Yesterday evening, the sun was warm as we gathered on my brother’s porch.  We had come for a specific reason, one predetermined a few days earlier.  Each one of us came directly from work, and mom came from directly across the street.  Therefore, each one of us were still dressed in our ‘work’ clothing.

As I arrived on the scene, several were already present, most in fact, but one sibling remained, so I was not last, but just in time.  See the scene play out in your mind.

• The driveway was filled with vehicles.  Deja vu is an eerie feeling.  I had experienced this sensation twice before, and truly, none of us wished to return—there—to a drive filled with cars because of a death in the family.
• The front porch was filled with people, and the community neighbors noticed.
• The clothing worn by those present were the same garments chosen earlier that morning, for the purpose of our careers.

The purpose for our congregating was to gather to pray.

Yesterday, as we gathered on my brother’s porch, we had come to pray.

• One sibling was absent, having dad-duty at home with his family, for his children and wife needed him there.  “I will stop by and speak to Ron,” he had texted earlier in the day.
• Two brothers-in-law were absent, having promised others to come to church to help with a construction project.
• Most children and grandchildren were absent, but one daughter-in-law and her child were there with us, yesterday, as we gathered to pray.

As I stood there with my mom & my siblings, fully aware of God’s presence, it was easy to be thankful.  As God’s beautiful sunshine warmed the afternoon day, my heart was so filled with emotion, with gratefulness, with joy.

Thank You, Lord, for Clothing Us from the Inside-Out—with YOU!

Thank You, Lord, for Clothing Us from the Inside-Out—with YOUR AMAZING GRACE!

Thank You, Lord, for Giving to me a heritage of faith—in YOU!

Maybe you might be wondering—WHY?

• WHY HAD THIS GROUP OF SIBLINGS & SPOUSES PREDETERMINED & GATHERED TO PRAY?
• WHY HAD THIS FAMILY GATHERED DIRECTLY AFTER WORK, THERE ON ONE OF THE SIBLING’S PORCH?
• WHY HAD THESE CHRISTIANS GATHERED TOGETHER?

The answer is & was so simple.

We gathered to pray.

We desired to call out to God, the Great Physician, as our brother, our brother-in-Christ, faced a stressful heart health issue.

When the early “disciples were first called Christians in Antioch,” it was first given as a derogatory term, as a nickname the unbelievers thought would bring shame.

“Little Christs.”

These early followers of Christ lived out their faith.

• The world of the lost saw them behaving Christlike.
• The unbelievers heard them speak the Gospel.
• Their neighbors saw them behave and serve as the hands and feet of Jesus.  They identified as Christians or “little Christs” because that’s exactly WHO THEY FOLLOWED WITH ALL THEIR HEART—JESUS CHRIST!

When we arise each morning, we, who believe, belong to God.

When we leave for work, we, who have received God’s gift of salvation, remain God’s children.

When we are called to pray, we, who know how Jesus saves, are to lift our hands and hearts, calling upon the Great Physician.

When we, the family of God, are together, we are called to be—

• Serving others, rather than ourselves.
• Doing as the Holy Spirit leads, rather than doing as we please.
• Going and telling the world that Jesus Saves, rather than silently walking through life.
• Praying in faith, rather than wringing our hands in worry.

& also

• Loving others as Jesus taught us to love, rather than being indifferent to the needs of our neighbors.

In doing so, we are fulfilling God’s Great Commission.

As we do all this that we have been commissioned (commanded) to do, then the Bible tells us how we are to be clothed.

• Today, as we are leaving for our new day of work, may we pause to place upon us the garments of our faith that Jesus has enabled us to wear.
• Today, may we walk in faithfulness.

Thank You, Lord, for Clothing Us!

While we cannot always understand God’s plan for our lives, we can trust He has us here for a reason?  Therefore, we must ask ourselves:

• What does my heart long for?
• What am I grateful for?  Thankful for?

Our God is Eternal.

His Word is Eternal.

God Exists—the Alpha, the Omega, the Ancient of Days.

• God was!
• God is!
• God will always be!

Thank You, God, for clothing us (Your children, Your disciples, the ‘little Christs’) in Your robe of righteousness, all because of Your Son Jesus.

• Thank You, God, for saving us.
• Thank You, God, for leading my siblings—to know YOU as Savior & Lord.
• Thank You, God, for leading my friends—to know YOU as Savior & Lord.
• Thank You, God for giving to us a future, a HOPE—in YOU!

Help us, Lord, to never forget—what You have done for us on Calvary’s cross!

Lead us, Lord, to live in such a way as to lead others to you.

Lead us, Father, to live daily—for YOU!