I felt so very blessed at church this last Sunday. Some friends were in town and we had some time to spend with them. Their names are Patrick and Sondra. Pat works for Les Schwab Tire Co., and he just recently became an assistant manager and had to move to Redding, Ca. to take the position. They don't have kids yet, but they have only been married for 3 years I think. I didn't realize how much I missed hanging out with them until we got to spend some time with them yesterday. We really had a good laugh because they live (if I am thinking right) about 45 minutes north of San Francisco, and it is always raining there! LOL They are both Native Washatonians, and were thinking they were going to become California tanned beauties! LOL Sondra said that is has been sunnier here in the past few days they have been up to visit than it has been since they moved there! I had to laugh at that one :) The whole day reminded me of how important fellowship is. I want more than the surfacy hello in the foyer on Sunday morning. I really long to build some strong relationships with some families that might have everything in common with my fam or, like Pat and Sondra, have much of nothing in common with us except fo their love for the Lord. I want to have gatherings and get togethers, and be able to invite my unsaved neighbor or my dh's unsaved or backslidden co worker and his family to join in the fun so that they can taste and see that the Lord (and His followers) are good. Fun. Alive. Enjoying life. And that we have something to offer them! I want them to see me and want what the Lord gave to me because they are drawn to what they see in me= Jesus! And then I want them to ask the Lord for what they see that we as Christians have in the Lord. AM I making sense here!? LOL I hunger for fellowship within the body, but also want to be able to draw others who are not saved or who have walked away from the Lord to Him and into that fellowship.
SO here is my prayer this day: that we as Christians would seize opportunities to build relationships with other Christians, but not forget to use those reatioships as a way to witness and minister to the unsaved.
God bless your week!
In Him, Niki 8-)