Robert’s Ramblin’

Today, I am so grateful to have just been “in the room” last Sunday morning and been led in worship by Cynthia Clawson, her sister Patti, and Bruce Greer. It was and will be one of my most memorable worship experiences here. From the comments I’ve heard, it was that for lots of other people too. The snow that started falling early Sunday morning did not stop a large crowd from attending. Many, many of those attending were visitors from both the city and from out of town. We are still getting comments from those who attended.

At our house on Saturday evening I told Cynthia that our church was a pretty special place where the Lord shows up every Sunday and it is not unusual for us to have powerful services. Every Sunday our “room” is filled with believers who have been in a culture all week that, for the most part, stands in opposition to what we believe and practice. They don’t worship, they don’t pray to the Lord and they don’t understand why we would. Many times our building and that room is a true “Sanctuary” for us all when we get together to worship the Lord.

I made it clear to Cynthia she would be singing to people who are hurting, discouraged, doubting, celebrating, worried about their jobs, their families, their friends, happy, and just about every other circumstance you can articulate. I told her the reason I asked her here was to use that incredible voice and just sing about Jesus. That, she did.

At lunch on Sunday, we were discussing the time together and all three of them said that during every song they sang, they had the feeling- the knowledge- that they were singing directly to someone specifically in the audience, and they felt a communication that only is facilitated by the Lord. So many of you have said to me also; that you were being sung to. There were lots of tears, some genuine laughter and yes, some beautiful musical moments. My pastor (who hadn’t heard her since he was very young) described her music as “healing.”

You now know why Sandra and I love Cynthia Clawson.

In addition, I love my Pastor for having just the right words to speak at just the right time. When I think back on Sunday, I can’t imagine anywhere in the whole world I would have rather been than in the presence of the Lord, worshipping in that room, with my church family and those gifted musicians.

Lee quoted from Psalm 84.

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints

for the courts of the Lord: My heart and my flesh cry out for the Living God.”

“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young—a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God.”

“Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.”

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”

Robert