Tonight's Blog for March 31, 2013

"LORD, YOU are such a blessing. Thank YOU, LORD for visiting us at MCC today! Today, we felt

your presence in our building, with each precious brother and sister who came in to worship, to read stories, to hear stories, to hug, to sing, to be hugged, to love and to be loved!" This is my prayer tonight for each of you, my readers, as we share these precious moments together!

How do we evaluate the activities of a day like this? Easter usually comes with high expectations and high preparation for the details like food, family, and fun. We have all felt that we should enjoy our Church time together, but usually expected that it was better if it were somehow enjoyed silently or secretly. This one day, we can sometimes feel that it is ok to "unleash the child" in us, and run to the line to get Easter Eggs or to have a "no-bake" cookie. This one day we all become free to wear a tie, a clip-on tie, mind you, or not wear one! GOD loves us if we are wearing or not wearing a tie or a suit coat! 

The human factor is a big part of my evaluation of these days. I know that folks in the room are there because they LOVE YOU, LORD. In our worship time, today, we heard songs that brought  "good tears" to the eyes of those who sang, or just listened. I saw multiple rows of beautiful folks, some related and some not. I saw a dad who was with his sons, and they were so glad to be with their dad! As a son, I know that they won't forget. Some of our saints have been ill, very ill, deathly ill on occasions this year. Instead of tears of sadness, they were given special grace and joy today, LORD, because of YOUR son! 

The Divine nature of our GOD is revealed in these special moments. I love when we have done, for YOU, LORD, in preparation, in planning and in presenting the visual side of the time of JESUS leading up to Easter, that isn't what we ended with, but with HOPE and JOY! 

Ultimately, LORD, I come into your presence and say to YOU, "Lord, please take our pitiful, partial, but prayerful efforts and multiply them! What we did or didn't do, we did all that we did for you, in our love and in our devotion to YOUR Son, our Savior!

My goal is to see our freedom, laughter and joy become more and more a part of our every day walk with Christ. My goal is to duplicate every Sunday, the energy, the anticipation and the sheer audacity of people who really believe that YOU, LORD, want to visit your people.. I am praying right now, LORD, for your blessing to go forth from your Church, your People, your Bride… big marv