The Little Church

Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a little church that was lonely. Try as it might, day and night, the little church reached out to those it thought would respond to the call of joy and love. However, there was a voice heard over the call of the joy and the love. A voice so strong that it drowned out the love and the joy the little church wanted to share. It was the voice of hate and gloom. Many people were confused by the voice. They said, "Your god doesn't exist, and anyway the voice said god hates us."

The little church cried over the thought that anyone would think that God could possibly hate anyone. Because the little church KNEW that God loves EVERYONE the same, no matter what. That knowing God loves them sets them free from guilt and pain. That knowing the kind of love God gives them is pure and comforting. They KNEW that even the faith the little church has, is given to them by God. What a blessing to share with people that love and joy.

But the voice of hate and gloom is so loud that the people could only hear it. So the little church was sad because the people would not come to hear about the joy and the love.

One day there was a breakthrough of light and they grew miraculously. They grew fast and large and they rejoiced for all the people who had come to hear about the joy and the love of God for them. They worshiped and praised God and miracles continued to happen for the little church for a long time. They thought that their little days were over and they would be known as the big church, instead of the little church.

But then IT happened.

IT carried away the little church to a different place. A place the little church had not wanted to go, but were afraid to say they didn't want to go there. And so they were led away and the little church changed to something it didn't want to be. And the people left the little church because they said,"I want to go and be where I can feel the joy and love again." The little church said, "Wait, don't go. Don't leave me. I want to change back to the joy and love we had. But I can't do it without YOU." But it was too late. The change had come and the people left the little church, so that it really was little and lonely again.

Well, the little church was not about to give up and just let the voice of hate and gloom win! So the little church went back to the joy and the love of God. They prayed and they prayed that someone would come and give them new life. God answered their prayers and sent someone with the joy and the love in their hearts. They helped the little church see that the little church could still be that calm and rational love and joy for all who would come to see the little church.

The little church still wages the war over the voice. And try as the little church might, it still struggles with the idea that people think God is not real or that God does not love them. The little church wants to be big and grownup. Eating from the meat of the Living Word. Drinking from the Fountain of Living Water. And singing praises for the joy and the love God gives them.

The little church needs you to be a part of the love. It cannot survive without you. God wants you to KNOW how much the joy and the love can be a help to you in your life on earth. The little church knows that it cannot give up being with each other in fellowship of our spirits and sharing in the knowledge of the joy and the love. Because if it gave up the hope it has for life in the future, the people of the little church would be so sad and even more lonely then it was when it first started out.

There is a different voice that calls out to you. As one crying in the wilderness (wild-ness) of this crazy fast paced world. That voice is the one you feel in your heart that tells you, "Please come to see Me." It is the voice that draws you to the little church. It is that voice that wants you to KNOW how much you are loved. It is the voice of compassion for those who are rejected and dejected. The voice of comfort for those who need to hear they are important to God. That same voice you heard or hear that says, "I Am. And I am real." This is the voice of joy and love. The One. The Only. It calls to you, and you want to answer, but you don't know how.

Come to the little church and feel the joy and the love God has for you. The little church knows you hear it. You can't deny it. You know it! Give up the past and bitterness from the other voice that drew you away from God. The voice of hate and gloom does not want you to go to the little church. It will fight with your heart and your spirit. You will wage your own war over the voice. "For we fight a war of powers and principals." And we must not let the voice of hate and gloom win! Come fight the good fight with the little church. Help it to grow again and realize the possibilities for the future of people everywhere to KNOW in their hearts the joy and the love God has for them. "Do not forsake the fellowshipping of one another."

Give the little church a chance to love you!
Come and worship with them.
God does love you!