I STAND IN HIS PRESENCE AMAZED........FBC it is
Friday night I met up with a lot of my friends that went to school with me or church with me. Many I had not seen in such a long time. They were all playing on a community softball team and so we went to support. We all live different places now and go to different churches...so my heart was so excited to be all back together again. Here are just a few pics from the night.......
all these are pre-death of camera....so they are fuzzy
Chels trying to stay off the blog hahahahahahah
Kristy on first and ready like a champ
Amy and I cheering ha!
Anyway, this is not the point of my post. My point is that on the way home I could not help but think of the great time we had over dessert and the game and eating and sharing updates. I went home that night and emailed a friend to just get my excitement out! I HAVE BEEN SO HUNGRY FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST!My soul needed fellowship with believers. I needed to be around people that I didn't have to make small talk with, you know. Visiting churches now for awhile is taking a toll on my fellowship love tank. I left there with the realisation that "THIS.......WHAT I JUST EXPERIENCED...THE FULLNESS OF DOING LIFE WITH OTHERS THAT LOVE YOU LORD.....IS WHAT CHURCH IS ALL ABOUT!" I got home that night and could hardly sleep. I had such a renewed hunger to get back out there and find a church home, make friends here in this town, and start building new fellowship!
SOooooooooooo......
this morning i woke up bright and early with great excitement to go back to FBC and attend sunday school. I laid in bed and just prayed for His eyes this morning. That He would give me eyes of compassion and eyes that could see beyond things. Does that make sense.....that He would give me discernment with my vision.
I arrived and walked into the welcome center where a lady went to speak to me but out of nowhere the pastor and his wife were standing in front of me. I have no doubt in my mind that this was a Divine Appointment. They then gave me all the time in the world to just talk with them about me and what I am looking for in a church. I had there undivided attention and never once felt like they were in a hurry to get somewhere else. I was able to ask them questions and just had such peace while I talked with them. Now, I can talk to anyone...i am not a shy person...but to me it felt like I had known them forever. The pastor then walked me to the sunday school class where he introduced me and stayed with me awhile while they checked me in. I was just blown away by it all.
The singles class had about 20 in it.....PRAISE, PRAISE...and they were all so laid back and wonderful. The teacher did a great job and I even felt comfortable enough to share my thoughts on the scripture we were reading...ANOTHER PRAISE! by the way.....his sunday school lesson just so happened to be over FELLOWSHIP.........yes fellowship....and i instantly thought to myself..."Oh Lord, you are up to something in this place"!!!!!!!!! Then it was big church time and they all sit together, which i like, and the pastor actually gave a way better sermon than all the other ones I have heard from him........ANOTHER PRAISE! They finally have a new music minister and the mix between hymns and praise songs almost shattered the stained glass windows.....THERE WAS SOME SERIOUS WORSHIPPING GOIN ON IN THERE......ANOTHER PRAISE!
When it was all over I was getting my stuff together and the Pastor came and sought me out to see if I had enjoyed visiting. I told my parents today that there is nothing like being sought after. NOTHING! All you married out there know....nothing like being sought after by the man you ended up marrying...just makes you feel like a million bucks! I felt like that today! I felt like Father answered so many of my questions in a matter of 3 hours. He knows that I have to have a connection with my church pastor and staff....He knows that is so important to me. So He set up time for me to get to know them. It just seemed like everything fell into place.
Joy. Joy restored is what I feel right now at 3.46 in the afternoon. I have not had an easy time these last couple of months spiritually. You know..you've read the posts. He has been pruning me and changing me and working me. To the point that my joy has been lacking.....but I also like the pruning because I want to be different. I also know that He knows best. BEST FOR ME! That this time of preparation was for my upcoming assignments. Today I know without a shadow of a doubt that He has spoken and shown me the direction of the next few steps in this story. I will join there. I will commit to this church. I will commit my tithes and offerings, my time, my service............and I will commit to building relationships through fellowship. I will give of myself because HE HAS CALLED US TO DO SO! WE ARE HIS CHURCH...WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER AS A UNITED BODY!
"I stand in his presence amazed, and crown him with worship and praise. HOLY IS HE, HOLY IS HE, HOLY IS HE'...Oh Father you know that is one of my favorite songs and when the choir started to sing it today..I felt like you said "This is your new home". Every step I took today was planned by you before the foundation of the universe. I LIFT MY VOICE TO YOU FOR ANSWERING MY PRAYERS. I LIFT MY HANDS TO YOU FOR YOU ARE WORTHY OF ALL MY PRAISE. You hear, you listen, you seek after, you answer, you provide, you protect, and YOU OVERFLOW!
WHO IS LIKE MY GOD? nobody!!!!!!