"Therefore come out from themI was reading this last night when I had my quiet time, and it made me start to think about how sweet fellowship is.Personally, I am a bit frustrated with not being able to get together with other people as I used to. I guess it is a part of the sacrifice of paying bills and having to work, but in all honesty, it is not as necessary as one would think.When I lost my job in May, Amy and I discussed an emergency/school budget that would basically trim everything we spend money on and at the same time, take into consideration that my income will not be steady and as much. This isn't all true. The last two payday deposits exceeded my take home income from Hacienda. Take into consideration I am working more with less stress, and my quality of life dollars ($QL) are through the roof, but is it really?
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you."
"I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1
One of the things I love about the industry I work, I can have time to spend with others, talk to them and make sure they are doing well spiritually. Obviously, working seven days with five nights, time is precious, and I put an absolute premium on spending time with my wife at my side. Going back to $QL, if I were to only measure it based on time at work, then it is truly high, but take into consideration the fact my friends, if they choose to, have to read this blog in order to keep up on my life, then it could be said $QL is about equal or less than what I was making. Depending on what you put at a premium, what is sacrificed and the cost you put on each, then $QL will be affected.
Which brings me to fellowship, because I love being able to talk to others and spend time plugging in and following up on what God is doing other Disciples' lives, I have a hard time with only making it to church once a week. I guess, this is pretty usual for some one like myself. I remember I had a roommate who was home sick all day, and we bugged him to go to a devotional. He came in deathly ill, but left refreshed, swearing that fellowship is the cure to the common cold. I don't know if you can scientifically prove this, but I believe it is true. The other day at church, in our dash to the car, we didn't leave the building until 1:00 pm. Both Amy and I had to talk to a few people, so it kept us there longer, but the longer we were there, the more we enjoyed our time at church. Some say, church has changed in the past few months, I think it did, not in what is said or done but the openness of heart to accept those changes.
We spend that time with others, trying to detoxify ourselves from the influences of the world. I know for me, I face it day in and day out with my jobs. Sometimes I feel like I'm there to show them the light, other times I think I'm towing the line between being in the light or dark, because of the people I work with lack the conviction to be righteous. I have to constantly ask God to help me put my cross up in front of me. It is important to realize God is our almighty and the judge of what is right and wrong. The reminder and the effort to rid myself of what this world has to offer is only bolstered by keeping in the fellowship. So, I am counting the days until I go to school I'm looking forward to just days and only a few nights. There is a big difference in my life when I can fellowship and offer myself to others as one who is prepared to serve in the way I know how.
