Life Here and There

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Series: GOOD TIMES

Passage: 1 Peter 1:17-25

ONE GREAT TRUTH: In spite of the difficulties of our times, we can celebrate the principle of “family” within our homes and our churches – we all belong!

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Nobody is closer to me than my wife and daughter, whom the church which I attend could never replace. But I remember Rick Warren talking about how we should be “doing life together” with our church family because we’re really preparing to live with them as family for all of eternity. Today reminded me of what it means to be a church family.

First, a friend in our church brought me a baseball and an 8×10 photo autographed by Ozzie Smith! Harold knew I loved baseball, so he went out of his way at work last week to get to the table where “the Wizard” was signing and he had me on his mind. That’s family!

Then, we worshipped together. We’ve gone to two services, which has worked out well – our overall attendance has actually jumped considerably. But today, we combined into one service and had to put out some chairs to contain the crowd. The children’s choir sang for us and then we all had lunch together in our gym. So we ate together, which is a very emotionally connecting activity. Eating together… praising God together… that’s family!

And in our evening service, we shared testimonies of thanksgiving. Many of us cried, we laughed, and we rejoiced that God has carried us through great growth and many changes in the last year and has bound us together as brothers and sisters on the same side.

God has surrounded my family with a great church family that acts like family, and I love them!! I praise God for them, and I’m thankful, so thankful that I get to spend eternity with such wonderful people!