Well, it finally happened! After 2 years of God stirring up Curtis and Amanda and spooning them onto the same ministry page and after six months of praying and planning with a core group of believers, Bayou City Fellowship blew open its doors last Sunday, September 11th. On so many levels, it was the Sunday of my lifeā¦and, just so you know, Iāve loved me some Sundays. Youāve got no hater here. Ink canāt convey what growing up in the church meant to a child whoād come from early victimization and was all but paralyzed by fear and insecurity. I know my story is not everyoneās but, for me, church was a safe place. A happy place. A lively place even long before the days of praise bands and raised hands. It was there in that small circle of Sunday school chairs in Arkadelphia, Arkansas that I met the love of my life. It was there that I memorized my first Bible verses and, there, my head plunged beneath the waters of baptism at the ripe old age of nine.
If Iām counting them right, Iāve belonged to about 6 or 7 churches in my 54 years and most of those changes were necessary because of moves. I canāt say that a single one of them was intolerable. If youāve been around the LPM blog very long, you may know how dearly I loved HFBC and what tears I shed in saying goodbye to the church where Iād worshipped for almost 30 years. At first the sense of lostness was palpable. Then, suddenly, as I crouched with other believers way out on that limb, in the throes of desperate prayer, and complete dependence on God for this infant church, it was like quart of Red Bull started coursing through my veins. People would ask from time to time, āAre you guys scared?ā Well, alive is more like it. Alive and AWAKE.
Itās been one of the most exciting things Iāve ever been part of. Many of you who have been involved in church plants have said the same thing. I guess one reason is because itās just so out there. History canāt make it float. Heritage canāt make it float. Habit canāt make it float. Only Jesus can make it float. If He does not shine His face upon us, we will fizzle out like a year-old sparkler on the 4th of July. The other big thing from a personal standpoint, making it so exhilarating is the band of new relationships. How often does somebody make 50 new friends without getting on Facebook? I know at least 20 childrenās names and they know mine. OK. So I have candy in my purse. Is that against anybodyās religion??
Sunday two weeks ago, we had our BCF dress rehearsal. Everybody on the core team has at least one job to do so we got there early and into our places. (The first wave at 7:00 AM. The second wave at 8:30. Thatās my wave. Service begins at 10:00.) Iām on the host team so we mostly practiced welcoming each other at dress rehearsal and we taste-tested the coffee at our makeshift coffee bar. Other teams were practically as busy at dress rehearsal as theyād be on opening day. The utility team and the childrenās team require the most hands on deck because they have to set up and tear down every week. God graced us lavishly with space to rent at Houston Christian High School (Beltway 8, close to Hammerly ā a gorgeous school and a great one). So, on these Sundays, halls and gyms transform into childrenās areas with bright primary colors, songs, sounds of laughter, and stories about a great big God and a Savior who could walk on water. A Man who could take one boyās lunch and feed thousands. Someone who said, āDonāt hold back those children from me! Theyāre what the Kingdom of God is all about!ā We feel like God gave us one of the most gifted couples in our entire area to head up our childrenās ministry. I pray for Dustin and Cassi second in line only to Curtis and Amanda. I wondered if theyād be overwhelmed on opening Sunday but their team was prepared, all the children welcomed and well cared for, and I saw nothing but smiles as I picked up Jackson and Annabeth.
Oops. Iām getting ahead of myself. Iāll back up and give you a short run-down of our first Sunday from the pitifully biased point of view of Blonder Than She Pays To Be:
I got there a few minutes behind schedule because Iād asked special grace from the pastorās wife. Saturdayās simulcast in Lubbock made for a pretty late Saturday night so, by the time I got to the church, everything was already in high gear. This was the scene at the welcome center for the children. As you can see, we were getting a few things ironed out before our guests arrived.
We met for prayer in the gym and, after our pastor asked us to get in small groups and agree in focused intercession, one of our team members also requested that we gather around Curtis, lay hands on him and call out to God in his behalf. It was such a powerful time that I donāt think Iāll ever forget it. I could get tears in my eyes just thinking about it. At this point, you realize that we didnāt even know for certain that anybody else was coming. We were “in the presence of the God in whom [we] believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” (Romans 4:17 ESV)
After prayer, we all scurried to our places. Mine last Sunday was beside those at the front door to the chapel. I will work in the childrenās area pretty regularly but, when Iām in big church, I get to be on the team that welcomes people. I always wanted to be on the welcoming committee at HFBC so Iām ecstatic about my new job. I get to serve in this capacity as long as I donāt clog up an aisle or a door so I intend to stay light on my feet on Sundays and move from place to place. (I have promised Curtis and Amanda that I will not let BCF become a place for signing books or taking pictures. I just want to be a fellow church-servant so badly. On our first Sunday, thatās exactly what I got to be! A good sign indeed.)
