Spinach or Church

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement

Spinach or Church

Did you ever see the cartoon, Popeye? A long time ago, many newspapers carried Popeye as a regular cartoon strip. This salty sailor summoned up his bulging muscles to right wrongs or fix problems. I’m betting a frantic parent thought up this comic character out of his desperate need to persuade his children to eat their greens. In nearly every strip, Popeye devoured cans of spinach to acquire the strength to accomplish the feat he needed for the day’s comic strip.  Hint, hint, children. Eat your spinach, and you’ll be strong. Ah, that was that simple.

While eating spinach is a healthy choice for the body, I propose another way to gain the body, soul and spiritual strength needed to face down the problems daily life brings. Corporate worship. Something strengthening happens when we join a group of believers to worship our God together. The sound of others expressing their love for God, the blending of our hearts toward God while gathered with people who also have found solace and courage from their belief in Him, builds our own faith. We leave a worship service lighter of heart, encouraged in our spirits and more focused on the Source of our help.  Attending a church service doesn’t save us. It isn’t a legal requirement from God, but it isa blessed privilege that bolsters us and strengthens us for the hours and days ahead. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25, “Don’t forsake the gathering of the saints”. This verse isn’t in the Bible to demand we go to church. It’s there to remind and direct us toward a wonderful source of strength to benefit our whole being. Discouraged? Take a trip to a church full of believers and lift your voice or your hands or both as you consider the good God we worship. Let the sound of worship sooth your spirit.