What a Day!

Three words...packed with meaning. "What a day!" If you were with us at Church yesterday you know what I mean. Wow, we experienced some ups and downs and the Lord carried us through them all.

First, I had stepped into my study and then came back into the sanctuary around 10 minutes till 11:00. At the front door of the Church I saw my parents, brother in law, niece and nephew. That was a surprise! They live in Winder and it is about a 2 1/2 hour drive for them to come visit with us. But, I didn't know they were coming to visit. Then, I saw my sister! That was an unbelievable sight!
Unbelievable because she has been away for 19 months as a result of poor choices. God has been good to her and her family and she has experienced God's work in her life through this time. She was released five months ahead of schedule from the women's transitional center where she has been the past several months. She is home, happy, thankful for God's grace and was eager to surprise me AND she DID!  Our church family had prayed for her and her family and they shared in our joy. Wow, what a day!

We also had two families visiting our Church. Along with our members and other guests we were around 80 in attendance. The congregation and choir sang heartily. The music was God honoring and uplifting. I had just begun to make announcements when we experienced a medical emergency. One of our members fainted. Our people responded quickly and graciously. Two nurses along with family members immediately began to minister to his needs. Another contacted 911. Some of our ladies quickly led the children out of the service. We prayed as a church family. The paramedics arrived and by that time the individual had regained consciousness. We are most grateful for the Lord's goodness and grace to us and to his family during this most unusual circumstance. He is at the hospital and we should continue to pray for the doctors to discover the reason for the fainting episodes he had both at church and again at the hospital. I know I can count on the folks at Everett Springs to pray for and minister to the needs of this dear family. Wow, what a day!

Marilyn and I enjoyed lunch, in Rome, with my family. We picked up a few items at the grocery store for our Student Ministry meeting, stopped by the hospital to check on Bill and then headed home to get ready for our Sunday Evening ministry activities. Seven children and four adults were present for our Children's Choir Ministry. Twelve students and eight adults were present for our "Sunday Night Live" Student ministry, PLUS we had a family visiting with us for our Sunday evening ministries. We had a "Winter Olympic" night with Broom Hockey and a "Redneck Luge" race (you had to be there). We had some great refreshments and Chris C. shared his testimony with the students. They were very attentive as they heard his life story and of God's work in his life. Wow, what a day!

I concluded yesterday's post saying: "You know where you can see me tomorrow," and even though the day was filled with ups and downs and proved to be a most unusual day; I am so grateful to have shared in the joys and burdens of my brothers and sisters in Christ at Everett Springs Baptist Church.

Wow, What a Day!
Pastor Mike