Sunday

Of course we had our usual fight on the way to church.

I swear sometimes dont you think you are in a bad cycle and you dont know how to get out of it? I know the Evil One just does everything to ruin worship for us...from spilled milk to burned breakfast to whining over what to wear, to arguing because we are hungry becasue of burnt breakfast...you name it.

The effort to actually get to church is always a huge climb up a mountain. I have to remember the feeling of when we leave and are on our way home...the feeling like you have been with the King. Its so worth it but some days getting there is a royal pain in the whoo haa.

Chuck preached today and it was awesome. Amy's words are dead on.

The thing about Chuck is that he consistently preaches the gospel because as he puts it..." I live a life of unbelief."

Dont we all.

He was so great in pointing us to the whole concept of knowing the end of our story... and how phenomenal it will be. You know those moments in church where you actually can FEEL that God is present. You can feel the Holy Spirit there and you know its real. Its that little taste of heaven that I love and when Im there in that I never want to leave. I think that is what heaven will be like...that feeling all the time. You dont have to tell me!! I long for heaven often...not in
an escapist way necessearily but just in a "there has got to be more than just this" sort of way. Some days life just feels too hard and too unrewarding to have this be all there is.

Its always good to hear Chuck because he is so passionate about it and mostly (he would say this) because he is honest with his own struggles. I love hearing that from the pulpit. I love it when preachers can be authentic and honest about what life really looks like. It helps to know that others are slogging along with me at times.

I sound depressed. Im totally not. Just actually encouraged by the Gospel. Im reminded that this is why I go to church...because it falls out of my head very quickly and I need to be reminded of God's incredible grace to us and our ultimate reward! I need the perspective. And I need it often.