One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. 
-Psalm 27:4 

I had the opportunity this week to go home to my home church in Charlotte, NC. My mother and I began going there when I was 3, and soon after my father started going and my little sister came along. I was first nurtured there and introduced to God's love in the three year old class. I went to preschool there. I listened to countless sermons by the same pastor for years. I sang in the youth choir. And I had one very faithful youth pastor for all those years too. I even went back in college for the college Sunday school class. 

When I returned this week, after several years away, my boys and I visited the 3 year old class, where my same teacher is still teaching a lesson I still remember, with the same pictures. My preschool director handed me a bulletin. My same pastor delivered the sermon and asked me forward to serve communion. And I served that communion to my college Sunday school teacher, my former choir director, his son...and to his wife, my youth pastor's daughter, and their daughter. 

As I offered the bread of life to these people who shaped my life and helped me find and answer my call, I thought about my boys and the people around them who help shape their faith. I think about the Sunday school teachers and the pastors, the older youth, the volunteers, the mentors. I think how important they are and will be in the years to come, people who have chosen to serve the Lord by being there so dependably every week for months, years, or even decades. If you're reading this, you probably have touched the lives of more of your peers and young people than you can count. I hope you will continue to faithfully serve, teach, nurture, and lead by an example of love, and dwell in the Lord's house all your days. 

Prayer for Today

Lord, help me to dwell in your house always, to never grow weary of my call, and to always find joy and delight in showing others love when they come to me.  Amen.