I woke up this morning with something on my heart I have to share. And, by no coincidence but because of the will of God to impress upon me the urgency to write this today, one of my devotionals was on point with the very same topic I felt so compelled to talk about.

Church. Oh no, I said THAT word! I used to think it wasn’t much more than another social club and, for many years, that’s how I treated it. I saw no real value it in so I would show up on Sunday morning, say hi to a few folks, sit down for service, leave afterwards and repeat the process the following week. I just went through the motions. Then I left the church for several years, although I always felt the call to return. And when I did in 2019, I was blessed to learn that church is so much more than the social gatherings before/after worship and those amazing pot lucks with all the delicious food. (Side note: we should be having more of those!) Church, or a better description would be a faith or church community, is there for mutual support and care throughout our lives. The community is there during corporate worship, where we lift each other up with prayer and singing of Psalms and hymns. They are there for support during the week when things start to go wrong. They are there when you need a friend. A church family is so much more than socializing and good food.

So here it is. And I say this with a sincere heart, wanting everyone to know what I know. If you’ve gotten this far, if anything I just said, even in the most minuscule way, moved you, if it, in any way, touched you, I want to encourage you to find a church this weekend and go! See for yourself what I’m talking about. I promise if you find a God-honoring, faithful church community, you will not regret it! And if you need help finding one, email me. I am happy to assist.

I’ll leave you with this…

The writer of Hebrews says in verses 10:19-25, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” 🙏🏻

שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם