Growing up in the church, it became a ritual, what you did on Sunday.  We would most often sit in the 2^nd or 3^rd row on the left side.  Still today, my family sits in pretty much the same space every Sunday.   Your church family becomes the people who sit around you, and maybe your Sunday School class.  I loved going to church, always have- mostly when I was young, to get off of the farm and away from chores, but as I grew older, it was a place of peace, sanctuary.  I didn’t really know a ‘church family’ until we had attended a church in Rock Valley for 10 years.  When Tripp began fighting cancer, we were surrounded in a way we had never known. There were families who we hardly ever associated with ganging up together to bless us with gift cards, etc.  We, in turn, blessed others who were struggling, having known what it was like.  A family of believers.

 Moving churches across town, and working for a church brought ‘family’ to a whole new level.  I work with an incredible team who treats each other as family.  We were among fellow believers who, because we were like minded in our belief of who God is, invited us in. As we faced another re-diagnosis, we were again blessed to be amongst family.  Then we had to leave for a while.

 Through a former Sunday School student who had previously moved to Memphis for Music education at Vision College, we were introduced to a church there.  The moment we walked into the doors that first Sunday morning we were embraced, enfolded and prayed over.  It was, as Pastor Keith said, “the way the body of Christ should be”. 

This evening as I was picking up the room and preparing for Sunday mentally, I had this pull on my heart that I could not wait to go back to Pioneer Church- not for any specific person, not for any specific style, but just because I needed to be filled back up. God is there, the Spirit is there!  Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”  

While being here at St. Jude, God commissioned me to bless any family that I could with the Good News of Jesus.  While comments like “God is the one who has gotten us this far” seems platonic in Northwest Iowa, a California native’s ears perked up and said, “yeah, I’ve been on the fence about that- now I think I need to (pay attention)”  Just acknowledging that God is in our lives, or wearing a hat that says “The Lord is my Strength” speaks loudly.  Those that are grasping for hope, waiting on science and doctors to heal their kids, need something to latch on to.  So we, Tripp and I, try to share about what God has done in our lives to those around us here, and it is spiritually taxing.  My heart weeps for the Holy Spirit to open eyes to see.  This work is not easy, but so very worth it! 

When we walk into Pioneer Church tomorrow, we will be able to fill our hearts back up with prayer, worship and the Word, spoken and poured into us.  While we do that daily as well in personal devotions, its not the same.  Worshiping with like-minded believers is refreshing and a balm for the soul, and it is scriptural;  Acts 2.

So if you think that you’ve got this and that you can just watch online, or your faith is strong enough- you don’t need church (defined as a fellowship of believers, not a building), you are missing out.  Worshiping with true, sold out believers will fill you up, so that you are ready to be a Christ-follower; which is, ready to do what God has called you to do.  When you try to do it on your own, you will become empty and the devil will fill that hole in a sneaky, nasty way.

Find a church wherever you are-find a family. Churches out there- be a family!