Baggage and All

Please bring your baggage and come to church with me!  Why must I bring my baggage, you ask?  Should I not get all cleaned up?  Make myself presentable for the people and for the Lord?  I have lots of issues and maybe others will not understand.  No, I ask you to bring your baggage and come with me.  You see, God's word applies to each and every issue you are facing.  Others sitting in service have their own baggage, if they understand this, they will not be looking at yours.

                              
Why must I bring the baggage inside instead of leaving it outside, you ask?  If we leave the baggage outside, it is there waiting for us as we leave.  We pick it up and drag it home.  God wants us to bring all our issues before Him.  He knows our hearts and He sees our lives, we can't hide the baggage from Him.  He is fully aware of every action, thought, and motive. So bring it in.  His Word will/does apply to our baggage.  We must lay it out before Him and listen with open hearts, ears, and eyes.  He will take His Word and apply it to the baggage.  He will take that baggage from you and replace it with His peace, love and presence. 

As far as the other people watching and wondering..many of them have brought their own baggage to Him.  They have been extended great grace,mercy, and forgiveness.  These are the people who will come and help you drag your bags before the Lord.  They will sit with you, pray with you, and help you sort them out through his Word.                                                                           

Oh please come.  Allow the Word of God to heal, remove, redeem, restore.  It is is His desire to make you whole and clean!

 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor. 

Isaiah 61:1-3