I wish you could have seen the host team and I staring through the glass doors for signs of guests. Sure enough, by 9:30 they were coming. To say that we tripped over one another to welcome people is an understatement. Mind you, weād been planning this moment for 6 months. It might be safe to say that there were some among the host team who were willing to elbow others to get to the guests first.Ā Iāll not mention any names but, if I remember right, I think her initials were BM.
Side note: Someone who will remain nameless but is related to me had brought donuts for the team to dress rehearsal the week before and I couldnāt eat one because of a bread-fast I was observing for the simulcast. I could not WAIT to sink my teeth into a warm Shipleyās on our opening morning and, lo and behold, no one brought any. I said to my son-in-law Colin, āIām starving for a donut.ā (A sick exaggeration, of course.) He said, āI donāt have a donut but I do have some peanut M&Mās. Would that do?ā In a pinch, YES!
At the exact moment I threw a handful in my mouth, our first guest walked through the door. Not to be outdone, I flew over there, chewing as fast as I could, and greeted her with great enthusiasm and with tiny chips of brilliant red, blue, and green lodged between the opening teeth of my lifelong overbite. In hindsight, I wish Iād waited. I saw a piece of peanut on her shoulder after I hugged her. I wanted to swat it off but I was afraid sheād think that I thought she had dry scalp. It was a lose-lose. Another of our team members was equally enthusiastic. She showed us later how sheād nearly wrapped herself like a pretzel around the first guest she got to greet. (Donāt be scared to visit. If we canāt bring ourselves to settle down some over the next few weeks, we overzealous ones are prepared to take medication. Or have it forced upon us. Maybe we could wear a relaxation patch of some kind.)
Then I looked inside the chapel ā still about 25 minutes before the service ā and spied two women from the back with really cute gray hair. I descended upon them like a seagull dive-bombing a surf. We are hoping to no end that God will build BCF into a multigenerational body of believers so gray was one of our favorite colors last Sunday. If we donāt turn out with many senior adults, Iāll pray about letting my hair go its natural color. And I feel utterly certain that God will say no.
Their names were Irma and Joanne. Iām talking about the two women in the chapel. Stay with me here. And, are you ready for this? They are SIESTAS. Yep. Siestas. They live in Houston and knew about Bayou City Fellowship through our blog. In fact, I do not doubt they are reading this right now. Hi, Irma! Hi, Joanne! I loved meeting you both! Are you coming back this Sunday? Huh? Huh? I, of course, asked them if theyād be coming to our SSMT celebration but Irma said sheād found so many verses to be a bit daunting. I bet many of you can relate. But I told her the same thing Iām telling you: itās not too late! Choose a psalm with 20 verses and get busy!
Back to BCF. The host team got the chance to welcome many people on Sunday. We think we had about 500 in all, counting the children. We were ecstatic. It was the perfect size for our first Sunday because we had a room full of worshippers without being overwhelmed. Our praise to God knows no bounds. Our whole family was involved. I wish I could see your faces when I tell you that Melissa manned the coffee bar. She did a splendid job, but when she ran out of half and half, youād have thought we were on the edge of Armageddon. The Texas Pecan coffee was other-worldly in my opinion but she quipped, āWITH NO HALF AND HALF???ā I agreed. It was unheard of. I just adore her. No one on earth is like her. Colin, Melissaās man, was extremely busy because he is on the utility team, setting up and tearing down. (She is, too, by the way.) During the service, Colin passed one of the offering plates and, honestly, if I loved him more, Iād throw my back out. I would not trade him for anything on the planet. Melissa sat on one side of our hard-working pastorās wife. (Donāt get me going on the pastorās wife. It will put me over the edge. She is taking her place right beside her man and I am so impressed with God through her that I hardly know how to handle it. I have begun to call her First Lady. She has failed to acknowledge the honorific, however.) My older sister, Gay, sat on Amandaās other side. It is a picture that will be engraved on my mind as long as I have memory. Ā I sat on the other side of my sister and Keith sat next to me. And his handsome twenty-two year old nephew sat next to him. And itās very likely that any unattached young woman within five years of him wished she were sitting hitherto.
