by Pat Severin

The church, it is a Christian’s gift
For it sustains and guides,
A source of love and strengthening,
Refreshment it provides,
Because it’s easy to forget
So much of what we need
To keep our hearts on Him alone
And make our lives succeed.

But this success is not the kind
The world views as successful.
No, this success is that which comes
From leaving what is stressful
There at the feet of God, our King,
When filled up to the brim
With all the things that keep us from
Believing, trusting Him.
For worldly cares are not the ones
That we should concentrate on,
But rather on what He requires.
It’s God that we should wait on!

And so the church is where we’ll find
Renewal for our souls.
We hear His Word and what’s required
To meet a Christian’s goals
Of love, belief in Him who died
Who taught us how to live,
And helping others, living love
And learning to forgive.
For just as He forgives our sins
He says, “Forgive each other.
No matter the offense, I say,
Show love to one another.”

For if we cannot show the grace
Like Jesus always gave,
Then how can we then expect the same
From Him who died to save.
So God gave us His church to be
Where we will find His Word,
To gather with believers and
A place where hearts are stirred.

Pat Severin is a retired Christian school teacher who has served her Lord in many ways. These include school, church and teen ministry and her current personal ministry, creating cards that include her original poems of encouragement. These she sends out weekly to those going through difficult medical issues. She contributes regularly to her online blog, Poetically Speaking, which she began in 2008, and has self-published a number of poetry collections.