Never Alone

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."-Matthew 18:20

At one of our Bible studies, we found, as we often do, ourselves wandering off and taking turns sharing and venting. As we finally began our time of study and discussion, we found that we weren't really so far off track. In fact, a lot of what we had been sharing was being addressed in our lesson that night.

As we closed that night, we all acknowledged that our time together had not been coincidental. In fact, we all felt that it was very much intentional! The Spirit worked in and out and through our gathering that night. he worked in our very hearts. What a privilege and blessing it was for me to have been a part of that experience with those ladies! And at another gathering, we found ourselves taking turns sharing our joys, sorrows, and frustrations. We spent hours in the shelter of our group of Christian women.

So many thimes I have left our meetings uplifted and less burdened. So many times I have felt that our group is exactly what God wants for us, his children: the fellowship found only when we gather in His name. there is a peace that cannot be found anywhere else. There is a comfort within our hearts and fulfillment in our souls. This is what God wants; this is what the Scripture tells us. That sense of peace, comfort, and fulfillment comes from the Holy Spirit, God with us. This reminded me of a new favorite song, "Shelter", by Jars of Clay.

"Shelter"
To all who are looking down
Holding onto hearts still breaking
For those who've yet to find it
The place is near where love is moving
Cast off the robes you're wearing
Set aside the names that you've been given
may this place of rest in the fold of your journey
Bind you to hope
You will never walk alone

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (Never walk alone)
We will live
We will live (Your arms are all around us)

If our hearts are turned to stone
There is hope we know the rocks will cry out
And the tears aren't ours alone
Let them fall into the hands that hold us
Come away from where you're hiding
Set aside the lies that you've been living
May this place of rest in the fold of your journey
Bind you to hope
We will never walk alone

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In the shelter)
We will live
We will live (You will never walk alone)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In Your arms are all around us)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In Your arms are all around us)

If there is any peace
If there is any war
We must all believe
Our lives are not our own
We all belong
God has given us each other
And we will never walk alone

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (We will never walk alone)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In the shelter)

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (Your arms are all around us)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In Your arms are all around us)

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In Your arms are all around us)
In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (In Your arms are all around us)

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live
(In the shelter of each other we will never walk alone - never walk alone)

Imagine the life we could have if we would live each day in the promise of His presence where two or more are gathered in His name. If we surround ourselves with fellow Christians, the joys can be beyond measure. What a gift we could be to one another. We will never walk alone as long as we have each other. and we will all be surrounded by the embrace of our Heavenly Father.

Sometimes I need a pick me up and find myself down and out. Then God places someone in my path. Some days it's a friend, others, it's a total stranger. But always I know that I have been in the presence of the Lord. We should be aware that we may sometimes be the person placed in someone's path.

God can use us for His work as long as we are willing. We must be open to let the Spirit work within us so that we can share God's love with others. We are His instruments. He has given us each other so that we will never be alone. That was His design.

Imagine a shelter: a cabin or a hut or a dug-out, etc. A shelter's purpose is to offer protection. To view the fellowship of Christians as a shelter is a powerful image. It means that in those fellowships we are protected--we find peace, hope, joy, comfort, and rest. We were designed with the purpose of being there for one another. Our Father does not wish for us to be alone. Alone, we are left unprotected, weary, restless, afraid, and down-hearted.

As Christians, we need our times of study and Christian fellowship just as much as we need air to breathe. The more we surround ourselves with each other, the more the Holy Spirit moves in, around, and through us. It is a joy beyond measure and a peace beyond words that i receive when I gather in His name with others. As I close, I am reminded of a saying someone once shared with me:

Shared joys are double joys.
Share sorrows are half sorrows.

This was truly god's plan for us--we were never meant to be alone. As long as we believe and continue to gather in His name, we will NEVER be alone!