Summers and Sundresses

This summer, I decided to do, what I called, a “Summer Church Hop.”  Just thinking of summers and church made me think of summers and sundresses.

Do you ever have the feeling of a memory, but can’t put your finger on the details?  That’s how I feel about sundresses.  I feel like I might remember when I discovered them and wanted one so badly!  I do recall at least one picture with a sundress, but I feel like it was a season for me.  I don’t really wear them much now, but the idea of it seemed so fitting for visiting a few different churches.  I did buy one and try it on, but it wasn’t the right fit.  Regardless, I still wore some summery clothes and/or shoes on this little adventure.

So about the church hop…

In actuality, I haven’t been to as many churches as I had on my list—yet; but I still have at least one more to try to get to before summer is over.  Here was my idea and plan…

I would visit a church that I had on my list, and on my heart, every other Sunday morning.  I would attend church with Steve on the opposite Sundays.  He wasn’t up for visiting, so he (reluctantly) agreed for me to go. This was not a strict schedule, as Father’s Day falls in the summer season.  On that day, we went to church with my daughter, son-in-law, and our new grandson.  So, you get the idea. 

I had a few reasons for wanting to do this; and although the full church list wasn’t completed, the reasons seem to be fulfilled.  I’m going to mix and mingle here with the explanations and what I gained from all of this in hopes that you will also gain from my experiences.

First of all, summer seemed like the perfect time to do this (and not just because of the possibility of wearing a sundress!). It felt like summer and sunshine in my soul.  As I write this, I wonder if perhaps an underlying reason that I didn’t even recognize was that Vacation Bible School (VBS) (which I ALWAYS referred to as simply, “Bible School”) was always in the summer…and I LOVED to go!  I would ‘church hop’ to all different ones, and gained from each…I have no doubt!

The first church I picked, I had not been to before, but I knew a few people who attended there beforehand.  Once I got there, I didn’t know very many other people there compared to the size of the congregation.  With the area we live in, I was surprised about this.  I thoroughly enjoyed the liveliness of the worship!  I knew most of the songs, which was helpful.  The sermon was encouraging. You see, although I don’t plan to make this my home church, I gained from being there. 

Visiting isn’t always easy…especially when you are truly searching for a new church.  That was not really my intention.  Yes, of course, I want to be open to God if I felt He was leading me elsewhere, but it was more-so to be refreshed by attending with other believers from different backgrounds.  I always find it good to be reminded that it isn’t just us; or that it isn’t just our church that is following Jesus.  I think it is good to worship God with people you don’t know but are on the same path as you.  When visiting with this perspective, it takes a little of the uneasiness out of it…especially if you can slip into a back row(!)…which I could not—but close!

I also enjoy experiencing how different churches operate, or organize their services. Granted, on my list were Bible-believing, Christian churches with similar backgrounds as I have. I have no desire to go anywhere that might be in opposition to the views of basic Christianity. I don’t want to open myself in the least to something that may confuse or give Satan a foothold.

The second church I chose was the main church I grew up in.  I cannot even begin to tell you how much this little country church means to me.  AND—I don’t think I will be able to relate fully how many memories came flooding back as I sat in those pews with my aunt…but at least a few…

The little church was pristine.  The crowd was small, but the memories were enough to fill it a hundred times over.  Of course, I tried to sit near the back (my favorite section—always!).  There were a few changes.  For example, the back row on the right was replaced with a sound booth.  Understandable.  The same piano (I can’t confirm, but feel positive) that I took lessons on, and Punky played faithfully, still sat at the front in the same location but no one played; however, that didn’t stop us from singing with the music played from the sound booth!

The pews were the same and in good condition.  The coverings may have been new. That, I don’t recall. They still sat the same, and I easily recalled where my grandma sat.  I even chewed a piece of Juicy Fruit gum, that I happened to have while I was there, in her honor, you could say. She always had some for me when I was growing up. I can’t count how many times I went to her seat to get a piece.