And, Curtis?
Well, Girlfriend. Curtis preached.
I do mean Curtis PREACHED.
And I got a word.
And many of us rededicated our lives. Iām not being facetious. I really did. 54 is no time to shove everything over to the young. They need you to stick with them. And, oh, Lord, have mercy, I NEED THEM.Ā Iāve hardly known what to do with myself since giving up Sunday school. I have a new job at church now: itās called Whatever. Iāll rock babies. Iāll tell stories to children. Iāll welcome guests. Iāll help Melissa with the coffee. Iāll pass the offering plate (and probably try to peek in it). Whatever. Iām in.
Because I love church life. Even in all its imperfections and missteps. Even with its questionable reputation. Even though, at best, it can only point to Jesus and feign to replace Him. God used it to scoop me up when I was freefalling into an abyss. God used it to light a torch in me for missions and for the lifelong study of Scripture. God used it to teach me how to take a messy stab at teaching. God used it to show me how to love and to be loved. God used it to teach me how to forgive and feel forgiven.
Infinitely more than that, Jesus loves the Church. The big One. The one weāre only a speck on the face of. We – a people crouched on a tiny new dot on the Kingdom globe – want to take our place, shoulder to shoulder, with all the others who lift the Name of Jesus sky-high for any eye to see.
We want to take our place next to you.
And, if you happen to find yourself shoulder to shoulder with me, you might check your person for a rogue piece of peanut M&M. Iām a hugger, you know.
I just love your enthusiasm and so glad it all went well!
I L-O-V-E this post! I am filled with joy for you and for this new church!
My favorite part? Where you wrote “I have a new job at church now: itās called Whatever.” Oh, Amen!!
Much love to all involved in this new church ‘float’, and a bazillion hugs for you Mama Beth; turns out I’m a hugger too!
Adrienne
I was there and can attest that it was as wonderful as you describe. Now your words have made me even more eager for Sunday to arrive again! I can’t wait to get another Word from Curtis.
And I like you was sooo happy to see the 2 older ladies there. I had told my husband that I so hoped there would be older women there because we desperately need mentors. Then when my mom looked back (yes, my whole family was there worshipping together, hallelujah!), she said “Is that Irma?” We happened to belong to the same church as Ms. Irma when I was growing up. We got so tickled that she was there and now I am even more tickled that you said she is a Siesta.
Okay, I will quite blabbing now, but if you can’t tell, I am just a bit excited about Bayou City Fellowship!!!
I am not new to you, but new to your blog, and I am in love! I have a complete visual of your favorite Sunday. I feel like I was sitting there. Congratulations! As a mommy, I can just feel the mommy pride oozing out of you! Best wishes, and your beautiful church will be in my prayers.
I will be praying for Bayou City Fellowship! I mean that whole heartedly – just wrote it down on my prayer list. I am so excited for you all, Beth! May God reveal Himself to BCF through each and every one of you!
What a beautiful story of the body truly being the body!! I am a p.k. whose papa started a congregation when I was 11. It was a magical time and I specifically remember my new shoes for the occasion:). Anywho, I just love the dedication and how the Lord shined through. Thanks for sharing!
Beth, I cracked up at your Peanut M&Ms story, especially since I’m a lover of them myself š Also loved your new job description at church — Whatever. Hope you get to do lots of it! š
(And wow — 500 on your first Sunday! Amazing!!)
I am so excited to read this. We thought about coming Sunday and just didn’t do it. Now, I truly wish we had. I just may make it out this Sunday. We have our house on the market right now and are looking not too far from you for our next home.
Oh my goodness, you had me laughing out loud at the m&m story! So fun! I can feel your excitement and joy through my computer screen. I can so relate. We started our church three years ago – the setting up and tearing down, the wondering if anyone outside the core team will show up, the joy of the first guests when they do show up! It’s just all so amazing and exciting and so neat to be part of. And, we have had some guests ask if some of our greeters are on medication! Ha! š
Praise God for a wonderful first Sunday! He is so faithful! I’m a pastors wife in a church plant here in NYC. Church planting is thrilling and humbling…hard work. There is nothing that has ever strengthened my faith as much. So excited for your whole family, praying especially for Curtis and Amanda! Believing God for so much more than we could imagine!
