Fellowship Archives -

“In Order To Bloom….”

Keeping with the “April Showers Brings May Flowers” theme, I know you know that in order to bloom properly, flowers needs to be properly watered, fertilized, weeded, and, oh, yeah, plenty of sunshine….

So, if you and I are going to bloom and be a wonderful fragrance for Jesus, we, too, need to be properly watered, fertilized, weeded, and get plenty of Sonshine….

Too little or too much water or fertilizer will either dry us out or not be sufficient, or it will flood us or burn us up. We need just the right amount of the Word (Eph. 5:26) to water and fertilize us…

Next comes the weeding. I personally weed my flowerbeds daily and no less than four or five times a week. Likewise, I find that daily confession keeps my soul’s flowerbed clear of any “weeds” that will suck my water, fertilizer (attention and development, etc.) from me. Some may go days without weeding (i.e. confessing their sins; and much to say about establish weeds and their root systems, but this is for another blog), and they will find that these weeds are stealing essential nutrients from their soul—beyond the physical and emotional drain….

And are we getting plenty of Sonshine? I have to be intentional here, too. Not just reading the Word, but fellowshipping with others who shine for Jesus. The Word shines a bright light on my soul and my brothers and sisters are both sonshine and water, refreshing me and correcting me on my Journey with Jesus.

Is your “flowerbed” helping you to bloom?

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”—Ephesians 3:16–19 (NIV84)

In the Hope of Healthy Flowerbeds for blooming,

Pastor Mike

“Love & Kindness”

“¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” (Romans 12:11–13 NIV84).

As the cold of Winter turns to cool of Spring, it foreshadows the warm and hot of Summer. Spiritually, as we move from the cold and cool of our spiritual walk with Jesus to warm and hot, let us be ignited on by the above passage. Let our spiritual fervor be ignited as we serve the Lord, especially through hospitality. By Initiating, but not Imposing, our service to others, it will make us a warmly welcoming and winsome community, a family.

Hospitality first starts with each other and then extends to those the Lord allows visit. We lend first a listening ear to clearly hear their needs and the reasons for visiting. Then we offer any assistance to meet the expressed needs, even directing them to someone who can, while ultimately directing them to Jesus.

Let us keep our spiritual passion by serving the Lord through serving each other, and those whom the Lord brings across our path.

³²All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. ³³With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. ³⁴There were no needy persons among them. (Acts 4:32–34 NIV94).

Peace,

Pastor Mike

PS–Perhaps my Book, A Call to Repentance & Restoration, will help you ignite your passion for Jesus. Get your copy at the follow sites:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-call-to-repentance-restoration-michael-l-rossmann/1140372126?ean=9781662831676

“We’re All We Got, Baby?”

Date: 07-12-15

My Thoughts:

Why is Christian community so important, and why did our Master really stress it during the Last Supper? In short, we’re all we got—so Love one another. He makes this very, very clear in John 15:18-20 that, “…If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. …”(v. 19). The world is going to hate us at some point on our journey with Jesus, and one method will be by luring us with its pleasures and treasures. Jesus warns us of this in Luke, “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature” (8:14). Yes, one of the ways the world will hate us is by offering us our heart’s desires! This will be a counterfeit, to be sure, but a really good one at that….

In these pleasures and treasures we may find a false sense of self-reliance and self-security—even fellowship.And yet our fellowship with the saints slowly fades away as we get more and more involved in the pleasures of this world. And, according to Jesus, this, too, is hate….

The gathered body of believers in humble community is the only place where we can be told the truth in Love (Eph. 4:15), air our dirty laundry and be forgiven (James 5:16), and know our backs are covered and not stabbed (Romans 12:9-18). Or is it?

What are your thoughts on this? Are the other places believers can go to have these, and many more blessings? Or is the church community truly the only place we ought to have this?

Care to share?

Main Text: — Acts 2:42-44 — ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. [NIV84]

Additional Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. — John 16:33 (NIV84)

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. — John 13:34-35 (NIV84)

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. — John 15:13 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father, open my eyes to the profound nature of the community Your Son paid the ultimate price for. By Your Mercy & Grace and in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike