“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13 NIV

I love this message series that we're currently doing at BHCC called "Connect the Dots."  I pray that the BHCC peeps are getting at least half as much as I'm getting out of it!   I've been hearing a lot of positive feedback on it so certainly the LORD is working, working, working!

Preparing a message is often one of the hardest and most wonderful things I do each week.  Few people realize that it takes between 15-20 hours each week to prepare a 25 minute sermon. There is so much prayer, and research, and writing and polishing and practicing that goes into it. It takes a great deal of concerted focus and some weeks, it is definitely harder than others.

But the best part of it is the time I get to spend with the LORD as I'm preparing. There are no words that can adequately describe the union that I feel with Him as I am preparing the message. Sometimes it feels like He just opens this spiritual window as I pray and I begin to feel this wave of concepts, energy & wisdom flow into me from His Spirit.  I know it's a total partnership of working together for His glory. And I feel the weight of carrying His message until I am able to release it on Sunday morning. After I have released it, I usually feel very exhausted. Most pastors I know feel the same way.

I really wish more people could 'connect-the-dots' and understand how holy, beautiful and precious being an active, connected part of the Lord's church really is.  Even with all its flaws, the LORD loves His Church with all His heart and He truly sees it as His own Living Body in the world. As the scriptures say, we are His Temple, we are the building in which He lives and breathes and loves! People have no idea what they are saying when they say they don't 'need' to go to church. If you connect the dots, you understand that its like saying you don't need or want Jesus. Think about it, the Church is the Living Body of Christ!

I pray that God will open the eyes of their hearts and help them connect the dots so they can see what the Church really is in the eyes of God. Perhaps if they could see it, they would treat it with a lot more reverence and love! And perhaps they could see that they too are called not just to go to church, but to BE the church! When we all do our assigned parts in the Body of Christ, there is no greater beauty in the world!

Come Lord Jesus COME! Bring us truth, light and hope! Help us to connect the dots when we look at and think of Your Church.  Let us see the incredible beauty and gift that resides in it and let us see ourselves as a vital necessity to keep it healthy and ALIVE!!!

See you in church this Sunday?