It’s hard when the enemy attacks from a spot you would not expect. You not only feel defeated but a bit stupid for not expecting it and not having your guard up and walking right into the trap. But God is bigger. God is stronger. Through Him we overcome.
We got up this morning with the yearning to go to church and worship with other believers. So we thought about going to the local Baptist church here in Ferris but we quickly realized that not only would we probably have to take the littles into the service with us, but also that we wouldn’t be staying in the service long. So we did some quick checking online and decided that Irving Bible Church was the place we wanted to go. So we kicked it in to high gear and got pancakes and sausage made, all the kids showered and dressed and ourselves showered and dressed and loaded the van for the hour trip.
Honestly, it felt weird driving up to a church we had never been to. We were a bit apprehensive that they would, indeed, find a spot for our special littles and that we would even be able to go to the service. We got there and there was no one at the welcome desk yet so we just piled on to a couple of couches and waiting about 30 minutes until the next shift started. When the welcome crew got there, we were welcomed warmly and were reassured that they would find just the right spot for all five of the littles. While I was filling out papers, Mary had gone to get something to drink so all the kids were left on the couches about 10 feet away. The Children’s Minister, who was obviously on the lookout for newbies, zeroed in on the kids and struck up conversation and talked to the littles, then came over to meet me and reassure me, again, that there was a place for the kids. A bit of the sparkle in his eyes left when I told him we were one time guests… but he was just as eager to make us feel welcome.
We got the kids situated and headed into the worship center where the service was beginning right on time. It was a bit odd to be on the congregation end of things for me, but it was also nice to be able to just be in God’s presence without worrying about any technical aspects of the service. It was REALLY nice, in fact.
The worship time was awesome… The band was great musically and really had a backseat to the presence of God. It was just right.
One of the songs we sang was “Forever Reign.” God really spoke to me in this song in several layers of my life. You can listen to the song below if you want.
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The sermon was from John 4 – the “Woman at the Well.”
Part of the sermon focussed on the fact that Jesus offers LIVING WATER from a beautiful, pure cistern. And it was juxtaposed against the fact
that we often go to our broken and gross old cistern to drink instead of relishing in the refreshing springs of our Lord Jesus. He used the metaphor that we keep our old cistern on hand so every now and then we can have a sip from it…thinking it will bring fulfillment or whatever…when all the while there is a pricelessly wonderful cistern at our disposal.
It was a great reminder to run to Him. That HIS love is more than enough. The nothing compares to Him.
We also sang “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” One of my favorites. The line that says “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above,” gets me every time. It’s a perfect textual description of who I am… who I am not… and who I want to be.
Blessing the Name of the Lord. Waiting on Him. Worshipping Him. Trying to be all that He wants us to be…and that He knows we CAN be through Him.