fellowshipWORKS

Bonus Two Devotion

Bonus Day

“THE LEAST OF THESE”

By Jonathan Benedetti

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor…  (Luke 4:18)

When you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!  (Matthew 25:40)

Jesus often surrounded and identified Himself with those who most people would call “the least” - tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, fisherman, children - many without a place in society, and many without hope.  As an extension of His body, we are called to do the same.

There’s a great mission statement found in the words of the poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty:  “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

May we be a house of hope and light to the huddled masses of our community and our world.  May we embody the compassion and care of Christ to the poor, the orphan, the widow, the single mother, the immigrant, the homeless, the hungry, the handicapped, the prisoner, the afflicted, the addicted, the weary, the lonely, the broken, the downtrodden, the oppressed, and the marginalized.  

And may we always know that whenever we serve them, we are serving Christ Himself.

Bonus One Devotional

Bonus Day

TO WHOM SHALL I ESPECIALLY DO GOOD?

By Rodney Symes

Galatians 6:10 NIV  “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Who is my neighbor?  To whom am I supposed to do good?  Jesus answered these questions by telling the story of “THE GOOD SAMARITAN”.  He wants us to know that we are to do good to all people.  The Good Samaritan delayed his journey, rendered aid to a man he did not know, and took him to an inn for care.  His actions thus far would be praised by his fellow man.  He had done his duty.

The SECOND Great Commandment of Jesus takes our “normal duty” to others to a higher level.  Let’s call it our “love duty”.  It tells us to love others as ourselves and to treat others as we would like for them to treat us.  The Good Samaritan went well beyond normal duty by making full provision for the wounded man’s care and recovery.

This parable illustrates that our Heavenly Father wants us to do good to all people, as we have opportunity, not limited by friendship or acquaintance.  Still, there is more.  He ESPECIALLY wants us to do good to those who belong to the family of believers.  As a church, as a family of believers, our responsibility to each other is placed upon us by God.  The Bible simply says, “Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal 6:2 NIV

A word of encouragement?  An earnest prayer?  A kind deed?  A shared moment?  A helping hand?  A material gift?  A gift of money?  A gift of time?  “Tough love”?  The opportunities are many, and we must rely upon the Holy Spirit for appropriate, loving, Christian responses.  Let us prayerfully do our part.  We are assured that the Holy Spirit will do His.

Day 20 Devotion

Day 20

UNITY – WHERE THE BLESSING RESIDES

By Linda Dieter

Psalm 133:1   “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together…”

This is a truth we truly need to grasp in these days.  It is not just outwardly agreeing, but must come from deep within.  Unity will shield us from the attempts of our adversary to “divide and conquer.”  I have discovered a beautiful Scripture that gives us a picture of what this type of unity is within our leadership in the body of Christ. 

Colossians 2:5 (Amplified)  “For though I am away from you in body I am with you in Spirit, delighted at the sight of your (standing shoulder to shoulder in such) orderly array and the firmness and solid front and steadfastness of your faith in Christ (that leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness).”

In the days of the Roman army, their greatest protection was the formation they stood in—-shoulder to shoulder, like a fortress, each linked to the next, impenetrable.  No space was left open for the enemy to get at their backs.  

As the leaders in the body of Christ stand shoulder to shoulder, they will protect one another and be a protection to that body of Christ they are watching over.  What if the body caught that vision and learned to stand in this kind of unity themselves? 

“United we stand, divided we fall.”

Day 19 Devotion

Day 19

SHOOTING THE SAINTS

By Susan Forsgard

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with a blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (I Peter 3:8-9 NIV)

This is written about the time in history when the English and French were at war in colonial Canada.  Admiral Phipps, in charge of the British Fleet, was ordered to anchor outside Quebec, a city on the St. Lawrence River.  

He was to await the coming of the British infantry and then join the land forces in attack.

Arriving early, Admiral Phipps, an ardent nonconformist, was annoyed by the statues of the saints that adorned the roof and towers of the Catholic cathedral.  So he spent his time shooting at them with the ships’ guns.  How many he hit we don’t know, but history recorded that when the infantry arrived and the signal was given for attack, the admiral found himself out of ammunition.  He had used it for shooting out the saints!

I often wonder in the church how much of our efforts are poured into fighting amongst ourselves over insignificant trivialities instead of uniting our efforts to attack the REAL enemy.

