BIG CHURCH

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of assisting in The Girl’s 4 and 5 year olds’ Sunday School Class.  The Son-In-Law was substitute teacher in an Adult Class.  I never pass up the opportunity to join the little ones as I am forever learning so much from their young minds.

As The Girl taught the lesson about Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, I was again filled with pride and thankfulness for the blessing of The Girl.  She does have a way with those kids and teaches on a level they can believe and understand.  Face it, I can’t explain how the crossing on dry ground happened except to say, as she said, that it was miracle.  I’m so glad miracles still happen in our lives, aren’t you? 

Anyhow, after the lesson the children were given a coloring sheet that would fold and be a visual of the crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground.  The conversation went on in the language of children….”Was the Red Sea red? Or should I color it blue?”  Then the conversation was…”Is there a Green Sea?  Is there a White Sea?”  And, of course, I only knew for sure there is a Black Sea.  So much for my learning geography in my school years….or should I say lack of learning geography in my school years? 

As the talk went on, the goldfish crackers were eaten, the water drank, and the coloring continued, time began to run out.  At that point, The Girl said to the children, “We need to color fast.  It’s almost time for Big Church.”  Big Church.  BIG CHURCH.  Huh, I’d never really thought of the ll:00 service like that before.

Now for all of you who are not familiar with me, in our church we have Sunday School hour and then everyone from youngest to oldest to all those in the middle meet in the sanctuary for Big Church.  Yes, we all meet together and we all sing together and we all pray together and we also listen to the preaching.  Together. 

Honestly, as I thought some this week, I liked the sound of BIG CHURCH more and more and more.  I’m betting I’ll call it that from here on out.   I thought of what BIG CHURCH really means to me.   I’ll bet you’d like to know what it REALLY means to me. 

Big Church to me means this:

Willingness to praise the Lord and follow His Spirit wherever it leads

Obedience to always do what the Word tells me

Reminding myself that God sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for
         MY sins.  Even if I’d been the only one, I know He would have loved
         THAT much still.

Strength to draw from to face “real life” and all the joys and sorrows it brings

        and songs that lift my spirits high, higher, highest

Hearing the Word preached.  The Word of God is alive and well and still applies

         to me in ALL aspects of my life.  My Heavenly Father knows what I need to hear

         from that pulpit every time someone stands there.

I, me, myself….I am Thine, O Lord….draw my heart and life closer and closer    

         to thee.

Praise for the King!   Praising Him for all He has done and is planning

         to do for His children!  Praising Him that I am one of His children!

Yes, put it all together and Big Church means WORSHIP!!!  Worshipping my Lord of Lord and King of Kings!

I can’t imagine my life without that worship time. How about you?