Beth,
Thank you for sharing about BCF’s inaugural Sunday! What a blessing your family was listening to the Lord to do a fresh new thing…….I am so excited for all of you. How wonderful to be in the perfect will of God……
Candace, Colorado Springs
I am so happy for everyone of you, I am praying for BCF and for all you. You have touched my heart with this post it like I was right there with you all with the peanut m&m on my shoulder and all and when you said 2 siesta’s were there that thrilled me to no end. Thank you for this post and making us feel like we are apart of your family love that about you and thank you for keeping this lady in-line with Jesus and pointing me to Him Without Jesus I am Nothing. So thank you for being His servant and being faithful to the calling He has place on your life.
Carol
May our God, “Who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think,” Bless this new body of believers!!
Wow, what a powerful post. I have tears in my eyes and an unexplainable urge to throw my hands in the air and shout a great big Hallelujah! Thank you for sharing and igniting a fire in me for the Church. Gosh how I love Jesus!
Was praying for y’all that morning and this post made me grin from ear to ear. Also made me wish I could have peanut dandruff all over my shoulders right now! What faithful servants the Jo/Mo/Fitz families are! Love y’all!!
HOW AMAZING! Lord Jesus, fill that church up with your glorious Holy Spirit! I can’t wait to come and visit!
Thanks for this enthusiastic report. I read Amanda’s post, but have been waiting for your perspective. A thrilling time for BCF and for your family. God bless!
Oh Beth,
I was deeply touched by this, on many levels. The church has also been my refuge, especially growing up! Thank you for making laugh, cry…okay weep…Thank you for being real! Love you through Jesus!
Thank you for sharing about the opening day of BCF!
We have been praying for you all. So glad to know that God was glorified and the Church edified. We love you!
I thought about y’all onSunday and wished we lived closer! I can see you as ‘whatever’ , but I think of you as a ‘Beth of all trades’, the half & half in my Texas Pecan coffee (which is all we serve in our home!) the homemade in our BlueBell ice cream! Ok….you’re too much fun! We are going to try to visit your new church home soon! Can’t wait to hear a word from God thru him!
My husband and I (and my 4 month old twin girls) will be visiting sometime very soon!! Can’t wait!
Thank you so much for sharing! You had me rolling with the M&M situation! I even shed a tear or two – mostly out of relief. Relief that God is still using the church. Relief that there are still people who love the church and seek to have visitors. And maybe another tear or two of hope – hope that maybe one day the church my husband is on staff at will catch the vision and be excited about its purpose.
Praying right now for your husband, the rest of the staff, and the whole church! I feel you. It’s so hard to see something you love so much not being everything it can be.
Makes me wish I lived in Houston! I’m thinking I need to postpone my flight back home after the SSMT celebration to Sunday afternoon and give BCF a visit from this Georgia girl. š
Thanks for the report on BCF’s opening day. Sounds like it was a great experience! Having been on a church staff for over 10 years (before I was promoted to Grammy!) I have done the job “whatever” many many times! I’ll keep praying for BCF and look forward to updates.
What a beautiful post Beth!! I hope I can visit BSF when I come to Houston – what an incredible and exciting gift to be doing church with your family in that way! I will be praying for you and the BSF team! I loved your excitement that permeated your post – I need to be mindful of what a great privilege and blessing it is to have a home church to serve, wherever we are in the world! Your joy and beautiful spirit that comes thru every blog post always inspires me! š I love how the Lord uses you to speak to the places in our hearts that need mending! (I’m working on the Daniel study currently, and soooooo excited to start the James study after it’s released! š God Bless you, and thank you for being you! š
Oh wow!!! I have chills! God is SO GOOD! Thanks for sharing this wonderful story!
Oh how wonderful! Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow! Wish I could have been there to join in the excitement … if I’m ever in the area, BCF will definitely be a place I will visit (and Peanut M&M’s are my fave!)
Thanks for the blow-by-blow account of your special day, it brought the smile my face was needing on this otherwise gloomy day! You are so blessed to have a family ministry such as BCF, continue to trust God and He will continue to honor your endeavors! I’m proud of you girlfriend!!
tears in my eyes! glory to God! loved every minute of your giving us the replay! loved the peanut m&ms – can feel that i would be just as excited and sometimes there’s just no time to chew your food! lol!! thanks for the replay! maybe i will try to memorize 20 psalms and show up in houston! š God willing! š love, kimberly
Oh, Beth, this was the best post ever! I am so happy for all of you and will pray for Bayou City Fellowship and share with our Bible study group. Church has always been so important and influential in my life as well. Memorizing scripture has literally saved my life. The best to you all. To God be the glory – great things He has done, and is doing!!!!!
