Faint Not!

…This kind of brings me to my next question which is regarding fellowship. I haven’t been to the institutional church for about 2 months (my parents have been going to the catholic church, so they don’t make me go) and although i do not at all feel i should go back to church, it’s really hard to find any fellowship. Got any suggestions? I feel a bit like i’m in the desert at the moment. I don’t really know how to answer people; such as a friend of mine who questioned me last night about fellowship, and voiced her concerns about me ‘forsaking the gathering together of the brethren’!!!! (meaning the institutional church… : )) I would love to hear any thoughts you have to offer about this, if you’ve got a moment. Thank you heaps,

love in Him…

Hi! Yes, I definitely understand the challenge of this season for you and so many……. But, it will be worth it if you “faint not!” Don’t give in to those criticisms. There was a “season” with the “Ethiopian Eunuch,” if you remember, where he went back to Ethiopia as THE ONLY CHRISTIAN ON THE ENTIRE CONTINENT OF AFRICA! Wow! Did HE ever “forsake the assembly”? He had never even been to ONE in his entire life! But, GOD ordained it that way, for him, for that one part of his life. Ethiopia later became the most amazing place anywhere on earth (along with Jerusalem and Antioch), during his lifetime we assume, since it was not long after he met Philip and “went on his way rejoicing”—alone, back to pagan Ethiopia. All of that to say, don’t give in to the pressure to join into things that only are “half-breeds” that talk the language of the Bible but don’t LOOK like the Bible (Acts 2:42-47) in obedience, and daily quality of Life for 100% of the “Church,” and self-sacrifice and love. Acts 2:42-47 was very VISIBLE, not theoretical. “And THIS is HOW all men will know you’re My Disciples,” Jesus said in John 13. It’s worth looking and praying and working for! Don’t “put your hand to the plow and look back,” but keep your heart and vision strong and unwavering in Him. (Rom.4) And do try to wear out others around you……give to these guys! Find them, serve them, love them…it’s far more important than college or anything else! ANYWAY, don’t lose heart or vision, Sister! It will be good. Lay down your life, “cast your bread upon the water,” and watch the Portholes of Father’s Mansion pour out to you. It will cost you everything, but who wants a DISCOUNT version of the Pearl of Great Price anyway??!!

In His Love,

4/4/2001