The Lord Has Promised Good to Me...

Last night I had the privilege of being in church. It doesn't always feel like a privilege. Sometimes it feels more like sheer habit. Sometimes I go because momma raised me right and it's what I'm supposed to do every weekend. Sometimes it's obligation, because I'm manning a kiosk, or handing out a flyer, or serving in the nursery or making coffee or checking kids into their classes. Sometimes it's my social fix, I go to visit with friends I know will be there too. Sometimes I go but I'm not really there because I wish I was somewhere else.

And sometimes, now and then, I go and I'm privileged to be there, joining in worship with others there for a myriad of reasons themselves. But when you put us all together something wonderful happens and I find myself in His presence, in a state of mind where I notice the intricacies of people. The intricacies He sees. The one who has hurt showing all over his face, the family who is standing together with miles of distance between them. The woman who attends alone, week after week, comes in at the last minute, sits in the same place every week, and once service ends she leaves as quickly as possible, before anyone can look into her eyes and see what's not there.

Sometimes I notice that we've been standing, singing, for a long time - long enough the older man in the back row had to sit down. His legs couldn't keep up, but his cane and feet are still tapping time.

Sometimes a baby, who wasn't dropped off in the nursery, will begin to cry, and I know from the sound it's a brand new one, and that cry fills the sanctuary, as it should. A robust reminder God hasn't given up on us yet. He's still in the business of making replacements! The parents are probably uncomfortable it's their baby wailing, unaware the sound blesses the rest of us so that we don't need any other music.

Sometimes I go, and worship begins and I realize the lyrics of this song will be hard for the woman who lost her husband a few weeks ago, or the parents who just sent their son overseas to serve, not sure he's going to come back. Or the man who sits up front on the left and lost his job last month, and is yet to find one. Faith in the raw.

And I'm built up, standing there singing that particular song, because I know if they can praise God in the midst of whatever they're going through, then I probably can too. My 'troubles' are small and fleeting. Every single song lyric was chosen just for me too. For whatever's on my mind or heart or conscience.

Like this one, we sang last night:

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God who called me here below
Will be forever mine, will be forever mine
You are forever mine
© WORSHIPTOGETHER.COM SONGS; SIX STEPS MUSIC;

I left last night, blessed to have been there, for many reasons. And the line that will stick with me this week, til I go again:

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

Amen to that.