Love you guys a whole bunch!
Loved the Simulcast! (as always)
AWESOME! May God continue to bless the new church. The peanut M&M story was hilarious – had to share with my husband. He thinks you and I are both crazy!
“Well Amen!” That’s about all I can say after a post like that! I hope he will have his messages online!
To God by the glory! So happy for your son in law and your sweet Amanda. š
Wow!! I’ve got a lump in my throat and my heart rate is up(I consider those both positive effects, BTW). Thank you for sharing such a delightfully risky morning doing church. Imagine how that word is simultaneously a noun, verb, adjective and adverb. We are the Church, we’ve been to church, we’ve been churched, we can be churchy people, have church-like attitudes, love us some Church, etc. Okay, I’m not sure I justified adverb, but you get the idea. That final picture carried me back to West Chicago Baptist Church where I was raised. When I daydreamed, as young children are wont to do, I gazed lazily at beautiful crossbeams and chandeliers such as pictured in that photo. Sigh. That Jesus would manifest Himself in such humble surroundings mystifies me and overjoys me all at once.
Thank you for living on the edge Curtis’, Moore’s and Fitzpatrick’s. I’m slightly allergic to Risk, but God quite obviously is NOT!
It’s been nearly two decades since I was allowed to dispense medicine in a clinical setting, but I think a low dose sedative glaze drizzled over donuts may be in order. Calm down. I’m just kidding. Though my husband has said he may begin lacing my coffee with hormone replacement. How’s that for some creative half ‘n half, Melissa? Many, many Blessings! Served up with coffe and donuts š
All of you at BCF inspire me to follow God (I’ve been reading the blog). God is moving me out of my comfort zone something terrible right now. So, since y’all survived the Church opening, I know I will survive the ministry increase He’s leading me into. Thanks to all of you for being obedient (we know it is a choice) and to God be the Glory.
congrats on a great Sunday. We started a church plant five years ago. It is hard work with many ups and downs… But God is always faithful. Blessings to BCF.
I love this. It’s awesome to see God working in your new church. I remember when we were starting a new chapter of a Christian sorority on our campus and we were having rush for our first pledge class. We swarmed them whenever they came in and the noise, oh boy, was it high pitched. I think it formed a force field of about 100 ft all around in which males could not (or would not) cross. I still joke with members of that pledge class about how crazy we were, but they were a wonderful class and at least they knew they were wanted.
Wow! That sounds fantastic!! I’m so glad everything worked out so perfectly!!
Before today I had been, dare I say, a “silent reader” on the blog. Today, I’m jumping in to post! Thank you for the recap of your special first Sunday! We have recently moved and we find ourselves visiting churches. It can be daunting to march in to a new place with four kiddos and get everyone in the right place. -and then, to feel strangely out of place. But, today, you reminded me of my love and passion for the BODY! Here’s to this coming Sunday! No matter the building, I’ll feel “at home” and continue to love what I’ve always loved, the privilege of worship and fellowship!
Well, that was overwhelming! Beth, you continue to be one of the best writers I’ve ever read. You can bring something to life in a way that I feel like I was right there– and convey a feeling that is so REAL! I can tell through this entry that it was a Holy moment in time, and I thank you so much for sharing it with us. My prayers will continue for BCF and for all of you in leadership, especially for Amanda as “first lady” (as I am one of those as well, without the title for sure!) Eph 1:3….Hallelujah that He has already blessed you with EVERY spiritual blessing in Christ!
Praying that your new body of believers “holds fast to the Head, from Whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is FROM GOD!!” (Col 2:19).
PRAISE HIM. All glory to the Father of Spirits!
I’ll take your M&M and up you whatever little dab of snack I may have shoved in my mouth before walking into the little slice of heaven at BCF.
Can I let you know that I, among very many – I’m so sure, have been praying for ALL of you in this process and it is such a belssing to see how it has all unfolded so beautifully. The courage, the faith, the details, the big picture…seeing God MOVE in Houston has been such an amazing blessing to me…even here in VA. I can’t wait to see how this epic story unfolds.
