians.

Just like these flowers, though, we need to stay connected with other believers. And not only for looks; we need the strength, knowledge and support that they can give us.

Wish my little gerberas luck!

How do they know we are Christians?

I had pretty much made up my mind that I would travel to Ayacucho, Peru, in April of 2009, with Cross Cultural Solutions. I had one reservation (besides the cost!). CCS sounded like a great organization, but they were not a Christian organization, this wouldn't be a mission trip, this was strictly a volunteer trip. Then one Saturday night in church, we sang this song.

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord

And we pray that all unity may one day be restored

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love

They will know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side

We will work with each other, we will work side by side

And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride

They will know we are Christians by our love

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand

And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love

(They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love, written by Peter Scholtes, 1968)

I guess that answered that question.