The Blessing of “Gathering”
PEOPLE.
A most-favorite blessing.
A wonderful blessing God allows.
An opportunity to know another, to talk, to understand and learn.
A chance to meet someone new.
Why do we ever need to meet new individuals? Surely we have “gathered enough” already. Surely, have we not met “enough” PEOPLE!
Today, I find such joy in reading Acts: 16: 9-15. Acts of the Apostles—Think about the title of this book found within God’s Holy Word. ACTS of the Apostles. ACTIONS of those who “choose” to closely follow Jesus after His crucifixion, burial, resurrection, & ascension. THEIR ACTS that came about while they were continuing to live out their days here on earth. Amazingly, we who have accepted Christ as our Savior belong to God. WE BELONG TO GOD! Wow!!! Double & Triple & Quadruple—WOW!!!!
As a “person who belongs to God,” I find it quite incomprehensible that God allows us to live in our free will, that we are sanctified “as we walk with God’s Holy Spirit—as we go.” Along the path we walk each day, we discover opportunities to meet new people. Some people we meet and release, while there are others we meet and “gather” as they remain in our minds long after we part.
Last week, God gave me an amazing blessing to “meet and gather” new individuals. Even today, several hours past my encounter with these individuals, I find that these PEOPLE remain with me in my mind, in my heart-thoughts and in my mind. Consider with me the words found in Acts 16 of God’s Infallible Word.
“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’
When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis;
and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days.
And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, [a PERSON from Europe] a seller of purple fabrics, a worshipper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul [an Apostle].
And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us.”
(NASB—The Acts of the Apostles 16: 9-15)
Jesus held nothing back in His instructions and preparation.
Jesus promised eternal life within God’s presence.
Jesus promised the filling and in-dwelling of God’s Holy Spirit.
Jesus promised ultimate victory.
Jesus did not hide the truth. NEVER did Jesus hide the truth!
Jesus told His apostles “all this” so they would have peace found in Jesus.
Jesus told His apostles about the trials and sorrows they would face once He ascended back to heaven.
Jesus told His apostles to “take heart” because they had nothing to fear.
Jesus told His apostles to “take heart” because He had overcome the world.
Jesus tells us the same truth today.
Jesus tells His followers to “take heart” and to “walk worthy” and to “testify” to PEOPLE about HIM.
As we follow God, we allow our lives to be interrupted. Thank You God for the interruptions You provide. Last week, I carried a photo on my phone of my current prayer list, and at home, I left my notebook journal. I carried the photo, the names, the PEOPLE with me.
Then yesterday, on my first full day back home in America (since I returned from my journey), I found myself drawn to my prayer list, adding names, recording names of the PEOPLE God had led me to meet and to “gather.” Go with me to an airplane journey, and then to a backyard dinner party, and last, to an airplane journey home.
On the journey there, I sat next to first one man and then another—both military. The first one, a red-head kept his earbuds inside his ears (a clear exclaim to me to keep my talking to myself), so I did. I remained quiet. Imagine that! Then on the longer flight, I met a young man returning to his duty station in the Middle East. He had much to say, and I said little. As he chatted about where he was going and how long he would stay, and what he did for a living during his career with the Navy, I listened. We did not exchange names, and that’s okay because even today, I can see his face, hear his words, and smile. He is the PERSON God has given me to have met, and I am so thankful for his chatter as we sped through the clouds so high above the ground.
Then, after the landing, the dinner party time came, an opportunity to celebrate. While there, standing in the backyard, moving about, chatting with first this PERSON and then the next, God graciously allowed me to “gather” individuals—PEOPLE.
Yesterday, as I studied the names of missionaries, God impressed upon my heart to write down the names of the PEOPLE HE LED ME TO MEET.
PEOPLE after
PEOPLE after
PEOPLE after
PEOPLE.
Thank You Father for so many PEOPLE You always “gather” together. Always, You provide so many blessings.
Nineteen PEOPLE. Nineteen names of PEOPLE God led me to share time with during the dinner party, and God gave me time to listen, to share, talking together from 5pm to 4am.
