DEVOTION: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord, my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 94:1
Have you ever noticed how beautiful and big our church sanctuary is? The big huge cross towers over the wonderful altar that so often holds Christ's body and blood. The beautiful stained glass windows let in just enough light to show God's glory and power. Even the pews and their cushions welcome weary souls to come and listen to God's sweet word of grace and rest.
When we gather together there is even more beauty to behold. As our choir sings sweet melodies and harmonies we carried up to heaven for just a moment as their voices join the angels and saints in heaven. Then the congregation joins together to sing great hymns full of God's Word in praise back to Him for what he has done for us. Our ears are filled with God's Word both of law to chastise us for our sins and healing Gospel to fill our souls with rest in God's grace. Then we get to go up to the altar to receive nothing less than the real and true body and blood of Christ, but even on the way up we pass the baptismal font to remind us that we are washed and cleansed in and through it by the water and the Word. As we hear the benediction we are reminded that the God who loves us is always with us and will never leave us or forsake us.
I could go on and on. The question I constantly have is why would anyone want to keep himself or herself from such beauty, wonder and majesty? Why would someone choose another hour of sleep over true rest in God's Word and sacraments? Could it be that the sin in that person's life is having its way with him or her? Could it be that the world is pulling the wool over people's eyes and telling them that what the world has is more beautiful and enticing than what God Almighty has for them? Say it ain't so. Yet it is. And people are falling for it hook, line, and sinker. There's nothing that makes me more sad and discouraged than when people are neglecting worship.
Every time I go upstairs to the sanctuary I have to pause for just a moment, because I am always brought to the realization that I am in God's courts, in his dwelling place. I am truly brought to the realization that I am in his midst!
My prayer is that if you are neglecting God's holy house, you will realize what you are missing and get back into it. That you will put all the other stuff aside and take time to come into the real presence of Almighty God! Give up your selfishness, your bitterness, your tiredness, your busyness, your schedules, and everything else that is hindering you and come into the presence of God once again that he may refresh you and give you the grace you need to make it through your life.
Let us pray: Lord, make us to come into your courts with thanksgiving and praise so that you may fill us with what we need. Amen.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What was Thomas also called? (Hint: It's not the doubter or Doubting Thomas) Didymus (or the Twin) Good job Dianne and Sandy!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: What was Luke's regular day job?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
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Have you ever noticed how beautiful and big our church sanctuary is? The big huge cross towers over the wonderful altar that so often holds Christ's body and blood. The beautiful stained glass windows let in just enough light to show God's glory and power. Even the pews and their cushions welcome weary souls to come and listen to God's sweet word of grace and rest.
When we gather together there is even more beauty to behold. As our choir sings sweet melodies and harmonies we carried up to heaven for just a moment as their voices join the angels and saints in heaven. Then the congregation joins together to sing great hymns full of God's Word in praise back to Him for what he has done for us. Our ears are filled with God's Word both of law to chastise us for our sins and healing Gospel to fill our souls with rest in God's grace. Then we get to go up to the altar to receive nothing less than the real and true body and blood of Christ, but even on the way up we pass the baptismal font to remind us that we are washed and cleansed in and through it by the water and the Word. As we hear the benediction we are reminded that the God who loves us is always with us and will never leave us or forsake us.
I could go on and on. The question I constantly have is why would anyone want to keep himself or herself from such beauty, wonder and majesty? Why would someone choose another hour of sleep over true rest in God's Word and sacraments? Could it be that the sin in that person's life is having its way with him or her? Could it be that the world is pulling the wool over people's eyes and telling them that what the world has is more beautiful and enticing than what God Almighty has for them? Say it ain't so. Yet it is. And people are falling for it hook, line, and sinker. There's nothing that makes me more sad and discouraged than when people are neglecting worship.
Every time I go upstairs to the sanctuary I have to pause for just a moment, because I am always brought to the realization that I am in God's courts, in his dwelling place. I am truly brought to the realization that I am in his midst!
My prayer is that if you are neglecting God's holy house, you will realize what you are missing and get back into it. That you will put all the other stuff aside and take time to come into the real presence of Almighty God! Give up your selfishness, your bitterness, your tiredness, your busyness, your schedules, and everything else that is hindering you and come into the presence of God once again that he may refresh you and give you the grace you need to make it through your life.
Let us pray: Lord, make us to come into your courts with thanksgiving and praise so that you may fill us with what we need. Amen.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: What was Thomas also called? (Hint: It's not the doubter or Doubting Thomas) Didymus (or the Twin) Good job Dianne and Sandy!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: What was Luke's regular day job?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
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