Burning Hope

i went to a baptist church today. i stopped hesitating about being invited to churches since clearly, i am in need of a community and joel osteen's tv sermons aren't really doing much for my spirit.

i was invited by a coworker and we drove thirty minutes in. the. RAIN. after weeks of drought, weeks of prayers and texas wildfires, we got RAIN!

which is funny when we drove through it....there were crazy texas drivers out there who forgot what it was like to drive in the rain. of course, you haven't seen anything yet until you see a texan drive with ice on the ground during "winter."

i was greeted with a busling of people standing by the church doors looking in amazement at the downpour. by the time we got dry and seated, i recieved tons of hugs.

im not a hugger.

and this put me in an awkward position having to half-heartedly return hugs. i felt like the kids who were giving strangers hugs. slight tap and a hurried escape.....but there were so many ones who held on tight and kisses on the cheeks, it took me by surprise.

here i was hugging strangers while they were hugging friends.

pastor jim came to the pulpit and said a spirit filled prayer about the rain. worship songs played soon after and i stood there taking everything in.

i listened to the sermon and paid attention to the voice inside my heart about how i was truly feeling.

i was moved, that much was true.
i had a small fill of what community would be like and could be like.

what an appropriate name for a church. sometimes in life you have community, you have faith and other times you are stricken with loneliness and doubt. but somewhere in there is an ember.....just enough to light the Fire.

a burning hope of a disciple.