February 2, 2017

Greetings My Friend, Recently I have talked with several of my closest friends and felt the support of my online friends. I have also interacted with a few of my church friends and I keep coming back to "The body of Christ" or the church. I admit to thinking for far too long as being in the church to mean only in a building of believers and associating only them as the body of Christ. I was told often enough that we are the body of the larger church but I could not grasp the "larger body" in my thoughts. Since moving from Michigan 8 years ago though I find the body of the church in many of my social interactions and I am comforted. The church of Jesus is not one particular denomination but believers in Jesus only. I find that in the body at large we all connect because of the joy we have in fellowship with Jesus more than the doctrinal issues that tend to divide us. I am not Catholic although I find great comfort in their ritual ways of worship. When I see the sign of the cross being made it makes me stop and reflect. Every few years I buy myself a new cross to wear and sometimes I buy the crucifix with the body of Jesus on the cross. As a Presbyterian first and now a Baptist we worship the risen Christ so we generally wear the cross without Jesus on it. To be honest the body of Jesus reminds me of all that He endured to cleanse me of my sins. I am grateful as well for the empty cross. My friend Marilyn is Catholic and we walk in the grateful faith of on Savior for all of our sins. We talk freely, openly and often about the grace we have been given. I do this with many other friends as well. Some people I know are stuck only on their particular church's doctrine. I find myself desiring to be in relationship with all believers who follow the Word of God more than the doctrines of man. Some of my on line friends are disabled and I appreciate their fellowship of sharing and caring. I know for a fact we are not all of the same denomination but again we come together in Jesus loving and serving each other. At this moment in time I am a Baptist and I am enjoying the way I am being fed in the Word at our church. My Presbyterian background has many differences in the way we worshiped and I felt for a long time that I could not worship weekly without saying the Lord's Prayer or having communion monthly. Time has shown me these way of worshiping are good but they are not the only way to be immersed in the life of Jesus. Our Baptist church has communion throughout the year and I can't remember ever saying the Lord's Prayer in worship. I often say this prayer when I am in a crisis mode and can't think of words to pray. I repeat the prayer over and over until I settle down so I am grateful I learned the prayer as a young child and said it most of my adult life. Now though I see it is my personal walk with Jesus that matters. Another thing the church at large and God's Word is teaching me to open my heart to what I hear God saying to me. God is not looking at my outward appearances but at my heart felt walk. This heart lesson helps me to look at other people's hearts more and less at their outward appearances. I am learning to see if their words match their actions. The more I learn to do this the easier it is for me to relate my faith journey alongside of another. Sometimes we talk about a struggle we have and we are able to share what we have learned. Sometimes we give a hug and we "know." Linda and I have know each other for decades. I no longer see her at my church in Michigan but we are on line friends and we "know" as we read about each others lives on line. I feel I have a connection to my past with her and we have finally found peace in a healthy relationship and I love her like a sister in the Lord. One more thought is Ellen posted a picture of her Mom and Dad recently from the church I grew up in and attended as an adult for many years. Those pictures took me down memory lane and I was grateful for that as well. The church is the building but it goes far beyond that building. Sometimes going back brings back happy moments and moving forward takes us out unhealthy lifestyles. All that truly worship Jesus are the entire body of Christ. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet