God is so good to me! What a joy to wake up back in the Redback Church Hymnal (page 50) and more fond memories of my youth. This song is another one, where I remember the congregation just singing, young and old, singers or not, but singing and making a joyful noise unto the Lord. This morning, I associate this memory with my Grandmother's and Granddad's church, Bethel Baptist. I remember going to Bethel, pulling up into the old gravel parking lot and finding a place to park under the trees. A lot of the men would be standing outside the old wooden structure, chatting and greeting the ones coming to attend. Windows were raised to let the air in and people were sitting on the hard wooden pews, with their funeral home fans already in action. The piano would begin playing and the singing would start. As a kid, I found it to be a wonderful experience. (I still think its kind of neat to remember some would stand outside during the service next to the windows, under the big trees because it was probably cooler out there and they could still enjoy the service.) Well, a new brick church with all the modern conveniences was built next door and I still always enjoyed going to services at Bethel Baptist. I have so many great memories attending church there.
Perhaps this memory came to me as a result of Laynah sharing her missionary work in China on Sunday night. Maybe it's my memory of Brother John talking about some of his mission trips to Hati and how people would walk for miles to attend a worship service. I think sometimes (at my advanced age), I take for granted the comforts we have to worship our Lord. We have padded pews, air conditioning and heating, PA systems, paved parking lots, inside plumbing, and I'm becoming more and more thankful the more I type.
I want to share a little bit about my day yesterday, While it doesn't really relate to this morning's song it still kind of does. Not sure if I can make the connection but I'll try. As you may recall, yesterday, I woke up to "Learning to Lean". It was a rainy day and I mean a very rainy day. I had several things planned to do yesterday including working out. I had not worked out in a couple of weeks and I was feeling it. I was thinking, I'm retired and disabled. I don't need to get out in this stuff, it might make me sick. My chair, blanket and coffee were feeling mighty good. But "finding more power than I ever dreamed" I made my way out of my chair and started getting ready. (Did I mention it was raining? I didn't like to get out in the rain even when I was working. LOL)
It was an absolute joy to workout yesterday. Some of you know, I listen to southern gospel music as I huff and puff and perspire. But it was amazingly different yesterday. The Pandora station on Sirius I set up was playing so many of my favorite songs, including, "He Made A Way", "He Broke the Chains", "Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All" and some songs I had recently woke up to and wrote about like, " Learning to Lean", "Thank You Lord For Your Blessings On Me" and "The Longer I Serve Him". What a blessing to work out yesterday!
I continued on with my planned activities, including lab work for a doctor's appointment later this week. (sure hope it stops raining by then as his office is always so cold LOL) I finally had enough and was ready to head home. I pulled thru a drive thru to grab something to eat and while in line I looked at my phone and saw that Ken Apple had passed. I don't know how many of you knew Ken Apple. Many years ago, Ken played the piano for The Blackwood Gospel Quartet and others. He was also known for his song writing and was recorded by the Speer Family, Booth Brothers, Gold City, The Hoppers and others. But my memory of Ken was him singing with his family and the services at my church as a teenager. Ken, Earnestine, Gary and Karen (you may remember Karen from the years she sang with the Speer Family and appearances on some of the Gaither videos) always were a joy to hear and be a part of our services. I first heard the great song, "The King Is Coming" when it was sang at my church by the Apple Family. Probably around 1970 or 1971.
I just went back and read what I had typed and thought, what a rambling post but I love my memories and how they make even a bad rainy day better. Today's going to another rainy day but just around the corner is warmer weather, lots of sunshine, and everything will be blooming. I hope you will enjoy today and listening to The Hoppers sing "In The Sweet Forever".
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