Sundays and worship...

November 1, 2009

I really want to find a home church.

See, church isn’t just somewhere I go every Sunday, or somewhere I get fed a couple of times a week. It is my family. My church family at Ridgewood means so much to me. We have gone through so much together and God has moved in all of our hearts. I love them so much and think of them daily in my prayers.

So, to be so far away from them every Sunday, sort of breaks my heart a little bit. It has made the past three Sundays hard to bear.

There is a church that was recommended to me – Watoto. I heard it was really good and a lot of muzungos attend it. That didn’t excite me at all. I just didn’t want to go to a muzungo church. I mean, I am in Uganda…I want to experience God Ugandan style. So when we made plans to attend today I was a little hesitant, but willing. However, when I entered and the music was going I felt such power and presence of the Holy Spirit, I started crying…tears were welling up and I felt such joy and peace. Oh, was the worship amazing! How I have been longing to worship…I closed my eyes. I saw His presence. Oh did it make my heart leap for joy. I moved, clapped and wished I had a djembe! Songs from Chris Tomlin to Lincoln Brewster to some tradition Ugandan worship songs…unbelievable!

The head pastor introduced the preacher – Pastor Chris from the Down Under! I was a tad bit sad it wasn’t the normal preacher. However, the sermon he did was eloquent, deep and relevant. How I have hungered for that! He used a great analogy I will share. In Australia and America, butchers are very picky about what parts of an animal they use and sell. A lot of parts go to waste. However, in Uganda, Pastor Chris noticed how the butchers here use every bit…every scrap has a purpose. He then related it to God. How He uses everything for His kingdom…every bit and scrap has a purpose. I loved it! Colossians 3:3 “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” tied the whole piece together: because of Jesus’ righteousness…Him being perfect and blameless…we receive that covering when God looks at us. No longer does He see the messed up person but rather, He sees His Son. How I want my life to be hidden in Him!

Along those lines, I realized at the next service I went to (yes, I am church shopping!), Gulu Community Church, a traditional Ugandan church, I realized how much I do not love people on a consistent basis – and I mean consistent. How quickly I am able to come up with an excuse and stop caring. If it isn’t going my way, I can easily just dump and run someone. Blame it on them and be able to falsely walk away with my head held high all the while still carrying some bit of resentment. I don’t want to live like that. I didn’t come this far to go backwards. Boldly, did God use the next preacher (again, a guest speaker!) to lead me to repentance, prayer and boldness for Him. I mean, I am going to stand in judgment on my own someday why not practice being bold for Christ on my own now? Revelations 21:8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and adominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone , which is the second death.” I know I am not an unbeliever, or adominable, or a murderer, or immoral, or a sorcerer, or an idolater, or a liar…but a coward? Hmmm…that was interesting. I sat and thought about how I could be a coward. I realized there have been very few times I actually stepped out in faith for God boldly when I clearly knew I would be perceived as crazy or wrong. But I did it anyways. Such freedom and Glory came out of those situations. Chains were broken apart –just popping off! When oh when will I learn and be like that daily for God? I believe today I took that first step in acknowledging and now desiring to pursue that humbly and whole-heartedly. Oh, LORD, make me single-hearted for You alone!

And I forgot I was wearing eye makeup…grr…all over the face now. Ha.

A lovely afternoon brought me at peace with the LORD and I rested and read some .In between the two services today I went to Sarah and Melissa’s home (soon to be mine too!). It was so nice to just sit and relax a bit. It really is such a nice house and the neighbors are friendly. A road was made for the van to drive so we can park the ECM van in locked gates. I really am excited to move there. It has a GREAT backyard – I can make a little garden maybe and…get this….A HAMMOCK!! Oh boy am I excited!!! I really haven’t spent much time outside since I live in a hotel. Sad, isn’t it? People keep on commenting how I don’t look tan at all yet….oh just you wait! I am so excited!!!!

Tonight the girls had an ECM dinner. It was them, Simon, Mary, Sharon and Mary’s husband, Patrick. Fellowship was splendid. We truly enjoy each other’s company. It is such a blessing. Each one of us are so different and so displaced that God just glued us together to bring Him Glory. And when Agnes comes back…oh, hold on Kingdom!!! We talked, ate, prayed and laughed. I am so grateful for like-minded people in Christ. It just blesses the socks off of me. As much as I miss my friends and family, I feel like I am slowly but surely and soundly gaining another type of family…Kingdom family. Oh how wonderful!







Today was such an answer to prayer. I needed the worship. I needed the fellowship. I needed God’s conviction. I needed His communion. I needed His presence. I needed His sight. I needed His voice. I’ve been crying out the past few days for all of this…and He delivered. Oh my Deliverer…is the LORD. How good and majestic is His name. To the highest mountain tops to the lowest valley…my God reigns. Blessed be the name of the LORD.