I can’t do this

One of the benefits of getting to watch church online is that I now have the opportunity to watch my favorite pastor, who happens to be my husband, share a message and then listen to several other ministers preach as well. For example, I’ve recently been blessed to watch a high school friend preach, and then I worshiped with another friend as he shared the gospel from his basement. Who would’ve dreamed that I would watch three different sermons on a Sunday morning?

Here’s the thing, I agree that we are the church. That phrase, in my opinion, has been used way too much. It’s like listening to the weatherman say the same thing over and over again when there’s a storm coming. WE GET IT! When you repeat the same thing 50000 times, it causes a person to stop listening and change the channel – or turn it completely off. I know It’s not the building, the pews, or the history behind the church building that makes us love God — but there are some things that do make me love worshiping with others.

Just in case you’re not following me, this is what I’m talking about…

I miss those moments when I get to hug someone and say, “Hey, how have you been? I noticed you weren’t here last Sunday.” Or, when someone walks up to you and says, “I need to talk to someone,” or maybe they let you know that they’ve been praying for you. There’s something about making eye contact — it allows you to see and feel their pain or joy.

And there’s more.

I love those moments when you hear a newborn baby’s cry echo in the Sanctuary, the crackling of candy wrappers in the pew behind you (because it reminds you they are there), soft whispers from a parent to their child, the closeness of the Holy Spirit that fills a Sanctuary while you listen to a Senior Saint recite a prayer from his heart, and when someone unexpectedly walks forward for prayer or to be baptized. One of my favorite memories was getting goosebumps when I heard Mark’s grandpa sing from his heart just a few pews away from me. No one sings like that unless they love the Lord. What a witness. All of those things draw me nearer to God.

With that being said, I am beyond thankful for all of those people in the ministry who are stepping out of their comfort zones to make sure people are still hearing the gospel. They are working tirelessly in different ways to encourage people to dig deeper in the Word and draw close to Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. Maybe all of this is a hard lesson to remind people that It’s all about saving souls. Thank you for your willingness to be servants, for stepping out of your routine and what you’re comfortable doing — all for His glory.

If you have been discouraged or simply drained, here’s something I heard last Sunday. My high school friend, Danny, talked about Paul. He said that there will be times when we will say “I can’t do this, but the important thing to remember is this – but Christ can. Christ can do it through me.” Phil. 4:13