Corona Devo 1305

Can you make out this picture?  

It's us.  

Or--it's how God wants us to be.  

Side-by-side.  Connected in spirit...but also in physical location and bond.  Together.  

Not alone. 

I saw these birds all gathered on a wire the other day and I wanted to gather.  I rarely feel more filled than when I make time/find/time/purpose time to gather with others.  We were meant to do life in the company of others, so why don't we get a date on the calendar to do so?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, (25) not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  ~Hebrews 10:24-25  

I was blessed to have coffee and some sweets with friends yesterday morning.  Different women, different walks, different struggles, different victories, but we're all birds on the same wire and what a privilege, blessing and encouragement to be together with them!  

Just connecting with them and hearing their anecdotes, examples, triumphs and flops spurred  me on toward love and good deeds.  It encouraged me, and reminded me not to go so long in between doing it again: not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.  

No, we don't want to be in that habit, but we often fall into it.  The busy habit.  The "maybe tomorrow" habit.  The "when life slows down" habit.  All of those are habits in giving up meeting together, and they are bad habits.

But the opposite of postponing, missing, and not-meeting is meeting together.  Perching on the same wire for a while.  Sharing life and experiencing community.  The blessing of meeting together is deep and reviving, which is why God calls us (in his Word) to it.

~~~

Meeting together is difficult, you say.  Frustrating, when people are different than us, you say.  Limiting, when we don't see eye to eye on certain things, you say.

But God say(s)--get on the wire next to other birds anyway.  

He has a plan and a purpose in our gathering and if we will take care of the meeting--He will take care of the binding.  

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.  ~Colossians 3:14  

~~~

It's amazing to rejoice with others in our joy.  The accomplishments of our kids, the all-clear from the doctor, the finding-my-purpose-in-Christ.  Rejoice with someone in person today.  Rejoice with those who rejoice... (Romans 12:15).

But of equal mass and value is the weight of worth found in having friends to cry with.  To sit-in-sorrow with.  To lament to and sit-in-silence with.  Mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15).

And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance.  (56) Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.  ~Matthew 27:55-56  

These women came together to watch and receive the horrible fate of their Savior together.  They sat on the wire side-by-side as the man who had taught them, seen them and saved them was crucified and killed.  

There is no greater comfort in the prison of sorrow and hardship than company.  God knows that and it's why He gave us each other.  Reach out to someone who needs you today.

~~~

It was coffee yesterday morning, then it was working with a team for an event yesterday afternoon, and finally it was priceless time with family last night.  All different birds, but all on the same wire.

Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  ~Hebrews 10:25  

Don't give up meeting together.  Keep meeting.  Keep connecting.  Keep landing next to someone else on the wire and seeing how they are doing and how we can come alongside.  Keep sitting silently in support of someone when quiet is required--quiet but present.  Keep meeting and watch what God does.  In us.  In them.  In lives and in people lighting-up for Jesus, because someone did not give up meeting together with them.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, (47) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  ~Acts 2:46-47  

~~~

A ton of birds sitting side-by-side on a wire?

That's us.  Or--it's how God wants us to be today.  

Set a date.  Text the invite.  Make the call.  Get side-by-side.  Get connected in spirit...but also in physical location and bond.  Get together today.  

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!  ~Psalm 133:1

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com