My drive back home from Maine last Saturday reminded me that New England is, by far, one of the most beautiful places to be during the month of September. Secretly, a few trees in my backyard have been shedding for about two weeks. I guess they were eager.
Soon, the whole lawn will be littered with colorful leaves varying in shades of crimson, mustard, and fiery orange. We will light the fire pit, laugh over s’mores while we huddle around the deck in hoodies. Chili will bubble in a large pot on the stove. In the oven, cornbread will rise in a cast iron pot.
These will all be the signs that Fall is falling…
This Fall, I’m thinking a lot about fellowship. I’m thinking about what it means to join together with another woman and experience the change in season. Not just the change in season physically, but the change of season in our lives. Over soup or pumpkin spiced lattes, I am deciding to be more intentional because if I can share a little bit of Fall with some of my favorite women and even some new women in my life, I’m sure it will spread joy. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Our spiritual walk with God should naturally draw us into fellowship (defined as: friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests) with other believers, especially other women. God never intended us to be withdrawn. I believe that most women, including myself at one point, have withdrawn from the fellowship of other women because of pain from our past. We must heal those hurts and move deeper into friendship and fellowship with others.
Let’s take the time this Fall to fall INTO fellowship with God and with other women. Your warmth and encouragement could be exactly what’s needed to heal a heart, give an extra helping of hope or bring love to someone too afraid to ask for it.
Traditionally, as a community of women, we’ve worked through To Be Praised Bible studies once a week, every Wednesday. We’re almost two years into this thing and I want to start a new trend. (two years, I know!!) I’m giving myself grace and less pressure to create content and I’m giving you all grace to read and reflect. We will start our new series in October and the devotionals will be sent via email and posted here every OTHER week. You’ll still receive them on Wednesdays.
In the meantime, share this post with women who may be interested in Falling into Fellowship!! Ask them to sign up for the bi-weekly devotionals by using their email address and adding their information in the infobox on the home page.
God bless you and remember, “a woman who fears the Lord is To Be Praised” !!! (Proverbs 31:30)
#FallingintoFellowship
#tobepraised