EXPERIENCING church

Who doesn't enjoy sitting through a nicely organized, smooth, church service: nice sounding band, lots of nice programs, a good sermon? But I experienced church this morning, not because of those aspects of a Sunday morning, but because of relationships.
~This morning church was talking to 3 teen guys who went to pray with and serve the people of inner city Philadelphia. Their faces lit up when I asked them: "Did you tell those Philadelphians about Jesus?" (Yes I know, Philadelphians is not a real term). These 3 young men see what it looks like to be bold and share what they believe. One of the 3 boys was in toddlers with 2 little boys on his lap reading to them when I talked to him...talk about melt my heart! I pray for these 3 young men to keep the fire that I can see on their faces for sharing and showing Jesus. We need men who are willing to live on mission, feed the hungry, hold children, and pray with the broken.
~Church was hugging a beautiful and sweet friend of mine that I have been incredibly blessed to watch grow in her faith in leaps and bounds over the past 9 months. She went on her first cross-cultural missions trip this weekend and as she said, "I'm ready to go!" Not only has she been convicted to go and tell people about Jesus, but she also understands how it will affect her children. This understanding has become more of a motivation than a restraint....she gets it!!! I love looking at her little girls' faces as their mom tells us about her trip. They are soaking in how their mom is loving people in other places in the name of Jesus. Seriously, what else is there to teach our children? I have known her pretty much all of my life but I am beyond encouraged to have a meaningful and deep friendship with her as we now grow and serve together.
~Church was hearing the news of an adoption within our church family, hugging the adopting mom, and crying as I heard about how God has orchestrated this glorifying adoption. These 2 little girls have been through more than my heart can imagine, but God is painting them a beautiful picture of what it means to be loved and adopted by our heavenly Father. His hand has been evident in the entire process, even before we knew that these little girls would be orphaned. And to know that a family is responding to the call of Christ to love the orphaned as God loves us is what being the church is all about! Now we as a body of believers need to come behind them and support them and pray for them. I can bet that their family will be under attack because the last thing Satan wants is for Jesus to be glorified.
This morning I was lifted up by people spreading the Gospel and sharing God's love in impactful ways. I am feeling so blessed after EXPERIENCING church this morning. God is so gracious to allow me to see His hand in others' lives.