At the dinner party, there were others, twenty-five others to be exact, but some people passed by with a passing “hi,” and that’s okay because God led me to the nineteen PEOPLE HE WISHED ME TO ENCOUNTER.
As the night became morning, these nineteen became a “gathering” in my heart.
We greeted one another throughout the night, and I began to sense the purpose of my journey. Weeks ago when she had called to “tell me something,” I knew I wanted to go. I knew how I wanted to attend her dinner party, but only for selfish reasons; I wanted to attend for me. Thank goodness, God always knows why HE is giving us opportunities to go, to journey, to BE HIS.
During the dinner party, as I mingled and stopped to speak at length with these nineteen PEOPLE, I began to sense WHY GOD BROUGHT ME THERE. It was not about me at all; It was about HIM—about GOD!
These nineteen PEOPLE: her childhood friends, her house roommates, her family members, her fraternity friends, her current housemates, and then—her travel mate for the next half a year—I could only praise God. Thank You Father for the peace YOU continually bring to my soul.
Yesterday morning, I wrote down these nineteen names—Again, I could only praise God. Thank You Father for the joy YOU continually bring to my being.
Then, on the plane (the 8+-hour journey across what I like to call “the pond”), God spoke to me as I sat quietly in my aisle seat. God led us to sit together; I do not believe in a coincidence. A man: one who was traveling to America for the first time, one who had many questions about faith and God, and one who now seems “closer” than just a flight-friend.
First we shared a movie, one he wanted to watch together. Then we began to talk, and six hours later, we were still talking. During dinner, we talked. During a few minutes of playing the Mind Teaser game, we talked. During our flight, we talked: about LIFE, & about RELATIONSHIPS, & about those we LOVED, & about CAREERS, & about our WORK, & about our LOVE of WORDS, & about what we enjoyed writing, & about my FAITH in GOD. He asked so many questions.
As I wrote down this man’s name on my prayer list—I could only praise God. Thank You Father for the way YOU continually prepare us for the PEOPLE YOU “gather” us to meet.
As believers, we are told to work at our salvation, to work after the salvation only God can provide through His Son Jesus, to do the work of God with diligence, to study His Word, to pray as we listen to Him speak, to develop our faith.
We do this work by allowing God into our day. Yes, that’s right. We walk with God. We talk with Him daily, and we listen to Him as He speaks. We grow closer and closer to Him.
As His Holy Spirit leads us to speak about our faith with PEOPLE He “gathers” to us, our relationship with God deepens.
As we study the Bible, and as we learn of Him, our relationship with God grows.
As we meditate upon His Word, carrying Him with us in our heart, our relationship with our Father develops a blessed richness.
As we witness to PEOPLE who ask us: Why do you believe as you do?, we can then search deep within us for the answer. Amazingly, the Holy Spirit of God provides the words He wishes for us to speak. Why do we believe as we do? The reason “WHY” we belong to God & the reason “WHY” we are so thankful He is ours is really quite beautiful. Jesus Christ is—Our Savior, Our Redeemer, Our Father, Our God, & Our LORD. Thank You. Thank YOU!
The Blessing of “Gathering” others to us is indescribable!
The Blessing of “Gathering” others to us is indescribable & unbelievable!
The Blessing of “Gathering” PEOPLE is indescribable & unbelievable & a gift from Almighty God.
Father,
Thank You. Thank You for bringing us to PEOPLE. Thank You for bringing PEOPLE to us. Thank You for providing us with the words to speak of YOU, for the opportunities to share with those who YOU have brought into our life-path. Thank you for “the gathering” only YOU can provide. Thank You God for the Bible where we find Your teachings & where we find Your words in red—[Jesus spoke these words to His Apostles] “He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (NASB—The Acts of the Apostles 1: 7-8)
May our time “gathering” together with PEOPLE not end this side of heaven but may we meet again—in heaven—where we will share eternity with YOU in YOUR PRESENCE.
Thank You God for the Blessing of “Your Gathering.”
Oh yes, Father, thank you so much for the “gathering” of PEOPLE You provide.
Let us do the work of an apostle, sharing with PEOPLE about YOU.
I pray, thanking You and asking these things in Jesus’ name.
Amen.