Blessed with the Best

Since I’ve been confined to my home through this pandemic, I’ve come to realize all I have right now is TIME! How crazy is that, because at one time I didn’t have time to do or finish what I started and now, I have all the time in the world. So now I take the time to reflect on what once was and what I value most in life and besides God, it’s my family! All I’m left with is the memories of days gone by. My heart breaks each day when I can no longer have fun with them and give them hugs. I thank God for each one of them and miss them lots. And I’m certainly blessed with the best family…

However, with all that being said, there is another family I value as well and miss a lot too, it’s my church family. I must say I am blessed with the best and I feel inspired to share in this note my reasons why…but first I want to tell my story of how it all started…

When my husband and I purchased a home in 2018, we knew we needed to find a good church where we could worship and fellowship together with other believers. In the past I’ve always been attracted to large congregations and there was a big church I had plans to try out. But something happened one day as my husband and I were shopping, I bumped into a pastor I hadn’t seen in years. I mentioned we were looking for a church in the area and he told us that he was the pastor of Bethel in town and he would love for us to visit. So that Sunday we decided to go. I loved the atmosphere and people were very friendly and I also liked the pastor  whom I’ve known for years. But I didn’t want my emotions to lead me and attend for that reason, so I set it aside. During the service, they had time for testimonies and that was cool and of course I quickly jumped up and thanked God for my husband that I had waited for years, had finally arrived. Everything was nice and we liked the service, but we still weren’t sure if Bethel was the place for us. After it was over we stopped in at the grocery store and met up with a lady from the church.We talked briefly and she said, “I enjoyed your testimony and I’m a single mom praying for a husband and I hope you come back.”

Her words right at that moment confirmed in my heart and Andrew’s, that’s where the Lord wanted us, and we’ve been attending ever since. Bethel is a smaller church, but I certainly have learned over the last couple of years that it’s not about a big fancy church with the best of equipment and padded pews. Churches are just a building, a place to gather together but within those four walls I’ve discovered precious and priceless treasures, that money cannot buy.  One is a jewel of love and togetherness as we dwell together in unity. It’s a bond that goes beyond material things in building a church, instead we build each other up spiritually, and in other ways as well.  There is a spiritual richness we share that’s like a taste of heaven, if I may use that expression. There is a jewel of peace and freedom in God’s presence as we worship together, which is most valuable to me, more costly than gold and after worship there’s a time of fellowship we share as we encourage each other, but it isn’t just turning around and welcome with a handshake, it goes deeper than that. The Pastor gives us about 5-8 minutes to get out of our pews to greet one another with hugs, we chat and laugh together and at times the worship leader plays his violin walking up the aisle and some of us jump and dance holding hands and we say we’ll be dancing together in heaven one day. We quickly make our rounds trying not to miss anybody, but sometimes we unmistakably do. What a priceless jewel of joy fills the sanctuary in those moments and it’s like we are ready to take wings and fly. Now when I look back I only wish I had taken a video so I could watch our fellowship times of fun and laughter and praising God. And the icing on the cake is the sermons that our Pastor preaches which are Spirit driven. Life doesn’t get any better than that, in fellowship with one another. As I pondered some more, I remembered our discussion in how to raise money for new carpet and paint for the church. I must admit I really disliked the colours of the walls and believe me, at the time if I had the money to pay for the full price of the work, I would have done it. But now I feel much different and I’d give anything to go back and settle with the old carpet and walls, just to fellowship with my church family again. The Lord has enlightened my heart to see beyond the building to the richness inside I once had, and I thank God for what He’s shown me. I valued my church family before, but now I certainly value them much more……I also love bible study because we not only learn from the Pastor but we also learn from each other and there is a bonding that is taking place and even in our prayer times on Friday nights, the Lord is moving by His Spirit in each one of us. I believe He is weaving us close knit together to fulfill His purpose in and through us as the body of Christ, to shine and light up the world for His glory!

I’m not saying our church is perfect by no means, but we are blessed to dwell together in unity as the scripture says in Psalm 133:1 “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” That’s exciting because that is exactly what’s happening and it so good and so pleasing and pleasant, and I can’t wait for the next opportunity to fellowship there again. And with the Spirit of God first and foremost I can see as we flow in the Spirit in unity with each other, we will use our different gifts God has given us to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God. He has no limits and can do greater than we could ever ask or think.  As I write this, Psalm 90 verse 17 and chapter 92 verse 4, is my prayer…

Let Your beauty O Lord be upon us and establish the work of our hands, Yes establish the work of our hands. You Lord will make us glad through Your work and we will triumph in the work of Your hands. Lord our hands are Your hands, and we will work together according to Your plan. And we will give You all honour and praise. Amen and Amen

I’ve learned it’s not about the size of church and large congregations because where two or more are gathered He is there. And I’ve proved His word to be true for in  Proverbs 16 verse 9 and “A woman’s heart, plans her way, but the Lord directs her steps.” So, you see my heart’s plan didn’t work because the Lord directed my steps on a different path from mine and I’m so glad He did!! Praise God and I say thank You Jesus for all You have done and yet will do. Love & Blessings, Jan

Note: I use the NKJV in most of my writing and I personalize quite a bit as well. You will notice I changed the gender of the verse from man to woman in Proverbs 16:9 so it speaks to me directly in a personal way.

© PassionateHeartLFH