Below is a note I posted on Facebook on May 10, 2009. I wanted to share it again & will hopefully post on here again this week ...
Update: 3 years ago today I joined Sevier Heights Baptist Church!! This note doesn't even scratch the surface of how much this church has come to mean to me. It's not the building but the body of Christ. This is my family. The Word of God is proclaimed in truth & love. The worship is ... well ... it's a glimpse of Heaven each Sunday. And the people ... I love these people dearly. The Lord has used them to bless me in ways beyond my understanding. I can only pray & hope for the day that I can return those blessings. I am so thankful that the Lord gave me this church. As a friend said last night about the choir & our church, "It's not only the place where I serve but it's where I am served." I'm so blessed beyond what I deserve!
"I joined a church today and I can say that I have finally come home! I am no longer "church homeless" which may confuse some of you who read a status I had put out on Facebook back in February saying I had a joined a church then. I did. But I had this understanding with the pastor and his wife that the Lord may have been "parking" me there for a little while until He moved me elsewhere. He moved me elsewhere. But let me say that I am so thankful for the first church and how the Lord used it in my life. After going through what my family went through - I did not want to have anything to do with ministry ever again. I was finished. I would gladly follow the Lord and do His will but I did not want to be a part of ministry. Well the Lord used the first church for healing and renewing. He healed my heart and renewed my desire to serve Him in whatever capacity He could use me in. The first church offered me invisibility, no more being in the spotlight. The first church allowed me to step out on my own two spiritual feet for the first time and follow where the Lord wanted me to be. By doing so, the Lord showed me that the first church was not my place for serving Him. The church I joined today is that place.
There are so many obvious areas of ministry for me to get involved in and y'all I can't wait! This church is pretty much the same size as the other but it feels smaller and more connected. They have an amazing Sunday evening service that is just a good as the morning service which was a huge drawing factor for me. The Sunday evening service has always been my most favorite church service. It was always a smaller crowd but it always tended to be the members that you are the closest to. I missed the Sunday evening service. I needed the Sunday evening service. I needed to be fed twice on Sundays! And I have left each service full. But perhaps the most amazing thing in all of this is that I went to Sunday school today. For those of you who know me...well then you know how I feel about Sunday school. It has never been my thing but I did it because I was the pastor's daughter. Well I can honestly say that today was the first time in 16 years I was genuinely excited about going to Sunday school and it was a Singles Class! An amazing thing happened - I was fed the Word of God there too! The people at this church are friendly but they are not overbearing which is something that I have seriously needed. So even with all of this coming together I kept asking the Lord to show me if this was where He wanted me to be.
During the service we sang a chorus that said, "I'll say, 'Yes, Lord.' I'll say, 'Yes'. 'Wherever You lead I will go.' 'I'll say, 'Yes, Lord.'" The Lord allowed that song to speak to my heart especially since I was concerned about what people would think since I had just joined a church in February. But part of the learning process that I have been going through is that the only opinion that truly matters to me is that of Jesus Christ. He is to be my only focus and concern. My life is to be lived in order to bring Him glory and if I seek to walk in that way then that is all that matters.
Therefore, I write this to say ...thank you to those of you who have prayed for me. Your prayers have been felt and I can never repay the kindness you have so graciously shown to me. For those who think that all this enthusiasm for my new church is strictly part of a "honeymoon phase" and wonder what will happen when the "honeymoon period" is over for me - let me say this ... there is a sweet, unquenchable peace that comes from knowing you are exactly where God wants you to be. So no matter what I face from this day forward I know that I have a church family again, that the Lord has given me a place to serve Him, and most importantly my salvation is secure in Him which is enough for me. I've included the lyrics to "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin - this song describes what has been the cry of my heart and the faithfulness of the Lord. I love you all and hope that you have a blessed day.
- Melody
"I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin
There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
Chorus:
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise I will rise
There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise I will rise
And I hear the voice of many angels sing, "Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart, "Worthy is the Lamb"
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise I will rise"
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