“…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-21)
My friend and I have been attending a local church for quite a while now. We love the pastor and his message (and the message delivered by others in the church when he’s not around). What we don’t love is that many of the people attending seem to be rather guarded and holding back. So we’ve struggled with attending. We go and try to lift God up in praise and song but come home feeling only half full.
This past weekend we decided to try a new church. There were two that we wanted to look at and weren’t sure which one to try. We mentally tossed a coin and went to a local Assembly of God service. The church is small (maybe 30 or so people attending). I’ve never attended a service like this one. People were praising God out loud, lifting their voices in prayer and song. It was rather overwhelming. It was like drinking from the fire hydrant instead of the sips through a straw that we received at the other church we’ve been attending. This former Lutheran didn’t quite know what to make of it!
That being said, it was wonderful. I’ve not felt the presence of God so strongly with a congregation like that before. I felt it one on one, yes. But never in a group setting. I felt something like it when the church band at our regular church sang the song “We Believe” by the Newsboys and most of the congregation stood and raised their hands in praise as we sang. But this was almost non-stop GOD for 2 hours.
I’m thinking even if we decide it’s not the church for us, it’s exactly the church I needed yesterday. That is something I am incredibly grateful for.
See, I messed up this weekend. My ability to put my foot in my mouth is legendary and I did it in a spectacularly horrid way. Being me, I’ve spent quite a lot of time beating myself up about it – and if you know me, you know I’ll be beating myself up for a while. (Gah, when will I learn to just shut up?) Even through that big mistake I continue to rest in the knowledge that God is amazing. I may not be perfect but God loves me. I may make mistakes but God works to help me see them, learn from them, and do my best to change that behavior. That time on Sunday with the congregation of that church has helped me face myself and this difficult Monday with joy – even through my tears and self-recrimination.
Dear God thank you for reminding me that raising our voices in praise and song with others who love you is one of the most amazing feelings in the world. Thank you also for helping me remember that even with my flaws I’m still your daughter, you love me, and there is no greater blessing than that. Amen.