Our church built a larger sanctuary over the past year to accomodate the growing numbers of people who are drawn to worship the Lord in that place. However, I struggle in the new building, due to its size (I feel like a very small fish in a huge ocean) and the accoustics are challenging to my nervous system (the bass guitar volume is unfortunately at a level I cannot tolerate, so I wait outside the building until the offering is taken and go inside to hear the Sunday morning message). Most Sundays, I do feel like an outsider (though I've visited another church - who doesn't do rock music - and it was louder and vibrated more than our church) and my emotions often get the best of me. Yet, the Lord revealed to me a few weeks ago that He is in this place and I can run to Him and feel the comfort, security and peace of His loving arms around me. The chapel (the old church), is open and no one has been using the space this summer. It's a glorious and wonderful treasure for my hurting heart and it is there that I find peace and rest AND the world doesn't seem quite so overwhelming to my spirit. I can spend time quietly in His presence ~ allowing His peace to completely envelope me. My thoughts are clear and I can pray. I can worship Him in song (though I wish I knew how to play the guitar). I am refreshed and reminded that My Heavenly Father loves me and cares for me. Here is my special place to share with you... Thank you Father. I love you!
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
"You are awesome, O God, in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God" Psalm 68:35
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' " Psalm 91: 1-2
"Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations." Psalm 90:1
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. " Psalm 23
"Then Jesus declared, 'I Am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and He who believes in Me will never be thirsty.' " John 6:35
"I Am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit..." John 15:1-5a
"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so the man of God may be throughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' " Psalm 91: 1-2"Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations." Psalm 90:1 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. " Psalm 23 "Then Jesus declared, 'I Am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and He who believes in Me will never be thirsty.' " John 6:35"I Am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit..." John 15:1-5a"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so the man of God may be throughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21
