For as long as I can remember, if you ask me, where is your favorite place on earth?, the answer would be Western Kentucky Youth Camp, the church camp I grew up going to each summer. Now, my husband and kids go with me to be on staff one week and my kids go to be campers during their age week. The BEST thing about camp is singing, especially at night, especially around the campfire. To feel the power of the spirit surrounding His people in nature. Amazing.
In prison, singing “This little light of mine” with 60 men. At a dinner dance with hundreds of people with disabilities and multi generational, multicultural, multiracial people eating and dancing together. On my porch singing with the early morning birds. To hear even louder singing and see even more robust dancing and sing with more birds…to dance with David before the Ark, to taste heaven’s bread and chocolate and coffee, to see every face shine in reflection of our Lord…such peace and glory makes me drunk with holy wonder!
Thank you, Lord! For imagery, for family, for loving us so knowingly and so personally. Thank you for the yeses and thank you for the no’s. Grow my wonder more and more. Let me never forget my longing belongs to heaven and it is not hallow but already fulfilled 🤍
When I was on a mission trip to Honduras and we worshipped at a small church on Sunday morning and all at once it occurred to me that there were members of Christ's body worshipping at or about the same time - all over the world. I focus on that thought during communion every Lord's day even now.
In the summer before my senior year of college I served as a missionary intern in Peru. It was a beautiful, encouraging, and life-altering summer. On the last Sunday of my internship I was feeling very emotional. I knew that I probably wouldn’t see my Peruvian brothers and sisters again in this lifetime. During communion, God gave me an image similar to the one JL described. A long table filled with the church I’ve met and the church I’ve only read about, feasting and celebrating on the beach.
Years later, after my wedding, I couldn’t stop thinking that I had gotten a little taste of heaven. Our wedding reception was full of people from all the stages of our life so far. Old friends from all parts of the country and friends who we had met more recently. It didn’t seem like there could be any more love in that room. And it made me wonder how much more there was to come.
I was reminded of a recent fellowship meal where we were seated on long tables. It was uplifting and so peaceful . We could see younger couples, children and older adults all enjoying chili and one another. Maybe a glimpse of Heaven .
In 2018, I was a delegate at a global meeting of Anglican Christians in Jerusalem, several thousand gathered to worship and study and celebrate together. It was overwhelming! The vast majority were from Africa, among them friends I had come to know when I taught young pastors for a week in 2013 in Kigali. Being In Jerusalem was itself reorienting. And then being each day in the midst of "every tribe, tongue and nation" made me feel, in the best sense, small. The joy and humility of these brothers and sisters, many of whom had come from places marked by persecution and privation, moved me deeply. Every morning began in the great assembly, but also huddled with six or seven others in prayer. Every morning I turned in my seat to the broad smile of an Ugandan bishop, who said my name and embraced me. I can't wait for the day when this will be normal. Come, Lord Jesus!
When every I say the Lord's Prayer, I take a quick moment to think of all the saints who have said this prayer, world wide, different cultures of faith, across the ages, and those who learned the prayer through Jesus, and feel I am surrounded by a love and unity of faith in Yahweh!
There’s a few families at church that we’re really close to. We’re in similar life stages and we’ve gone through some really difficult things together, particularly in the last 6 months. It was not long after we started getting really close that we began to feel supernaturally attacked. At any rate, I don’t have a specific story but there will be moments when we are together that there’s this alchemy. I’ll look around, soaking up the sensation, and just know that something special is happening by us being together and loving each other to heaven.
For as long as I can remember, if you ask me, where is your favorite place on earth?, the answer would be Western Kentucky Youth Camp, the church camp I grew up going to each summer. Now, my husband and kids go with me to be on staff one week and my kids go to be campers during their age week. The BEST thing about camp is singing, especially at night, especially around the campfire. To feel the power of the spirit surrounding His people in nature. Amazing.
I love that you can share a special experience from your youth with your husband and children! Beautiful!
In prison, singing “This little light of mine” with 60 men. At a dinner dance with hundreds of people with disabilities and multi generational, multicultural, multiracial people eating and dancing together. On my porch singing with the early morning birds. To hear even louder singing and see even more robust dancing and sing with more birds…to dance with David before the Ark, to taste heaven’s bread and chocolate and coffee, to see every face shine in reflection of our Lord…such peace and glory makes me drunk with holy wonder!
Drunk with wonder! Mmmm This is lovely.
I love the images of your memories. They make my heart leap!
Thank you, Lord! For imagery, for family, for loving us so knowingly and so personally. Thank you for the yeses and thank you for the no’s. Grow my wonder more and more. Let me never forget my longing belongs to heaven and it is not hallow but already fulfilled 🤍
In a friend’s home, gathered in a circle in prayer.
At my home, looking out at the land
At my parents home where we sing together
When I was on a mission trip to Honduras and we worshipped at a small church on Sunday morning and all at once it occurred to me that there were members of Christ's body worshipping at or about the same time - all over the world. I focus on that thought during communion every Lord's day even now.
An awakening that continues to come alive each communion!
Communion always does it to me. 😭
In the summer before my senior year of college I served as a missionary intern in Peru. It was a beautiful, encouraging, and life-altering summer. On the last Sunday of my internship I was feeling very emotional. I knew that I probably wouldn’t see my Peruvian brothers and sisters again in this lifetime. During communion, God gave me an image similar to the one JL described. A long table filled with the church I’ve met and the church I’ve only read about, feasting and celebrating on the beach.
Years later, after my wedding, I couldn’t stop thinking that I had gotten a little taste of heaven. Our wedding reception was full of people from all the stages of our life so far. Old friends from all parts of the country and friends who we had met more recently. It didn’t seem like there could be any more love in that room. And it made me wonder how much more there was to come.
These images and experiences are so uplifting and validating to what is to come!
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
I was reminded of a recent fellowship meal where we were seated on long tables. It was uplifting and so peaceful . We could see younger couples, children and older adults all enjoying chili and one another. Maybe a glimpse of Heaven .
Amen!
In 2018, I was a delegate at a global meeting of Anglican Christians in Jerusalem, several thousand gathered to worship and study and celebrate together. It was overwhelming! The vast majority were from Africa, among them friends I had come to know when I taught young pastors for a week in 2013 in Kigali. Being In Jerusalem was itself reorienting. And then being each day in the midst of "every tribe, tongue and nation" made me feel, in the best sense, small. The joy and humility of these brothers and sisters, many of whom had come from places marked by persecution and privation, moved me deeply. Every morning began in the great assembly, but also huddled with six or seven others in prayer. Every morning I turned in my seat to the broad smile of an Ugandan bishop, who said my name and embraced me. I can't wait for the day when this will be normal. Come, Lord Jesus!
This seems a little like a very good dream! I can't wait for the day when this will be normal either! 😊
When every I say the Lord's Prayer, I take a quick moment to think of all the saints who have said this prayer, world wide, different cultures of faith, across the ages, and those who learned the prayer through Jesus, and feel I am surrounded by a love and unity of faith in Yahweh!
There’s a few families at church that we’re really close to. We’re in similar life stages and we’ve gone through some really difficult things together, particularly in the last 6 months. It was not long after we started getting really close that we began to feel supernaturally attacked. At any rate, I don’t have a specific story but there will be moments when we are together that there’s this alchemy. I’ll look around, soaking up the sensation, and just know that something special is happening by us being together and loving each other to heaven.
Alchemy—yes! That’s just it.
To be completely honest, I’ve never experienced it but I’m praying to one day soon have this experience as I feel so close to them in a weird way.