The Leviners

Many of you have church families and I'm so thankful that you have found a church home where you can grow spirtually. Sam and I are blessed beyond measure to have found a church home, (Lexington Baptist Church or LBC), that meets our family's spiritual and growing needs. We were first introduced to LBC by being invited to a wedding two weeks after our own. We knew that after we married we wanted to quickly find a church home (just didn't know how quick it would be for us to find a church we both so loved. But, we all know that God has a plan and He is on His timing not ours). We both grew up in the church, however, in different dominations, (Sam- Nazarene and me- Presbyterian). We both are very grateful for our childhood churches. Sam's grandfather began the church in which he grew up and the one in which his parents still attend! He will always have special memories and ties to his home church. I love the people at his childhood church and I'm so thankful for how they have shared their faith and love with me all these years (every summer I look forward to going to SC Nazarene Church camp! Some of my best time's have been at this camp). Although my grandparents were not pastors I'm so grateful for the church home in which my parents elected for their family to grow and attend.
Since dating, and now married, we have both enjoyed learning about each other's churches' beliefs. When my church offered a Presbyterian 101 class, before we were married, we joined! It was an opportunity for Sam to learn about my church's doctrine. Even I learned a few things that I didn't already know.
The next morning (after the wedding) Sam and I went to the worship service at LBC and left the service feeling like our souls were fed. It was the type of feeling that you get when you realize that something is missing from your life (not negatively) and you wanted what the elder lady behind you had or desired what the gentleman sitting across from you had. We visited LBC for two and a half years. Before joining, we wanted to make sure that LBC had several things in place. There were so many things to consider before walking down front to announce that yes, LBC, was the place for our now growing little family. We wanted a devoted children's program where many opportunities were available for our child(ren) (nursery, choir, Sunday School, VBS, children's programs, small groups, Wednesday and Sunday night programs, etc). We also wanted to find a couple's Sunday School class that would help us grow in all areas of our lives (as new parents, in our still new marriage, in the Bible, and many many other areas like witnessing to others, praying, serving Him abundantly, helping to make His name more famous, being spirtual leaders (for Sam within our home), to help us be accountable, and there are still just so many many more ways in which we want to continue to grow. In search of a church, we desired a church home that would help us to be what He wants us to be for Him, our family, our jobs, our community, and our world.  We offically joined in March of 2009 (two weeks before Caroline was born)! I cannot say to you how thankful and blessed we are for all the people at LBC that God has allowed our paths to cross. I know that I can't live each day without having a personal relationship with God. I need Him! I need Him to walk me through each day of this life, everyday. I am not pefect nor do I pretend to be someone that knows the Bible from cover to cover and all the stories in between. I am not saying that my church is better than anyone else's church nor do I think that there isn't another church that can't do what LBC has done for our little family. I am just thankful for LBC and all it has invested in our little family! We have gained more than we ever thought: ways and desires to serve, give, and share, new friendships, new opportunities to grow in His word, and many opportunities to give of self for others (still working on the latter).
I said all this to say, (its always like that isn't it...going in way too much detail just to make a point, ha), that our church's worship services are now on our church's website and are free to download! Dr. Mike Turner, our pastor, is currently doing a sermon series on leadership and I thoroughly enjoyed (like every service) this past Sunday's message and I wanted to share it with you! I was so thoroughly pleased to read in the bullentin Sunday that each Sunday's service can be heard online! In every service, I love how Dr. Turner helps me to think about my own life! Just click on the link that says listen to sermons on the homepage. Mike also has a blog that you may be interested in reading as well!
I am a work in progress. My life's desire is to know Him and to do what He has called me to do for the very short time I am here on this Earth because I want an Eternity in Heaven! I hope that's your desire, to live a life that is pleasing to Him. I want Him to tell me at the end of my life, "well done good and faithful servant".