I recalled where my great grandpa sat, and then stood as we “shook hands” in fellowship before united prayer.  He would stand with his hand on the edge of the pew so people could put their hand in his and shake it because he was blind and couldn’t go around the church as others could. I still remember how soft his skin was, and how I’d say, “Hi, Grandpa” so he’d know who I was.  You know, when I see him in Heaven, I won’t have to tell him.  He will be able to see me for who I am. It’s been a long time, and I’m not sure I ever thought about that before. I can hardly imagine.

The choir pews were still sitting neatly in the front of the church.  Empty for now, but I recall sitting up there sometimes, and how “Doc” called on me to pray aloud one church service as a teenager.  God somehow prepared me for that. I knew he was going to ask. Isn’t God amazing?!

I took communion with the folks there that day…what an honor to partake with them…and what a blessing to be able to do that again in my home church. Millstone.

There are so many more memories of family and friends; fellowship and fabulous church services; Sunday School and sunshine! To tell you how much this church and the people there contributed to my walk with Christ, I would need a book to contain so much more than a blog post.  (Hopefully, that is on the horizon…sooner or later.)  Regardless, of where I go or how old I get, I will take pieces of that place with me always.

The conclusion of what I learned from this excursion…well, let me add first that, Steve and I have gone together on Wednesday evenings to a church we used to attend.  The crowd has been small, but the majority of those attending have quickly felt like family again along with a few new faces. Having said that, the older I get and the more churches I have attended, the more rooted I am in my faith and beliefs that stem back to the beginning.  Have I learned, grown, and matured over the years?  I have…and for the sake of those I have had any contact with over this life span, I am sure they would not only vouch for me, but be happy that I am not who I used to be!  To God be the glory because that is something worth celebrating!

This summer, along with recognizing the encounters I have happened onto over the years with different beliefs, has only drawn my roots deeper still. There continues to be a reconfirmation as I read His Word as to what I have been taught as the foundation of my faith…

I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins on a rugged cross.  I believe that He gives us free will to choose or reject Him.  I believe that He wants all to repent of their sins and choose Him.  And I believe that He wants our whole selves—all of us—everything! I believe that He gives us free will to follow or to walk away.

I only want to continue forward…following Him…celebrating who He is…and bringing honor to His name by my everyday walk.  Sometimes, our walk is more difficult at times, and sometimes storms are raging, but it will be worth it all when we see Jesus!

As I began working on this article, the storms have been rolling through this first part of August…not really unusual for August, I guess.  But, something about these storms feels unusual.  It feels representative of the storms in our lives over the last year.  The thunder continues to rumble on and off.  The skies clear for a bit.  The sun shines, but another round of storms roll in…and sometimes continue to rumble in the background in a sense.

I’m not sure how many of you are facing this same scenario; and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that many have faced far worse than I have seen and felt. In any case, I do know this…God is in control.  He loves me.  He knows my situations…some minor, and some (at least seem) major at times…and some feel like a waiting game, simply waiting for the storm to pass. But…His eye is on the sparrow, and I know that He watches me…and you. So—when things get heavy, I bring them to Him.  When things are a little lighter for the moment, I thank Him.  I look to the author of my faith.  I look to the finisher of my faith…and…by the way…He is One and the same. I feel so-so blessed(!)…so much so, that I sometimes feel a little guilty bringing those burdens to Him, when I think of those who are going through so much more than I EVER have…but I am reminded that He cares about every detail of our lives, and He invites us to bring our burdens to Him. The weight of those burdens is not a factor.

So as this writing comes to a close, first of all, thank you for reading. I appreciate you. I’d be honored if you chose to share my writings, so feel free to copy and paste a link to my blog or a post to share…but no pressure, and I’m not asking! (Insert smiley face.) Second of all, I hope you will be encouraged to plant your roots firmly in Jesus and recognize that you are not following alone. And third of all, no matter what storms you may be facing, keep that sunshine, summers, and sundresses-feeling in your soul! “How?” You might ask in the midst of the storm. I am not gonna say it is always easy, or that I’ve mastered it; but I do know that by keeping our eyes on the One Who creates the sunshine; says, “Peace, be still.” to the storm; and can be trusted with my everything; He is the same One who can bless us with joy and celebration in our hearts like wearing a sundress in summertime.

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“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭39‬ ‭KJV‬‬