Joy...anticipation...excitment...longing...hopeful...open...
receptive...willing...praying...watching...singing...
laughing...crying...conviction...questions...answers...
learning...absorbing...needing...listening...quite...still...
peace...love.
These are all (and much more), the thoughts, emotions, feelings, and things that are needed, given, & taken by all of us who are at camp meeting.
Yesterday morning....was amazing. I have never been able to go to the morning services before. My family & I have been blessed to have been led by God, to this wonderful church of ours, about 6 years ago now. Until this week, I have never been able to attend the morning services for camp meeting, and having finally been able to go I can say...wow, what a blessing. It's just as good (if not better even) than the evening services. I know most people think that some of the best church services that they could attend in any church are the evening services. I have often heard that people think evening services are better, and that they feel like there is more of God and His Holy presence in evening services than in a morning service. Now I am not sure why folks feel like this, maybe they just aren't prepared (themselves) for a morning service. Maybe not enough time was spent in prayer or praise or even in thought of God prior to their coming to God's house for a morning service? I don't know. What I do know is that whether it is on a Sunday morning or for morning services in camp meeting, I often find God's presence is just as strong, and *He* shows up when *WE* have properly prepared *OUR* hearts for *HIM*.!
That is exactly what happened yesterday. We were blessed to be able to hear the preaching of God's word, from 4 preachers. WOW! was it ever good!!! Some of these preachers I have never heard before, well, I'm glad I was there, I'm glad I went, & I'm glad I was expecting to receive something from God, 'cause I did, and what a blessing it was. Having attended yesterday's morning services, this has left me with even more anticipation for today's morning services. Now, this is not to say that last night's services weren't as good, 'cause they were great. God showed up, showed out, many, many people got some help from the Lord, and God's sweet presence filled His house. Yes there were many times where folks were shoutin', hollerin', and just praising God and His precious son Jesus Christ, yet there were other times where solemnness, stillness, quite, and tear filled eyes and hearts were just as abundant and overflowing. It was wonderful. Best of all.......God worked in my heart, He dealt with me about some things, He loved on me a while, and gave me some help in some area's. Now that's the best part. I came expecting......and I was truly blessed in many wonderful ways, and now I am filled with anticipation for today.
As I sit here, it's about 6:25 am, my sweet hubby left for work at 5:20, and my cute son left @ 6:00. They both have had to leave extra early today because we woke up to SNOW! Even in the dark, the snow is so peaceful and lovely, calm and serene, and there is such a sweet peacefulness in the air. I have been praying for the safety of my hubby and son, and for today's service's. I will be going to ready myself for today's service's here in a little while. I am going to need to leave the house very early, so that I can give myself plenty of time to safely get to the church, 'cause honey I ain't a stayin' home today, and I ain't a missin' today's services for nothin'!!! ~~grin~~.
I think that these two picture's kind of sum up how I plan to start my day.
It's amazing to me how God has changed me and my life, in camparison to years gone by. In times past, in my life, I used to get excited about so many other things, excited to go other places and to participate in so many other different activities, now.....forward to the present time, and now I find that some of the best things that I look forward to doing nearly all take place in God's house, with God's people, with my darling hubby and two great kids at my side. I love going to church, being around God's people (when they are Christ minded and not self minded), listening to God's preachers preaching God's word, or just attending any kind of church activity. Funny how God changes us over time, when we aren't looking, or thinking about it or even realizing what kind of changes have taken place, until we reach a time and place in our lives where we can look back and see down the roads from times past, and see just what all has happened and changed. I find it amazing, don't you? I am so thankful for all the changes God has made in me and my life.!
My sweet Lord is so gentle even when making changes in me and my life, so gentle when dealing with me, so gentle when He is caring for me, so gentle in shaping and molding me into what he see's as the final product, so gentle, so loving, so forgiving, so patient, so kind, so generous, so good, and He is so my everything!
I love the Lord with all my heart and soul, which is only fitting seeing as how He has always loved me no matter what, where, why, or my condition. I love and serve a Good God!
I wish that I had more time to write about so much more this morning, I am just so....full, yet I have much to do. So I am off to ready myself for my day.
I pray God fills your day with more of Himself, as I know He will fill mine with....well, I will waite and see what He has in-store. ~~GRIN~~
Please Have A Peachy Keen Day And A Blessed One At That!
Love & Prayers,
Ronda
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