I’m ready to pack my bags and move to Houston just to watch this Jesus-thing grow and sweeten. God is so good. I’m so genuinly and lovingly excited for BCF.
Shoulder to shoulder, Siestas. A blessed day to all of you.
Beth I so loved your take us along journey of BCF’s beginnings. I look forward to hearing more as this group grows and grows. I do want to share how this has also ministered to me. I am starting a at home bible study, and working through the beginnings of a new business, and when you said If He does not shine His face upon us, we will fizzle out like a year-old sparkler on the 4th of July.It let me know if it’s His, it’s His!! I just need to walk in obedience. Thank you for always sharing š
Bayou City Fellowship’s first service was indeed something to behold! I was so blessed and impressed by the entire worship experience. I got there about 9:40am and couldn’t believe how full the parking lot was already! I kept thinking of the line from “Field of Dreams”, “If you build it, they will come.” They certainly did!!! Before I even hit the front door, I was greeted at least a half dozen times!
For me, BCF is an answer to many years of prayer. I have been been praying for a church that my siblings would love and find a place to worship and belong. The LORD rescued me in high school and I have been on a great journey with Him for the last 30 years. Most of my siblings do not attend church so when I heard that BCF was opening its doors 2 blocks from my baby brother’s house, I have to tell you I danced me a jig!!!
I brought 8 visitors with me last Sunday. I am praying they go back. I know of two that are for sure!! PRAISING GOD FOR BCF and one young family who allowed Jesus to interrupt their lives to be obedient to the call!!!
I do have to say this: I was soooooo moved and blown away by Curtis Jones’ preaching! I heard that he was a good preacher but OH. MY. WORD!!!! He spoke, taught, and preached with such skill and an anointing that he made it look easy!! He spoke with such passion and conviction that I was hanging on to every word and he peppered in humor. He wrapped it all up in life application. Furthermore, he did it without using any notes!!!! YOWZA!!!!!
“What is the appeal for allowing Jesus to interrupt your life?” he asked us. “You get to see God do the impossible!”
I saw God’s impossible and it was miraculous!!!
WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS!!!!!
All my love and prayers!!!
Roxanne
I can almost picture the scene as you and other greeters warmly and enthusiastically meeting all of those who graced the doors of your new work.
I have been involved in Church planting in the past and it was a time of great joy and heart wrenching pain as those we loved were moving from the “mother church” and starting a “baby work”. I can still remember working until midnight doing last minute touchups when they finally were able to build a new Church and move out of the school they had been using. Some people worked all night so that the first Sunday Morning Service could take place. Many of those people belonged to the “mother church”. Their Love for God’s working going forward was the reason so many gave so much.
That baby work is still going strong, many, many years later. As a matter of fact both Churches are going strong and growing. It was such a blessing to be a part of an adventure that saw each group cooperating and working hard to see GOD’S work going forward.
May your new Church continue to be a blessing to all who enter in. What a joy to feel the excitement you have and to see how willing you are to do any work asked of you. You are a great example to all of us.
Blessings.
Oh, how I suddenly long to live in Houston. That just sounds fabulous! I pray God calls me to help start a church some day. Praise God for this new church!!!!!
Thank you for sharing. I’ve always gone to the same church…since I was in the womb + 39 years. It was really neat to see just a few of the things that take place when planting a new church. Your enthusiasm is contagious. Makes me appreciate the greeters at church and all the behind the scenes activities that make worship possible.
God bless your family. I pray this Sunday will be just as amazing or maybe a lot more amazing!!!
Nearly 5 years ago, I walked away from church. I was wounded so I rationalized that since the kids were in private Christian school that was enough. I know how to study the Bible so I didn’t “need” church to grow. I LOVE to lead Bible Studies in and out of church so I didn’t “need” church to serve. I heart me some Compassion so I didn’t “need” church to give. So, I piled on the lies to myself about how it was okay to take a season away. Today, my heart aches because this blog post reminds me of what I have missed, what I allowed to be stolen from me by the Biggest Robber of all time. So, this Sunday, it will be me walking into a church in Dallas sitting in the back row. I think that’s a start for taking it back. Thank you for the push.
And, as I find my seat, I will pray for all of you that you will have full seats too!
Rejoicing with you!! I’ve never had a Shipley’s so I am uneducated. A hot now Krispy Kreme, though, is delectable!
Praying abundant blessings over your family and your new church. I needed that sweet story today!
Let the Kingdom Bells ring! Amen, Amen, Amen!