Gathering

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true. -Martin Luther's Small Catachism, The Creed, The Third Article

Yesterday was Pentecost.  In his sermon, Pastor Chad reminded us of what the Holy Spirit does for us:  He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies.  Have you ever thought about the ways in which the Holy Spirit does those things in your life?

Something Chad said got me thinking about this yesterday.  He was talking about "gathers" and he said, "Do you think you all are here all by your own will?... No, it is the Holy Spirit who gathered you here today."

I think this is even more true when it comes to other Christian gatherings.  When we do a Via de Cristo weekend, it always amazes me of how each area  - kitchen, outside, chapel, etc. - are filled with just the right people to do the job in their own way for this unique group of people attending the weekend.  Every weekend is different and every team is made up of a different team.  I've served in the kitchen several times and each time has been very different and each time the "personality" of the kitchen is especially suited the "personality" of those we came to serve.  Coincidence or God-incident?

Small groups are particularly sensitive to the gathering of the Holy Spirit.  What keeps 5 women meeting at 7:30 in the morning every week for years?  It must be the Holy Spirit!  There have been times when I would just as soon sleep in a little extra, but have felt that "gathering call" of the Spirit and went anyway... only to find that someone needed the benefit of something I could contribute or often and even more surprisingly, I unexpectedly benefited from something one of my sisters in Christ had to say and either way... I end up being so glad I got out of bed that early.  Coincidence or God-incident?

Once a month I attend a prayer group that prays for our whole church family by name.  This one meets after I have already spent 8 hours at church at work, so I'm usually not really eager to go back in the evening.  But I am ALWAYS so blessed to have gone.  Praying for others is one of the most rewarding ministries and I am grouped with a couple of women I don't get to see personally much any more and we get to catch up with one another as well.  And again... I find that one of us generally needs the council or wisdom from another of us in the group.  Coincidence or God-incident?

Like anything else God does for us, we are not forced.  The Holy Spirit does not force us to gather, but gently nudges us.  I wonder what we miss out on when we ignore those nudges?   We miss those God-incidences that are often created just for us.  How many more blessings would we receive?  How much more smoothly would our lives go?  ...if we would just heed the gatherings of the Holy Spirit?

Holy Spirit,
Help us to heed your nudges to gather so that we may bless and be blessed.  Amen.

Joys:  Shrimp tacos; summer fruit; morning coffee ready when I wake up