Day 18 Devotion

Day 18

KOINONIA

By Jonathan Benedetti

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.  (John 13:35)

Most people that I have talked to who have come to TCF have expressed a similar sentiment: they felt welcomed, 

valued and loved.  My family experienced this first-hand.  From the first Sunday we visited, we felt that irresistible fellowship that just flowed from the people here.  And even though much has changed over the years, that genuine love continues to be part of our DNA as a church.

There is a Greek word that I think best describes this phenomenon: koinonia.  It means fellowship or communion, in the context of sharing lives.  It’s not just casual acquaintance or friendship, but deep, meaningful communion that comes from our mutual connection to Christ and our affection for one another.  It’s doing life together.

I am so thankful for TCF.  I am thankful for the genuine bond that we have as a body, and I am thankful that I get to be a part of it.  May God continue to knit our hearts together, as well as stretch out our tent stakes, so that many more can experience this blessed joy of authentic community.

Day 17 Devotion

Day 17

A COMMUNITY OF FAITH, LOVE, & HOPE

By Lauralynn Wagner

There is a church in California that describes itself this way:  “A community of faith, love, and hope.”  I love that because I think it perfectly sums up what the church as a body should look like, and what people outside the church are looking for us to be.

Church should be a true community. The word itself infers communion with one another, intimacy in relationships.  Community is about being involved in each other’s lives in a meaningful way, sharing one another’s burdens and 

successes outside the four walls of the church.

Church is a place of faith.  Faith in a reality beyond what we can see or touch.  Faith in a real and personal God who created us for loving intimacy with Him.  And faith that when we cannot see His hand at work, we can trust His heart.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 NIV  Ultimately, church is defined by love.  Love for one another, for the unlovable, for the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten.  We are the hands and feet of the compassionate Christ.

If nowhere else, church must be the place where hope is found for all…rich and poor, young and old, strong and weak.  Christ described us as a city on a hill…a light in a darkened world.  This Gospel we proclaim says that not only is there hope beyond this life, but that God is as work here and now…and through Him, change can come. 

All of these were the qualities I was seeking and found at TCF.  So may we continue to grow in our communion with each other.  May our faith deepen in the Lover of our soul. May we always be known by our love.  And may our hope shine and break forth like the dawn.

Day 16 Devotion

Day 16

HOW IS MY SPIRITUAL DRESS? OR WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR?

By Linda Dieter

Col. 3:12—14  “Clothe yourselves therefore as God’s own chosen ones, purified, holy and well-beloved by God Himself…”

Put on the garment of tenderhearted pity and mercy.  This is challenging us as to how we handle unpleasant circumstances.  Are we quick to judge, or do we reach out in true tenderness and mercy?  “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.”  Mercy is real compassion, possible only with hearts full of love for all people as Jesus was.  We must be true to our own convictions and not be influenced by how others view the situation.  Paul exhorts us to answer to our own conscience.  

Clothe yourselves in kind feeling.  Think how healing it is to our emotions when someone has been kind to us.  Oh, if we would truly do unto others as we would have them do unto us.  Our Father asks this of us.  Another piece of clothing – a lowly opinion of ourselves, true humility.  Let Jesus be the One to reveal our goodness, not ourselves.  After all, any goodness comes from Him and not from us.  

The next piece of clothing speaks volumes to me.  Be patient, be tireless and long-suffering.  If we do this, we will have the power to endure whatever comes (with good temper).  That good temper is what I must focus on.  Clothe yourselves with gentleness.  Picture how you hold a newborn baby or care for a child with a fresh hurt.  Put on forgiveness.  Be quick to forgive and do it from the heart.  

Lastly and most importantly, put on love.  I encourage you to ponder I Corinthians 13:  4 – 7, checking how much of your flesh is still on the throne.  What if we did this spiritual dress daily?  Would we not be that light of Jesus in a dark world?  Would we not be helping to give hope to a hurting world?  Talk about attracting others!

Day 15 Devotion

Day 15

WHY DO WE STRUGGLE?

By Sara Cotton

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

Many of us have our struggles and face our challenges.  But why do we as humans face these challenges? If our God is so just and loving, why does He put His people through the pain they face?  The Bible offers many explanations as to why man faces these everyday struggles.

