Longing for God’s House
Psalm 84 begins, “How I love your Temple, Lord Almighty! How I want to be there!” These verses remind us of what a wonderful feeling it is to be in the house of the Lord. We are soothed and reminded as we enter the church that God is with us at all times and places. His faithfulness to us is a certainty that we cannot ever doubt. Growing up in a military family, we moved to different places almost yearly.
Both of my parents were born in southwestern Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is a beautiful, rural area of Virginia where many live below the poverty line. Their faith in God is very important to them, and it shows in their daily lives. Whenever my family was able to go back to visit relatives there, we attended Mt. Olivet Methodist Church in Fries, VA. This is where my maternal grandmother played the organ. I remember going there and loved watching my grandmother play and sing hymns with the congregation.
I remember with fondness the smell of the wooden oak pews and the friendly feeling I got when I walked into the church. Everyone was so welcoming and happy we were there. Being in church was such a warm feeling that made me feel closer to God. Today, we can have that same feeling no matter where we are. It is important to be with other Christians and share our faith. Attending church gives us the guidance we need to live better lives. As important as it is to attend church to strengthen our faith, we are always in the presence of God, no matter where we are.
Take time every day to appreciate and thank God for all his blessings, and continue to share your faith with others through words or acts of kindness. In this way, we are exemplifying our church’s mission, “To know Christ and make His love known.”
~Cathy Moseley~
