Yesterday, I was suggesting it would be a blessing to attend church, even if it was inconvenient, even if it was raining (yes) or worse, and even when we could just as easily stay in jammies and livestream the service.
I was on guest services yesterday at our church. We set up our welcome table inside (it was windy and rainy) and set up an umbrella garden so people didn’t take dripping umbrellas inside, making floors slippery.
The service was awesome. We opened with “There is Joy in the House of the Lord!” and there was.Led by the Priaise and Worship Team, we could all feel the presence of the Lord and enjoy the larger than usual congregation. Maybe it was because on a rainy day there were fewer options. Then, the mighty “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” with orchestra and the group followed. Because we celebrated the Lord’s Supper, we recalled the incredible sacrifice of our Lord by Singing “Lamb of God,” and participating together as a people humbled by the knowledge that God loved us to much, he chose to redeem us through Christ. The message never gets old. Then Pastor Randy Pope guided us through another passage in Acts as we continue our “Transition” series. We are under construction, or our property is, and spiritually, we are praying our congregation through planning and building a new building. It also demands spiritual preparation as well. All in all, it was a day of highlights, and we were blessed to be there. And, as a sign of blessing as well, it was not raining when we left. So, we enjoyed God’s presence, congregating with His people, and finding strength and benediction to begin the next week, whatever it brings.
A career teacher, with forty years of teaching language arts/English, Betty Jackson enjoys wordsmithing, writing, and reading as a vocation and avocation.Retirement is her "age of frosting," a chance to pursue postponed hobbies with gusto. She especially sends kudos to the Space Coast Writers Guild members for their encouragement and advice. Her five books, It's a God Thing!, Job Loss: What's Next? A Step by Step Action Plan, and Bless You Bouquets: A Memoir, And God Chose Joseph: A Christmas Story, and Rocking Chair Porch: Summers at Grandma's are available at Amazon.com. Ms. Jackson is available to speak to local groups and to offer her books at discount for fundraising purposes at her discretion. She and her husband soon celebrate their 47th anniversary, and have lived in New York, New Jersey, Iowa, and now the paradise of Palm Bay, Florida. Their two grown children and daughter-in-love, all orchestra musicians, and our beautiful granddaughters Kaley and Emily live nearby. Hobbies, and probably future topics on her blog: gardening, symphonic music (especially supporting the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra as a volunteer and proud parent of a violinist, a cellist, and an oboist), singing, book clubs, and co-teaching a weekly small-group Bible study for seniors. She volunteers and substitute teaches at Covenant Christian School, and serves as a board member of the Best Yet Set senior group at church. Foundationally, she daily enjoys God's divine appointments called Godincidences, which show God's providence and loving kindness.