I woke up with great anticipation this morning. It’s Sunday! It’s the Lord’s Day and I’m excited! It’s the special day of the week that I get to gather with my Doniphan church family. First, I get teach Ladies’ Class. Oh, how I love that wonderful group of ladies! We start out going over the prayer list, and I think that’s one of the most important things we can do – “pray one for another . . . for the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). We use my Scripture Writing Schedule as our lessons in class, and today, we’re going to be studying the “Mind.” “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7). We are to “love the Lord, our God with all heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength; this is the first commandment (Mark 12:30). There are so many lessons to be learned!
After Ladies Class, we’ll gather in the auditorium with the rest of the congregation. We’ll raise our voices in songs and praise. We’ll go before the throne of our heavenly Father in prayer, and we’ll set aside a time to prepare our minds to partake of the Lord’s Supper – to remember the sacrifice that He gave on the cross where His blood was shed. This is done each week because of the example of the early church when Luke tells that “upon the first day of the week, the disciples came together to break bread (Acts 20:7). It is such a special moment to realize that we’re in communion with God and each other. We’ll also take up a collection due to the commandment found in I Corinthians 16:2, ” Then, upon this first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.” Then, God’s Word will be opened and a lesson will be taught. Now, personally, I think our preacher is amazing – of course, I’m a little prejudiced, but it really doesn’t matter who is doing the preaching – every time God’s Word is opened, there are lessons to be learned. And I love that the invitation to be baptized or ask for the prayers of the church is offered at every service. For “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). And, oh how I look forward to the hand shakes, hugs and fellowship following our services. We laugh together and we cry together for we are “family.”
As the Hebrew writer stressed, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrew 10:25). We should do all that we can to gather with the saints on each Lord’s Day. I’m so excited! Like David said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord (Psalm 122:1). Today is going to be a GREAT DAY! Join us at the Doniphan Church of Christ! Bible class starts at 9:30 and worship services begin at 10:15. Oh, how we’d love to have you! Simply blessed, Courtney