Power of Gathering

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 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.  Heb. 10:24-25

There is something so powerful about gathering together for church.  I tell you, it is truly remarkable.  Today was just one of those days. I have no excuse other than being preg…no, I have no excuse. I am just selfish beyond comprehension.  I woke up tired and grumpy. Everything rubbed me the wrong way.  And while I am ecstatic that my husband loves his new job, I found myself pouting like a toddler today thinking, “Jeff this, Jeff that, Jeff’s job, Jeff’s the best, every loves Jeff.  What happend to me?!” How’s that for selfish? Yeah. Jeff was a gem (of course) and listened to me articulate my selfishness, trying to sugar-coat it, but in the end it was spoken and sat out in the middle of the room like a hairy monster showing itself for what it was–really ugly yucky selfishness.  I hate that.

Anyway, we did our best, got to church, and it was seriously like something washed over me when I got in the door.  Of course being loved and welcomed and greeted helped, but as the music began and I started singing, not about myself, but about His name, His greatness, His majesty, in the congregation of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, I was truly changed.  My eyes filled with tears as I sang, “So I let my words be few. Jesus I am so in love with you” and as we sang, “Your name is strong and mighty tower. Your name, is a shelter like no other. Your name, let the nations sing it louder.  Cause nothing has the power to save, but Your name” the glory of God changed my heart.  HE is so beautiful, so worthy, so gracious, so patient, so longsuffering, so awesome.  He didn’t put me in my place or give me a big spanking, He just brought me in the congregation and poured out His glorious presence…and changed my heart.  ANd then as His Word was taught, that light shining in the dark, nasty crevices of my heart.  The stirring, the repentence, the double-edged sword opening up the places that needed His cleansing. ANd then communion,sharing the Lord’s supper together with the family of Christ, remembering His work, His finished work. There aren’t words.

So tonight I’m just so thankful for the assembling together.  As Jeff pointed out on the way home, you could listen to that message on a CD, you could play those songs on a your stereo. You could eat a cracker and drink a sip of grape juice at home, but there is something so powerful about the gathering together of Christ’s body.  We belong to eachother and we’re blessed when we gather in His name.  So I go to bed changed, thankful, humbled, repentent. God showed me some pretty ugly things in my heart (more on that later), but in such a beautiful gracious way.  There is no rule that says we must go to church, and yes you can experience God having church in a coffee shop alone with your Bible.  But let’s not forsake the gathering together (Heb. 10:24-25).  I’m so thankful for my church, the chuch, our church.  Christ’s church.