House church
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I’ve been there! I met Clarence Larsen at a writer’s conference several years ago. He appeared lonely and uncertain, and I reached out to him, because I’ve been there. We developed a lasting friendship, as witness his being with us this evening. What a blessing for me!
Last summer, Clarence met Cole at a writer’s conference. Cole’s a teenager, just beginning to write. Clarence, thinking, I’ve been there, took time to befriend him.
Cole emailed Clarence later to thank him for taking an interest in his writing, saying he was eager to see Clarence’s book when it’s done. Clearly Clarence has become a role model for this young man, and the friendship is inspiring the boy to write more regularly.
Clarence thought, I’ve been there, and forwarded Cole’s email to me, pointing out that I fill that mentor role in his life.
I thought, hey, I’ve been there and forwarded the correspondence to Sandy, my writing mentor and encourager. She was there for me at my first writing conference; without her support, I’m sure I would have given up. I reminded Sandy of this, and added that she therefore “gets credit” for Clarence’s writing, and for Cole’s.
Sandy responded immediately. She had been depressed and discouraged, and the email helped her get back on her emotional feet again. She’d thought her writing and ministry were useless; now she saw how far her influence is reaching. And I thought, again, yeah, I’ve been there.
And I sent the whole collection of notes (Cole’s to Clarence, Clarence’s to me, mine to Sandy, Sandy’s to me) back to Clarence, so he would know how powerful his kind note had turned out to be.
Where are you this evening?
lonely?
afraid?
loved?
uncertain?
valued?
bored?
tired?
excited?
worried?
…
Wherever you are, Jesus says, I’ve been there.
Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
He’s been there! He’s been here!
And John 1:16 reminds us: From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.
One of those blessings is participating in Communion, because God doesn’t leave us alone; He gives us other people. And together we join in remembering that Jesus died and rose again to rescue us from this world and its problems, so we can be salt and light in this world with its problems.
The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
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Posts
Braden Wild
We thank You, Lord, from A to Z!
Kite poems
Thanksgiving acrostic
Clothing
Forgiveness …
Forgiveness
Where’s my focus?
Really Living Life
Remembering
Support group
ShareFest
I’ve been there!
Reality
Our Relational God
Hungry?
Communion and birthdays
Communion meditation on prayer
Spring holidays
Jesus’ love language?
Remembering
Remember …
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