Scripture encouragement: Isaiah 55:10-11
“The Old Country Church”
The bell no longer peals on Sunday,
bidding worshippers, “Come!”
The faithful no longer smile and wave,
neighbors gathered in the common blessing of faith.
No more baptisms to be witnessed, no more vows exchanged on wedding days, no more earthly farewells. No more voices lifted in song, no more griefs made easier because they are shared, no more joy compounded by community when another storm has passed.
And yet…
The lives that passed through this old country church,
have gone on to bless the lives of multitudes.
Scattered though they be, they are like the seeds,
planted in the surrounding fields each spring.
Though tended by others now,
the call to “come, know Jesus, our savior!,”
stills springs forth from those who worshipped at this old country church.
©Story by Robin Lybeck
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:10-11
God’s encouragement…
As I shared on “Robin’s Journey,” my childhood experiences with church were sporadic, encompassing just a few short years. But that didn’t keep God from blessing me and calling me home to Him, to grow the seeds that had been planted. I now know that I received His Holy Spirit when I was baptized and it has always been with me, guiding me. Even when I didn’t acknowledge Him, His Holy Spirit worked in my life for my good! I will be sharing many experiences in future posts that I now know came from God’s guiding, but for this post, I will keep it simple. Anytime you hear God’s word it blesses you! And anytime you share God’s word with someone else, you are sharing and growing that blessing!
To assemble a list to link to other posts from a category, click the category tag at the top of the page, or visit the Posts page.
To learn more about my journey with God, visit these pages: Robin’s Journey for an overview | my first season: Baptized and Taught | my second season: Loss & Lost | my third season: Pursued & Awakened | my fourth season: Welcomed & Transforming | my fifth season: Proclaiming
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Image: color pencil drawing by Robin Lybeck of an old church near Maddock, North Dakota