Suffering can come as a form of punishment from God.  Galatians 6:7 Says:  Do not be fooled, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  In other words, whatever actions a person takes, he will face the consequences.  Granted, we do not know what the result will be from every decision we make, but the Bible tells us, if we make bad decisions, bad results are to follow.  God is in full control of what goes on in each of our lives and knows how the results of our decisions will play out.  Each and every one of us is different and God knows how we will respond to different situations.

Suffering can be a revelation from God.  In John 9:1-3, Jesus and the disciples passed by a man that had been blind from birth.  Jesus said that it was not because of sin that this man was blind, but so that he could be healed experience the power of God.  Sometimes suffering can make us realize that God is what is missing from our lives and while we are at our lowest point, He can be revealed to us.  

Because of suffering many feel abandoned by God.  Many have felt that God has left them behind because of the pain they have faced throughout their lifetime, but this is far from the case.  God says “I WILL NOT FAIL YOU OR FORSAKE YOU.”  This message is emphasized multiple times in the Bible because it is the absolute truth.  Even though we can’t see or touch Him, God is with us always.  

The Promise.  Some of Jesus’ final words to His disciples are a promise. And they’re our promise, too.  “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Are you struggling with an addiction?  “I have overcome the world.”

Do you have a terminal disease?  “I have overcome the world.”

Does life have too many temptations that cause you to stumble and fall every day? “I have overcome the world.”

As you go throughout your day, remember this promise.  Are you facing an obstacle? Remember, Jesus has overcome, ALL.  If we are true to Him and His word and seek the Lord in our time of despair, He is with us, and the challenge can be overcome. He makes that possible, not us! When we blindly think we overcome anything on our own without Him, we are sadly deceived. It’s all because of JESUS! 

Day 14 Devotion

Day 14

FAITHFULNESS

By Kirk Beason

“Many a man proclaims his own loving-kindness and goodness, but a faithful man who can find?  Proverbs 20:6

This verse begs a question.  Is the writer (presumably Solomon) having a hard time finding a faithful man?  There is a sense of concern and frustration in his voice.  Apparently in this setting, many people have touted their own love and goodness, but Solomon sees no fruit to validate their claims.  In a world filled with breached contracts, quick fixes, and satisfaction guarantees, we have lost an understanding of what it means to be truly faithful.  God loves faithfulness.  After all, He is the true definition of faithfulness, isn’t He?  

“…the Lord, who remains faithful forever.”  Psalm 146:6b In Proverbs 3:3, we are exhorted to: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

To be faithful in anything almost always involves discomfort and a level of sacrifice.  Sometimes the discomfort and sacrifice are more than we would willingly sign up for.  “Follow-through” is a term that is often used to coach a golf swing or a baseball swing, but this term also applies to our lives.  Once the Lord calls us into something, there is a measure of follow-through, or faithfulness, required on our part.  It is tempting to take the first few steps and then when things get tough or a little messy, to back off and throw in the towel.

To tie in to the theme of fellowship, this is specifically applicable to our relationships.  “Fellowship WORKS” better when we are faithful in our relationships.  Faithfulness in relationships is often displayed in the following ways:  returning phone calls and emails, following through with the commitments you’ve made (e.g. be true to your word), providing a listening ear, and initiating with those whom the Lord brings to mind.  Ask the Lord to increase your faithfulness to the people that He has placed in your life.  Resolve to pursue Him above everything else and the rest will come naturally.

Day 13 Devotion

Day 13

BACKYARD THOUGHTS

By Tasha Gaines

Lying on my back on the grass, looking up, I see an umbrella canopy of haphazardly placed tree branches.  Blue sky is hard to find.  Each branch has a chosen number of leaves.  Each leaf is intricate in its detail.  The gentlest breeze causes them to dance and spin.  Some leaves look neon green or translucent from the sun.  

If God cares so much about the details of a leaf – how many are on each branch, where the branches are placed on the tree, the root system under the tree – how much more does He care about our fears, finances, and our futures.  All the thought and creativity He put into all the species of fish, the variety of trees, crazy beautiful sunsets, the tingly tartness of cranberries, the smell of rain, the odd look of flamingos, or the coldness of snow.  He doesn’t even desire a relationship with any of these creations.  He wants to be a part of and cares about our lives.  He made all these things for us to enjoy and yet still, He wants to give us more.  

Lord, help me to truly see you today. When I read your Holy Word, look at your creations in nature, or see hurting and dying people.  Remind me, Father, that I am significant to you and that you have a plan for my life, that is more than I could imagine.