Where’s your happy place?

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Lighten up a little”

Our Bible verse for today: “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go up to the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Where’s your happy place?”

For many years Disneyland has laid claim to the title “The happiest place on earth.” Well, I’ve been to Disneyland and I’m unconvinced. Although there is some fun to be had there, there are also crushing crowds, long lines, high prices, crying kids, and exasperated adults.

I have happy places, but Disneyland is not one of them. I love being at home on the porch with my wife. Or hiking on a trail in the deep woods. Or sitting on a beach with sunny skies and crystal-blue water. Or, in church. Church is without question a happy place for me. That’s what King David was thinking about when he wrote Psalm 122:1.

One of the things I love about Oak Hill Baptist Church is the sounds of laughter that ring throughout the place. When our church family is gathered it tends to get loud because our people enjoy being together so much. There are smiles and greetings, hugs and laughing, joking and kidding. In the Sunday school classes there’s lots of good teaching, but the fellowship among the members is great too. In our worship service the time of greeting and welcoming one another is happy chaos as people wander around the sanctuary hugging, talking, laughing, and greeting one another. I frequently get the complaint that I don’t allow the fellowship time to go on long enough before I call the people back to continue singing.

Church is my happy place. Whether the church is gathered for worship, study, fellowship, work projects, recreation, or for any other reason, it is always a bright spot in my week. The rest of life can sometimes get heavy and maybe even a little discouraging but gathering with my church family is the tonic that makes it all better.

A few years ago, the Country singer Kenny Chesney had a hit song titled, “Everybody
wants to go to heaven (but nobody wants to go now)”

“Everybody wants to go to heaven, have a mansion high above the clouds,
Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go now …

I’m sure you probably do want to go to heaven, but not right now. Well, it’s often been said (and I know it to be true), that church done right is a little taste of heaven. So come to church instead! At Oak Hill Baptist our Sunday school is at 9:00 and the worship service is at 10:00. I promise you will feel welcome. You will also get your share of hugs, you’ll probably laugh a good bit, and before long church will be your happy place too!

By-the-way, Kenny Chesney’s song reminds me of little Johnny in Sunday school. The teacher told the children to raise their hands if they wanted to go to heaven. They all raised their hands except for Johnny. The surprised teacher asked, “Johnny, don’t you want to go to heaven?” Johnny hesitated and then said, “Well, I do, but do I have to go now? Mom said we’re having cherry pie for desert today and that’s my favorite!”

Amen Johnny. I can relate, little brother. Heaven is going to be great, but I’d like a little more cherry pie before I go.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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