10-12-14 Day 15 of 40 Days of Fellowship- Mark 9:37

10/12- Sunday (New Theme: “FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD” Read LT- Chapter 3) Mark 9:37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Bonhoeffer: “Let him who cannot be alone beware of community.  He will only do harm to himself and to the community…But the reverse is also true: Let him who is not in community beware of being alone.”

Thoughts: A little child shall lead us.  Lead us where?  Children, for the most part, seem to have this innocence- an ability to trust and rely on others.  It is more than their having to be dependent that enables them to trust others.  It is not being scarred, jaded, and made careful that enables them to trust others- but also to trust God.  As we become hardened, we give up on trusting others but we also tend to give up on trusting God.  Children remind us of the need for that innocence and invite us back to faith just by their existence.  Too often churches only want to be for a certain age group- all old, all young, all middle but not inter-generational.  Sometimes populations- like at retirement areas are meant to be one generational.  But mostly we are called to learn from each generation- to learn patience.  Children can teach us to trust.  Older folks can teach us the wisdom of the Lord.  In the middle is energy and the strength of the church.  Together- as a family- as a fellowship we grow and please God.
    As we get older we get more and more busy and self-important. Our busy-ness gives us the illusion of control and strength.  But real purpose is not in productivity but in fulfilling God’s will- sometimes that may include facing our crosses with bravery and grace. 

Prayer: Help me to live like a little child.  To follow you in trust to and through my crosses.