Around the Altar

Open up the Heavens...
Show us Your Glory    

Wednesday night at church, we had a most unusual prayer service.  We normally have worship, offering, prayer requests, everyone prays alone and then we all come together to pray.

This past Wednesday night, after the prayer requests, the church came together to pray and minister to one of our lovelies.  As people began to pray for her and love on her my heart was filled with unspeakable fullness.  One of our kids was hurting and the whole church joined together, putting aside our "normal" routine to care for this one.  It not only ministered to the one who was hurting, it ministered to all those at the altar.  It united our little church just a bit more.

We sang, we laughed, we cried, we shared our hearts...all around the altar together.  I do believe, God was in the midst of us right then.  The wonderful thing is, not one of us at the altar was perfect, is perfect or will be perfect (until we are with Him).  But God met us there at the altar in a little church on a dead end street, Webb Lane in a little town called Havre de Grace, Maryland.

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”-Matthew 18:20 NKJV

Such a beautiful time we had around the altar.  There are so many that are hurting but are afraid to let anyone see it.  When we come into the House of God, we have an opportunity for restoration, healing, brokenness to be mended.  Sometimes, we just need to make our way to the altar and let Him embrace us with His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness...letting His peace surround us like a fog, keeping the pain and self condemnation at bay.  

On our way to church Wednesday Night, the fog was settling in.  I told my husband that it was weird because we couldn't see much to our sides but everything was clear ahead of us.  The fog had settled on both sides of us...the wooded, snow covered areas but the road was clear.  So instead of looking all around, we just stayed focused on the path ahead.  

Oh how we need that so often.  God, roll in the fog all around us so that we can just focus on you, on the path that you have set before us.  Fix our eyes on you.  That is my prayer for myself, for my family, for all those who are struggling, hurting, confused in this world.  

FIX OUR EYES ON YOU, O, GOD!!

If you need to be loved, healed, embraced by the grace of God; get to His house.  Don't be ashamed because you are not perfect...nobody is.  We are all on this path, to be like Jesus.  He knows us, He loves us, He created us...our short comings are no surprise to Him.  Let Him love on you, just like a daddy will love on his children when they are hurting, He will do the same.  

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I want to say WELCOME TO THE FAMILY to my great nephew Landon Oliver Grapes.  We are so beyond thrilled to welcome you into our crazy family.  We are truly blessed.  

My handsome nephew...
He's a new Daddy!!
Matthew Grapes