| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “The end of anxiety and despair” Our Bible verse for today: “Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eye …” Psalm 13:3 (NLT) Our thought for today: “Get that sparkle back” I love the time of fellowship during our morning worship service at Oak Hill Baptist. It happens early in the service, right after the greeting and announcements. I encourage people to take a few moments to move around the sanctuary greeting people, shaking hands, hugging, and just enjoying one another. It’s always a time of happy chaos with people making their way up and down the aisles. There’s a lot of talking, laughing, back-patting, hugging, and, generally, well … chaos. But happy chaos. And yes, it is an element of worship. It’s a beautiful example of God’s people enjoying being together. It captures the spirit of what King David joyfully expressed in Psalm 122:3, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go up to the house of the Lord.’” I once overheard a visitor remark, as he gazed upon our fellowship time, “This is such a happy place!” And it is. People often jokingly complain to me that the fellowship time of the worship service is too short – that they need more time to greet everyone they want to say hello to, or hug, or laugh with. I like the way the New Living Translation translates Psalm 13:3. There the writer pleads with the Lord to “Restore the sparkle to my eye …” Having an eye that “sparkles” is an expression that indicates joy, cheerfulness, amusement, and even playfulness. The person is in good spirits and you can see it in his or her face. You can see it by the sparkle in their eye. Now, go back to the scene of our happy chaos on Sunday mornings. There are always a lot of sparkling eyes in that place – happy people sharing joy, cheerfulness, amusement, and even playfulness. And again, yes, that is part of our worship. Our Father in heaven loves to see His children gathered together and truly enjoying it. I’ll bet He has a smile on His face and sparkle in His own eyes are He watches us. Are you struggling with anxiety and despair, maybe you’re even a little depressed? Well, come to church! Like the Psalmist you need God to restore the sparkle to your eye. Immerse yourself in a crowd of happy, cheerful, amused and playful fellow Christians who will greet you, hug you, love you, and include you. Soon your own eyes will be sparkling again. If you need the sparkle returned to your eye there’s no better place for that to happen than in the fellowship of a good church gathering. Join us! God bless, Pastor Jim |
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