Reason #3: The music we sing and hear helps me worship God.

Why do I go to church?

#3. The music we sing and hear each week helps me worship God. The key word for me in this reason is "we". I can sing Christian music to myself, but there is something powerful in singing with a sanctuary full of people praising God. This past Sunday, as we sang the hymn "He Hideth My Soul", I closed my eyes to better hear everyone around me. It was a beautiful sound. It is so good to be reminded each week that there are many others who love and esteem God, as well as be reminded of God’s greatness, love, faithfulness and majesty through singing songs with rich texts. And I can sing these words to Him at the top of my lungs. What joy that brings me to proclaim who God is so loudly!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! Psalm 150:6

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God!
For such a Redeemer as mine.

When clothed with His brightness transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,
I’ll shout with the millions on high.

He Hideth My Soul - Frances J. Crosby, 1890

Reason #2: The Bible is taught there.

Why do I go to church?

2. The Bible is taught there. The Bible contains the words of life. Not only does the Bible contain the solution for the world’s problems, Jesus, it has the solution for all of my daily problems. When I am worried or anxious, I can read in the Bible and know what to do about it. When a friend is hurting, I can read in the Bible about how to encourage her. When I want to know who God says He is...the Bible is the place to go. For example, in the 1st and 2nd grade class I help teach, we learned this week that God is zealous. See the verse from Isaiah below.

To hear the Bible explained each by my pastor, someone who has studied the Bible thoroughly helps me understand who God is and how I should live in response to Him. And this teaching always points me back to my #1 reason: my need for forgiveness through Jesus. He is the main character of this amazing Book, and His death on the cross and resurrection made this forgiveness possible.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies. Isaiah 42:13

Reason #1: I'm forgiven.

Why do I go to church?

1. I’m forgiven. I do not go to church with the primary purpose of being a good person. I cannot save myself. Instead, Jesus has saved me. The reality that I am forgiven of every wrong I have and will commit is incredibly freeing, and it gives me reason to live my life for Christ. The forgiveness I’ve received through trusting in Jesus makes a relationship with God possible. I want to care for and deepen this relationship by going to church to learn more about Jesus, and be around others who know that they are forgiven as well. Going to church gives me the opportunity to worship and thank Jesus for this forgiveness.

Do you want to know this forgiveness? Please read the verse below...if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, to provide you with forgiveness and a restored relationship with Him, tell Him and ask Him to save you!

...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9&10

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,

I’m accepted, You were condemned.

I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,

Because You died and rose again.

 – Chris Tomlin

Poor souls are apt to think that all those whom they read or hear of to be gone to heaven, went there because they were so good and holy...Yet not one of them, not any one that is now in heaven (Jesus Christ alone excepted), did ever come there any other way but by forgiveness of sins.

– John Owen

It is gloriously true that the Christian life does not boil down to being good people. At its heart, the Christian life is centered on an on-going trust in Christ.

- Greg Savage :)

For more info, please go to the following link: two ways to live

Easter is next Sunday...how will you celebrate?

As Easter approaches, I (Val) would like to share one reason I go to church for each day this week, starting in a few minutes. Except for the first one, they are not listed in a particular order. I have many more than seven reasons for going to church, but these are some of the basics. I've asked Greg his, and he has his reasons as well, but for now I'm just posting mine (though they have many similarities). My reasons may surprise you. They may not. I encourage you to read them and think of your reasons for going to church. Or, if you don't go to church, I challenge you to defend your choice by coming up with reasons you don't go. Whether you go or not, ask yourself...are you satisfied with your reasons? I know I have been challenged as I have thought and prayed about mine, and some are still a work in progress.

Please leave comments with your thoughts on the subject. I look forward to hearing from you.

Below is my favorite picture of us outside our church home, Reynoldsburg Baptist Church, otherwise known as RBC. (Thanks to Scott and Emily O'Neal)

Easter Egg Hunt

Our church held a wonderful Easter Egg Hunt today. Many families from the community and our church came to join in on the fun...lots of fun crafts, delicious food, a devotional by Pastor Greg Savage, and music from 104.9 FM, one of the local Christian radio stations. The amount of work that went into it was impressive, and it blessed many people. For us it was a family event, as "Ausin" Tara came to help out and cheer Phoebe on as she hunted for eggs. (My cousins are practically siblings to me, so they have honorary Aunt and Uncle status...we combined those words with "cousin" to make "Ausin" and "Cuncle".)

Phoebe hunting for eggs...she caught on fast!

Taking the candy out of the eggs and enjoying a piece of chocolate...

Phoebe and Tara...

Pastor Greg and his two volunteers, using a rose to symbolize Jesus...

Crucified

Laid behind a stone

You lived to die

Rejected and alone

Like a rose

Trampled on the ground

You took the fall

And thought of me

Above all

Above All, Michael W. Smith

New Floors

Thanks to our friend Andrew, we now have beautiful new tile floors in both bathrooms and the laundry room. There was one casualty in the process: our toilet lid. After trying to find a replacement we found out that the toilet was the original, from 1959. Needless to say, a new toilet cost less than the lid. Here are the before, during and afters...

The laundry room...

The guest bathroom...

The master bathroom...

And the antique toilet...

Two Months Old

Our little beauty is two months old. She now weighs 11 pounds, 8 ounces and is 23.5" long. She is smiling a lot and cooing. We're very thankful for a healthy baby. Big sister Phoebe loves "Manna"...she gives her kisses, says "hi" to her, and says "Bless you, Manna!" when Joanna sneezes. Phoebe is now 21 months old, and has a rapidly growing vocabulary. When we play peek-a-boo, we've heard her say "I see you!"...one of her first sentences. She imitates most things Mommy does, including running her hands through her hair. However, Mommy usually doesn't have applesauce on her hands.

And just for fun...here's Phoebe at two months old: