We are a Devoted Family

Over the past few years, my wife and I have become driven to do what we can to help marriages. Too often we see or hear of marriages that have fallen apart due to a lack of devotion. There are several components that make up a good marriage. However, some of those components can be put under the umbrella of devotion. Devotion does not quit. Devotion does not look elsewhere. Devotion says "I will stand by you".

A church family must be devoted to each other, including the staff. As we are a family. We are to be laughing, sharing, and healing with each other. Your view of family may be that of "getting out when the times are tough". That would be unfortunate because that is not what the church was set up to be. Ephesians 4:3-6 helps us remember how we are to be unified despite the odds. (See the bottom of the blog for those verses) Yesterday, we took a look at the concept of devotion and here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Ask God to help you to remember your church family more often - not letting it just be at meeting times.
2. Invite someone in your church family to join you/your family for a meal or a fun activity.
3. Send a card from your family to another family in the church.
4. Send a card to or call any visitors you've had lately.
5. Go and see someone in your church who is in the hospital.
6. Send a text to any teens in your church family that have text messaging (that is the most common way they communicate now - you can even send a text message from a mobile company's website for free, but you have to know who that person's carrier is)

Though the people in the church may be separated by lifestyles, let us be as connected as possible by utilizing the utilities we have at our disposal - prayer, electronics, postal service, etc.!

Staying Devoted...

Ephesians 4:3-6: 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (NIV)