Welcome Back....

... to church.  Because of our run with nasty "bugs" recently, we have not been to ANY church service since the Sunday just after Christmas.

That's a total of 3 Sunday School classes
                             3 Morning Worship Services
                                 3 Evening Worship Services
                                     and 3 Wednesday Night Prayer Meetings missed.


We probably could have gone last Sunday, but decided to stay out one more week just to make sure we were not carrying and more bugs.

Let me tell you, the folks at our church truly missed us.  They missed us for who we are and not for what we do.

It is so refreshing to be loved for who you are and not only for the work you do or the $$$ you give.

Today was a yucky day, gloomy, rainy, chilly...

                                       ....my heart and soul were warmed by the service of worship, by sweet grammas welcoming my kids back and telling them how much they were missed, by the preaching of the Word with sincerity and love. 

Matthew 5: 3-12

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Our Pastor is preaching through the Beatitudes and today he preached on being merciful. 

Some might think that the preaching ends when the pastor finishe, the final hymn is sung and the benediction given.  Sometimes it does.  And that's a shame.  I believe it is something to guard against.

Today the sermon didn't end...

it went on during lunch and for a while after.

I don't mean an actual sermon was being preached at our table while we ate pizza, but that the Father continued to use the words that we had heard and we, the Gibson Family, continued to learn and absorb and discuss what we had heard.

I am so thankful for freedom to discuss whatever has pricked our heart.  Thankful for a husband and children who prod me , challenge me to think, ask questions and really strive to understand and learn.  I never imagined 20 years ago when we got married, that one day we would be raising two children to love and seek to serve the King of kings.

But here we are, and the growth and challenges are a part of life.  A life given to serving the King.  A life of striving to be merciful and to truly live out the gospel.