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Verses for the Day:
Proverbs
17:22 (NKJ) "A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a
broken Spirit dries the bones."
The Empty Chair
Outside Looking In!
Please don't
be offended by the following letter.
I believe this situation can happen in any church and
I felt that the letter was worth putting on this site (not
as a rant) but as a way to make each one of us more
aware of others. It is so easy to stay in our comfort zones
with out even realizing that we are doing that. I realized
after reading this letter that I needed to get out of my
comfort zone and take a chance about meeting new people.
Since I determined to do this I have met so many wonderful
amazing people.
The
following is from a believer who is praying that this letter
will help bring unity and love for one another.
Dear Brother and Sister in Christ,
I have been with you in
your church services and for other events where refreshments
are served.
I have sat alone at a table while other tables have filled
up, then finally people have filled the table where I am.
Other times I have had people come up to the table and I
thought that they were going to join me or ask me to join
them, but no, I hear the request, “are you using this
chair”? They just wanted an extra chair to add to another
table so they could be with their friends.
I have
been through this scene before. Can you imagine how much
that hurts?
Am I that offensive? Am I invisible?
From the pulpit I hear messages speaking about loving one
another and calls for unity and oneness among those in the
church fellowship.
You already know your friends, are you not interested in
befriending other people and knowing more about them?
I will come back to your church functions, but I’m not sure
that that I want to. I’m not sure that I want to stay. Maybe
you can have my chair for someone that is more suitable to
add to your table.
I’m not giving you my
name or gender, that way when you see anyone that is alone
and left out, if you care, you will join them or go and
bring him or her into your group for fellowship.
Am I
hurt? Yes.
Am I lonely? Yes.
Am I not good enough for you? Only you can answer that
question!
I do hesitate to send this letter and I’m not sure who to
send it to.
In any
case I hope that whoever reads this letter won’t discard it
into the wastebasket, but will take this matter seriously
because this could be your church that I am referring to.
Could
this happen in your church? Does this happen in your Church
and in your fellowship functions?
Which one are you? Are you the one that is left out or are
you the one taking the empty chair so that you can crowd
around the table with your friends?
From an anonymous
Brother or Sister in Christ.
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| There are many ways to bring
healing into peoples life's and into the body of Christ. |
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There is Healing and Health Through Forgiveness
When someone has hurt us we think that they should be the ones to
ask our forgiveness. That would be the scriptural way but this isn’t always
what happens. It is then up to us to forgive them; (See Matthew 18:15-17.)
not forgiving others causes a
root of bitterness to grow within us.
When
we forgive we do it for ourselves not for others. Forgiveness brings us
spiritual, physical, and mental healing.
The hurts won't heal until we forgive! All of us, at some
point in our lives, have been hurt and wounded by the actions or words of
another person.
Choosing to forgive and release the offenders helps us to move forward. To
withhold forgiveness is a choice to continue to be the victim. The one who
forgives is the one that benefits the most from forgiveness.
Give
yourself the gift of forgiveness.
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There
would be far fewer misunderstandings if people would honestly
and openly communicate with one another.
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I feel this article by Erma Bombeck has a lot in it that everyone can
benefit from.
If I Had My Life To Live Over
(Written after she found out that she was dying of cancer)
by Erma Bombeck
If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened
more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained
and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much
less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his
youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day
because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted
in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass
stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more
while watching life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth
would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't
show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every
moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only
chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now
go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ...
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look
at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back.
© Erma Bombeck.
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