February 4 2016

February 4 2016 Greetings My Friend, As I write today is Sunday. Each week I look forward to going to church with much anticipation. I am thrilled Junior has the same desire to be at church on Sunday alongside of me too. I have a strong need to be with other believers, studying the Word, praying for God to intercede in the lives of those we are in fellowship for and many who are not members of our church but need our prayers too. Most weeks I write a status on Facebook about going to church, sometimes I state “let’s all meet in church today.” The thought of the corporate body of Jesus meeting is exciting to me. We sing with one voice although many different songs but all to praise and glorify God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. We meet in Sunday school to study and grow in our faith. We meet in prayer and praise. We have learned that “Wherever 2 or 3 are gathered there I will be also.” As services end we leave refreshed, refueled and prepared to enter the week. My desire and I am sure many other’s desire is to “Go forth making disciples of all nations.” Each one of us is called to work for God’s glory. When I think how large the corporate body of Christ is I cannot fathom how a little known woman in SW VA can be used for much of anything. The thing is, I am important, as important as the most eloquent evangelist, the preacher, the music director and even the missionary. I used to think as a member of the church body I might be a teen advisor, help with meals or even volunteer to put data into the computer for a special project but the bigger things, not me, I am a nobody. Wrong! God has taught me over and over again that my little piece is part of the big picture and it is all for His glory. My status update may encourage a borderline believer to give church a try, the try may lead to a true confession of faith. My words in a blog, a Facebook page may help someone see that God takes us where we are at and grows us so they may find the hope they have been searching for. Reaching out to my neighbors with encouragement, a helping hand or a friendly face has an impact that I may never even know about. I have grown to see that a nobody in particular woman is very special in God’s work. The more I accept this fact the more I desire to listen to God, to believe God and then to go out and work. I love an old hymn from my youth. I think this song has been calling me to God’s work field for a lifetime. It goes like this “Come labor on, who dares stand idle on the harvest plain. While all around him waves the golden grain. And to each servant does the master say, Go work today.” I see I am called to work, that the work will sometimes be difficult but I will find a reward for the work. For me the reward is now and later in eternity. I have felt the challenge and it feels good. I work with God’s guiding hand on me and marvel again that I a nobody did way more than I ever dreamed. Sometimes I will be rejected and God will heal my hurt, pat me on the back and send me out again. I sense at the end of my life I will know a fullness to my life of dedication. I like that I am not sitting waiting for the end to come but I am entering my life in fullness and joy. Eternity means I will spend it with God worshiping and praising and being thankful and I can not imagine it but I know it will be worth the effort of my life. I hope to meet y’all at church soon. Love Janet