Rickey and I went together. We both know for a fact that Buckhead Church is a GREAT church, and that is has been a facilitator for us both in creating lasting, meaningful friendships here in Atlanta. Andy Stanley has taught me a lot, and I have really enjoyed most of our super talented worship leaders. Still...there is something missing. I am not as challenged as I should be. I am not as motivated to serve as I should be. There's something missing.
Tonight, I just may have found it. And i'm super excited about what's to come. More of Jesus. Yes, please. We stood in line for, oh, about 45 minutes. It got cold, after having had a warm day. We were hungry, so we ate dinner in line. The line was wrapped about the corners of Luckie Street in downtown Atlanta. Our destination: The Tabernacle.
I learned tonight that the Tabernacle was built in 1913 by the pastor of then 3rd Baptist Church, Doctor Broughton. Pastor Broughton built the church in Atlanta, then called Terminus, near the terminal of trains in the center of Atlanta nearby. He knew he wanted to draw in all the people of the city. And on the first day of service is this new location, they turned away 3 thousand people, after allowing several thousand to squeeze in. A real doctor, Dr. Broughton, found some girls on the street that had sores and may have not survived, and brought them in. With that, he started an infirmary next door, to really reach the unreached. It is now Georgia Baptist Medical Center. And he started a nursing school, now a part of Emory I believe. What better place to start a church that is focused on reaching people? It was special.
Passion City Church is new. We don't know what kind of church it will turn out to be, or where it will be. But Louie said that the core group wanted to "live" in these 4 statements:
Passion City Church is:
- For God
- For people
- For the city
- For the world
A church for God? What? Isn't that what most churches are about? Really? ....maybe. Maybe not. Think for a second. Have you ever left church and, instead of commenting about how you liked this part or that, or how you thought this part needed a bit of work, asked, "God, what did you think? Were you glorified? Were you pleased?" It's just bringing us back to the basics. Yes, we as christians are called to be light, and the church is called to bring people into community. But, first and foremost, the church, the building and the body, is here for God. To love God. To serve God. To be the light and love of God. And I was reminded of that tonight.
I felt alive and soo, soo close to the feet of God tonight as I passionately worshipped God, with others who were passionately worshipping God. Each person who came tonight, came to visit the Throne. I think that's part of what I've felt is missing. At most churches there are, for sure, people who are passionately loving the Lord. And then there are those who aren't. And it just felt amazing to be surrounded by everyone in church, who are dropping everything and going for it. Just going for it. I just felt the presence of the Lord, and oh how sweet it is. I want to feel it every day. I want to be inspired and challenged to look for it, and sit and wait for it, every day.
At the end of the day, I exist for God. I exist to bring Him praise, and I am ok with that. I am grateful that I am here to do that, and that He has saved me, and reminds me daily of his grace that has brought me here. I want to be a reflector and conduit of His love. I want to give Him GLORY. I want to exist for You, God- first and foremost.
I mess up....all the time. But I am so very thankful for your grace and forgiveness. I'm thankful that you are always by me, and you always long for me to sit in your lap and spend time with you. Thank you for allowing me to adorn a garment of praise, instead of a spirit of despair.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Love Notes