I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1 (NKJV)
Oh, how glad I was when I could go back to church. My first summer in Montana, twenty years ago, was spent at a church camp that didn’t really have a Sunday service at the time. My soul was weary and longing to attend a gathering of believers in a real church building. Finally, towards the end of August, we had a free Sunday to make the long drive to town to attend worship. How happy I was and how this verse rang true for me that day. “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.'”
The same thing happened last spring when our church re-opened after the COVID shut-downs. Even though we had watched church online every Sunday, it just wasn’t the same as being there. When you are there in person, you really sing out and praise God. You see other believers and pray for their families. You are encouraged when you witness others serving Jesus.
…Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:22 (NKJV)
We are still longing for everyone to return to church. President Trump declared churches as essential so we can meet again. But many are missing, as I’m sure is true for churches across the country. We need everyone to RETURN TO GATHER across this land! Return to Church, Return to Jesus, Return to God’s Word, Return to Prayer, Return to Biblical and Family Values, Return to Repentance, RETURN!
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)
If you have a health issue or have been quarantined (as recently happened to me), we understand why you can’t come in person and are thankful you can join a gathering of believers online. But if you are healthy, come back together for fellowship with others. Do not let fear stop you from coming. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). For if you don’t return, God will use the seed and the stump who remain and grow another Church, His Bride who eagerly awaits His coming!
And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Matthew 3:9 (NKJV)
And if you weren’t in the habit of attending church before, now is a great time to come. We invite you! We have a place for you! What you will find when you come are broken people, searching our way in this world, finding hope in Jesus who gave His life for us on the cross.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)
Today’s TEA CUPP: When God said, “If My people…” He was not talking about all the people, He was talking about HIS PEOPLE, the ones called by His Name, the Christians, named for Jesus Christ. It’s time for God’s people to gather together again and seek His face. Come one and all. Come.
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
P.S. I think your pastor will be delighted to see you, too!
But yet a tenth will be in it,
And will return and be for consuming,
As a terebinth tree or as an oak,
Whose stump remains when it is cut down.
So the holy seed shall be its stump. Isaiah 6:13 (NKJV)
The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob,
To the Mighty God. Isaiah 10:21 (NKVJ)
Come, and let us return to the Lord;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up. Hosea 6:1 (NKJV)
P.P.S. Please keep praying for THE GREAT REVIVAL, the last great revival before Jesus’ return, where many new hearts are brought into His Kingdom to welcome His coming. Will you join me in fasting every Tuesday, though the USA election on November 3, 2020? Our country needs our prayers now as much as ever.
Photo credit to Jolene Ewert-Hintz of Montana – Thank you!!!