I love Sundays. It’s really nice to be able to say that now because there was a time not so long ago that I absolutely dreaded them. Times were hard and people weren’t very nice. Not all, of course, but some…enough. I remember some Sunday mornings that I would stand at the window of my office and pray that certain people wouldn’t show. Probably a bad thing to admit, but it was just so hard to focus on delivering a message week after week when there was a group of people who just plain didn’t like me, and didn’t mind making sure I knew. I guess God knew that was a misguided prayer because they always did…show, that is.
It’s not about me, I know, but that doesn’t make it any easier and I knew there were some who were coming who wanted to hear a good message and I owed them (not to mention God!) my best. My best was hard to come by. Can’t imagine how the prophets of old felt…at least I never got beaten, thrown in jail or killed by my “hostile” audience!
So, now I love Sundays. I love walking in at The Gathering and getting to see family. I love the sweet spirit and fun we get to have together. I love getting to meet new people week after week.
It’s really an amazing experience.
I love preaching. I love getting to communicate what I’ve been studying about throughout the week to a people who want to hear…not from me, but from God. I love being around people who want to grow…some more than others, but we’re in process. That’s what is so cool about it–we are becoming, and we’re doing it together. I’m thankful for God’s grace because I know I did nothing to deserve it.
Yesterday was no exception. The number of people was a little on the lower side due to the first weekend of Fall Break, but it was still really great. Worship was sweet and I felt good about the message. I’m very thankful to God for all of that.
Afterwards, Karen and the boys and I spent some time at lunch with a great new family in our church. I’m always encouraged to hear what God is doing in other people’s lives and experience the blessing and privilege of having them share honest, heart-level things they are going through. I don’t take that honor for granted.
Then there is the other part of Sundays that I love: coming home. I get to spend the rest of the day with my family…often doing nothing more than crashing in front of the T.V. for an afternoon (and sometimes evening) of football, which is what yesterday pretty much looked like. I think the fact that Sunday mornings are so draining for me (in a good way), is what makes Sunday afternoons so great.
Then I sit back on Monday and reflect back like I’m doing now and almost have to pinch myself and remember that I get paid for that. I get to do that for my living…
…something I would almost (ALMOST!) do for free. 🙂
