I got to visit with Becky and the babies last Thursday – I had been praying that I would have a small window of time open up that I would be able to get over to see her (it’s an hour round trip).  I didn’t see how it would happen, but, on Thursday morning my husband needed to make a trip out that way to meet a business associate.  He asked me if I would like to come along – and as much as I wanted to – I’d already planned out our day with the children.  I sent a prayer to Him to guide me in making this decision, and He helped me to be flexible and to take my husband up on his offer. 

When I arrived at Becky’s, I was glad that I’d made this decision.  Being nine months pregnant, three little ones in tow, and living in virtual isolation (in the country, surrounded by vast fields of land), I could tell that my company was appreciated.  I’d brought my cleaning supplies along to help tidy the house, but she desired my company more than my helpfulness.  I did some dishes, but before I could get to anything else, Becky asked me to just sit outside with her to talk while we watched the children play. 

It was a nice long visit as my husband’s appointment took quite a bit of time.  When I left, I was glad that God had given me the flexibility for the day that I needed to do what I had prayed for all along.

I had gotten up early to pray on Sunday morning, and I prayed that He would especially bless our Sunday morning home church service.  I sensed a need that only Christian fellowship and encouragement could fulfill.  I asked Him to prepare the elders with a special message for us and that His presence would be made known.  This prayer was fully answered.

Home church is very unique.  There are no props, programs, or formality.  The little things that many take for granted as being “church” are not present.  No pews or pulpit, and not even a passed offering plate.  Neither are we constricted to a fixed time frame.  When we first congregate, there is a lot of fellowship going on, sipping coffee, and finding ourselves sharing burdens and prayer requests at this time.  We often do this around our big country table, and it is very informal.  There isn’t really a need to ask for “prayer requests” after this, because we have shared out hearts here.

Each service is unique. Because there is no formality, each Sunday is open to be led by the complete leading of His Holy Spirit.  There are times we open with hymns (with me as the piano player), and each person is able to request their favorite hymns, as well as the children (they love to do this.)  There is generally no special music, although on some occasions we have guests that have provided this.

This morning, we opened with congregational prayer.  We sit in our family room, seated in a circle.  Contrast this to pews and straight rows, faced towards the pulpit.  Everyone is invited to pray, even the children.  This is a very precious time.  Because we do not have a fixed time in which our church service must end, this is a very intimate part of our service.  Each person prays, with no regard to the clock. 

We often don’t have one “sermon”, but many times we have two.  We have two elders, as the first New Testament churches did.  Dan gave us a message about sowing and reaping. These were verses that he had read in his own personal devotions that God had spoken to him in a very clear way.  I found it interesting that this was his message, as I’d heard this same principle of sowing and reaping taught a few weeks ago, and it was something I have been thinking about ever since.  I paid close attention because I’ve been dwelling on this in my mind how everything we do is sowing a seed of some sort, either to the good, or to the bad.  Our deeds, actions, and words are all seeds that are being sowed, and we will harvest the fruit of these.

Our time together had started at 11:00 a.m., and concluded at 5:00 p.m. It was truly prayer answered as we felt that we had sat at His table of spiritual blessings and had a banquet of fullness.

We leisurely spent the remaining daylight hours with our children outside.  We took a trip around the trails, I read a little bit of a new book outside at the picnic table, and we stood on our porch admiring the beauty of the green grass before us – after a long and harsh winter, I can’t tell you how much we are enjoying the color green.

When we came inside, we concluded our Sunday with our family reading time.  We read two and a half chapters sitting in the family room, and then moved upstairs to mom and dad’s bedroom.  There, everyone being all ready for bed with their teeth brushed and jammies on, we read yet one more chapter.  

My husband awoke this morning, having gone into this weekend with a heavy load lying upon him, feeling his load lightened after our wonderful church fellowship and time spent with our children.  It’s the way every weekend should be.