Fellowship

I never set out to blog to gain popularity (by becoming a star blogger), garner accolades or even earn money, but when I started this blog more than a year ago (first at sicarii.net then subsequently moving here recently), I’ve been blessed by the love and encouragement of many brothers- and sisters-in-Christ and this to me is more precious than silver and gold!

At this point, please allow me to go off on a tangent:

Yes, I know that my blog can sometimes be a little controversial and even start debates among brethren, but it has never been my intention to sow division among those who truly love the Lord. In case some of you are unaware, it does disturb me sometimes and many times I wonder, on hindsight, if I should have expressed such views on my blog. On the other hand, I don’t think I should restrain myself — these are issues that come to mind as I study God’s Word and I believe in sharing what I’ve learned (well, perhaps, a little too much at times).

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And we’d like to take the opportunity to thank a good brother, Daniel, for inviting Karen and I to to join him at his church — Convenant Evangelical Reformed Church — for worship and fellowship.

The sermon on Ezekiel 37 was quite good and I was very impressed with the welcome and the family atmosphere at the church, with special thanks going out to CC (sorry, Sir, I can’t fathom how to spell your name) and Elder John for the welcome, sister Kim for insisting that I get a book by Jonathan Edwards instead of her just because I remarked that it was good (believe me, I was chided afterwards for opening my big mouth, ha ha!), and of course, Daniel for the fellowship.

There are others whom I didn’t manage to get the names of, but who were so welcoming and made us feel so much at home, even insisting that we partake of lunch with them by serving us.

Thank you, brethren and sisters, for the welcome, your kindness and love.

Dan King at Bibledude.net tagged me for this rather interesting meme to list seven of my favorite blogs in various categories.

I must first apologize to Dan for being tardy with my response though, as I had initially planned to do this on 31 December like some kind of “Look Back…” program. Then again, I have already chosen a blog for each category, so there’s no point in delaying the post till the “appropriate” time.

As with most memes, let’s first state the rules up front:

1. Link back to Dan at management by God and BibleDude.net as the originator of this meme, and to the person that tagged you with it.
2. Pick one blog for each of the seven categories listed below. It is okay if others have selected the same blog for the same or different reasons. Just pick what your personal favorites are for each of the categories, link to their site, and briefly explain why you selected them.
3. Pick three other bloggers to pass this on to. I can be people that you’ve selected or not, but they are three people that you would like to see which sites they select.

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I love it when I come across music videos showing how all the people of the earth who love the Lord, though of different races and from different cultures but all of one voice, come to sing praises to Him and dance to celebrate His glory and majesty!

Here’s our meditation this Shabbat:

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Galatians 3:26-29

Hallelu et Adonai! Amen, and amen!

If you love Messianic praise music as much as I do, check out Ted Pearce, a former atheist who came to give his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and today composes and sings some of the most amazing Messianic praise music.

This Shabbat, I have learned of two prayer requests that I hope you will help bring to God our Father in your prayers.

Two of my dear sisters and a brother are facing trials in their lives right now, and they need all our help to bring their cares unto the Father in prayer.

I hope, that even if you don’t know them, that you include them in your prayers, for we are one body in Christ Jesus, and our prayers are like unto God a sweet incense when we pray together.

Michelle’s daughter Jacqui is terribly sick, and I know how much Jacqui is precious to Michelle and a blessing unto her. Shalene and Bobby are facing a difficult pregnancy; they have been so happy about this pregnancy but now there have been some uncertainties.

Lord God our Father,

We give praise unto you for you are God who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, the stars to shine, the sun to shine, and by your word everything came into being. You are Lord of all that is in the heavens, and on the earth, and in the sea.

You are Lord of our lives and your blessings and mercies are upon us each and every day even when we don’t deserve them. You are love, and righteousness, and mercy, and all that is good.

We thank you, Lord, for promising that all things work for good to those who love you. We thank you, Lord, for being our God, and though we never are always faithful unto you, that you are faithful, and just. For even the hairs of our heads are counted, because you are God that formed us and know our hearts.

Father, we bring unto you our prayers for Jacqui, Michelle’s precious daughter. Lord, you are the mighty God that formed her, and you are the loving God who gave Jacqui unto Michelle for a blessing and a joy.

Lord, you know how sick Jacqui is, and how worried Michelle is. Lord we lift our voices and pray that your comfort and peace, the peace that comes beyond understanding, come upon both daughter and mother. Lord, we pray earnestly that you heal Jacqui and restore the little girl her health.

Oh, Lord, we know how you love little children, and Lord you know how much Michelle loves her. Lord you know what our hearts desire even before we speak of them unto you, and we know you desire the best for us as our Loving Father.

Father, you are the God who heals, the God who comforts and the God who provides. We pray today for your healing upon Jacqui, and your comfort and provision unto Michelle and her household.

Father, we also bring unto you our prayers for Bobby and Shalene. Lord, you see how much they love each other and their family. For truly, through them we see your love for them and for us.

Lord, let your comfort and peace come upon them as they worry about this pregnancy. Lord, you know their hearts, and how happy and blessed they are that they have this pregnancy. Lord, you remember how Shalene was thanking you for gifting this unto her.

Therefore, Lord God our Father, we beseech you that you bless them with a successful pregnancy.

Your will be done, Oh Lord our God.

In Christ Jesus we pray,

Amen.

Some of my non-Christian friends have remarked that they don’t ever want to be Christians because they will turn into the most judgmental people on earth.

If someone does wrong according to the Word of God, many of us including myself can be, in the eyes of others, such nasty people who are quick to condemn and chastise, without thinking that we aren’t being good examples at all of God’s love and mercy, even unto us.

Just to sidetrack a little: Most times, when I am led to examine something in the Bible, I write them down and these then quite often become posts to remind myself of what I have learned.

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