A Special Place (With a special poem by a special friend, Kathy Crouch)

There are a few days in the year that I always look forward to: my birthday, Easter Son-Rise service, my anniversary, homecoming at church, and the Christmas Eve Candlelight service.  Church is a special place for me, a holy place. The Bible often speaks of going to a Holy Place, the place where you went to meet God. My church is that for me, though, it’s not the only Holy place.  Camping alone, at least during the day, in a quite spot, can be a Holy place.  Digging in my garden, planting new seeds can be a Holy place.  Driving down the road on an hour-long trip or an 8-hour trip can be a Holy place.  How can such mundane, common places be Holy? They are Holy because it's where you get to meet God and he meets you.

When you go to church, you have a place where like-minded people gather.  You can study. You can learn. You can express your frustrations without fear of repercussions.  You can voice your opinion with no fear of retaliation.  But, you also have to be willing to listen to other’s opinions and concerns and weigh them against the word of God. Where two or more are gathered in His name then there He will be also, Matthew 18:20.  What a comforting thought.  What a Holy place.

My high school friend, Carla Rogers, recently wrote this in a FB post, “There are very few places, outside of a Bible believing church, where Christian’s can voice their opinions and concerns.  Contrary to popular media, we, as Christians, have become the marginalized.  Sinners don’t want to hear the truth about themselves. Even though we are all sinners, we KNOW the TRUTH.  What the outside doesn’t realize is that it breaks our hearts to see so many trying to live in a “woke” culture when in reality they are burying their head in the sand.”  Well said Carla. We know the truth. It's a Holy thing to know the truth.

We, as Christians, NEED Holy places; places to meditate, places to pray, places to learn, places to worship with like-minded believers, places to meet God. My church is that Holy place for me.  Have you found your Holy Place? I pray that 2024 will be the time to find your Holy Place with God and a place to worship and fellowship with like-minded believers.  We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God but, meeting God in a Holy place, believing the Truth, and repenting, can erase the sin and unite us in the fellowship of Christian love.

In the poem below, insert the name of your church where it says Crestview. As always, Crestview welcomes the lost and found at every service. It truly is a special place, a Holy Place.

This Special Place

Crestview is a special place,

Because of God’s amazing grace.

We feel His presence everywhere,

And know without a doubt He’s there.

When strangers step inside the door,

His Spirit reigns down even more,

They leave much different than before.

Dear God you’re always welcome here,

Bless us again in this New Year.

May everything we say and do,

Bring only glory and honor to you.

Until we meet you face to face,

We thank you for this special place.

Kathy M. Crouch