Close Encounters of the Holy Kind

"And Jacob awoke from his sleep, and he said, 'Surely the LORD is in this place and I did not know it.' He was afraid and said, 'How to be feared and reverenced in this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gateway to heaven!' " ~ Genesis 28:16-17 (AMP)

Jacob's Ladder, by Albert Houthuesen

Have you ever left a church service feeling empty? Ever make a quick exit upon learning your ‘favorite’ preacher or priest wasn’t preaching and teaching?  Did you walk out disappointed because you felt a sermon was boring and did not personally speak to you or address your needs, or because the music wasn’t to your liking? Have you ever gone home unmoved by and unchanged from your time at church? 

I can sincerely say ‘Yes’ to all of the above, with regards to the various churches I've attended at one time or another in my life.

Before the next Saturday night or Sunday morning rolls around, we would do well to ask ourselves:

“Why do I go to church?”

• Out of guilt?

• Out of habit?

• To get to Heaven and to steer clear of Hell?

“What am I looking for when I go?”

• An explosive, entertaining sound and light experience?

• A charismatic preacher whose sermons are funny, engaging, not too convicting, and won’t put the congregation to sleep?

• Tasty hot and cold refreshments, yummy baked goods, comfy seats and a good handle on their climate control?

• Chances to socialize and network with others?

Dear ones, may I be so bold as to insist that the next time you find yourself standing before the doors of a church, whether it's a church you've been attending for most of your life, or a brand new church you're trying out, please be sure to check your heart motives.  

I know this is something I've been so guilty of NOT doing for the majority of my life, and something I plan on changing immediately. Because to be honest, over the years on most Sunday morning, after trying to herd my son and daughter out the door and into the car, and now an elderly neighbor who needs a ride to services as well, I barely make it to church on time, slipping not so quietly into my seat -- out of breath, frazzled, irritated, distracted and sans ANY expectations of a close encounter with the Holy Spirit. Sadly, I'm more desperate for a cup of hot coffee and for my world to stop spinning and calm down than anything else.

Maybe it's like that for you, too?

However, above any other reasons, we should come to our places of worship to experience a fresh encounter of the presence and power of God’s Holy Spirit; to worship and praise our Lord along with a like-minded, close-knit body of believers.

As you place your hand upon the door handle and prepare to step across the threshold, expect to find Him lovingly and joyfully waiting for you on the other side of that door, waiting to welcome you as you enter in His sanctuary with awe, humility, thanksgiving and gladness!

Coming together in one place to seek the Lord, to give Him all our worship and praise should be our highest honor and privilege, as well as our greatest delight as Christian brothers and sisters. 

Are we desperate for the touch of Adonai?  Desperate for His voice, His healing, His very presence in this place?

I have to wonder what our church services would begin to look like if we became a people of holy expectation and desperation. If we truly surrendered and abandoned ourselves to God, as we stepped barefoot onto the holy ground of our sanctuaries,  with hearts and minds completely focused on Him.  KNOWING without a doubt that YAHWEH awaited US! 

I'd like to do more than just wonder this coming Sunday. How about you?

Let's stop going through the motions of stale and predictable worship each and every Saturday night or Sunday morning. Let's get rid of our little-to-no expectations of ever having an encounter with the Spirit of the Living God. Instead, let's open our hearts and turn our faces up towards our Almighty God and Father, hungry and thirsty for a holy, close encounter with our precious Lord Jesus, desperate for the Holy Spirit's presence in our church -- and in our lives!


Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! ~ Psalm 100:4 (ESV)

All Dogs Go To Heaven

I’ve purposely veered off the beaten path today to post a poem that I wrote in honor of some sweet friends of mine who recently lost their beloved dogs:

Xena, who passed away last month after giving many, many years of faithful love and happiness to her family

Adena, who had to be put down yesterday after a valiant battle with cancer, and who also gave her family so much love and joy over the years. 

The grief both families are experiencing is heavy, fresh and very real. Anyone who owns a pet can attest to the fact that they actually ‘own’ us, and after initially capturing our hearts, they go on to become tried and true members of our families.

I know there are many folks out there in the bloggy world and beyond who do not ascribe to the view or belief, if you will, that our pets go to Heaven after they die, and will argue there is nothing in the Bible to back this up. To them, I humbly ask that they kindly set those thoughts aside today as I seek to comfort and grieve along with my friends.

They say that all dogs go to Heaven

And I believe that’s true,

For when it’s my time to come home

I know that I’ll see you.

For now, I miss you SO much,

I’m empty, lost and sad,

Because to me you were the dearest

Best friend that I had.

No happy bark or ‘wiggly butt’

To greet me at the door,

No ‘click clack’ of your doggie nails

Tap dancing on my floor.

Whenever I was sad or sick

You wouldn’t leave my side,

Your soft, smooth fur was there to catch

Each teardrop that I cried.

Your love was unconditional

So loyal and so true,

But now it seems you’ve finished

What God placed you here to do.

He surely welcomed you by saying,

“Well done, good and faithful friend!”

So if all dogs go to Heaven,

I know this is not the end.

R.I.P Xena and Adena