Annual Mtg Recognitions
Passing the Gavel
Preparations that Matter Most
Fall…it’s my favorite time of year. The cooler temperatures and changing colors remind me that deer season is upon us. Saturdays are spent brush hogging, tilling ground for food plots, cleaning our primitive cabin, and checking game cameras. Dad and I draw up our “battle plan,” which has more to do with groceries than hunting. We reminisce over the trophies hanging on our walls and dream about the ones still hiding in the woods. For many of us, the arrival of deer season is like Christmas morning. We plan, prepare, and even lose sleep thinking about opening day.
But here’s a question that hit me the other day--do we spend as much time preparing for Sunday morning worship with that same excitement and care?
We’ll wake up at 4 a.m. for a hunt, but we hit the alarm repeatedly and struggle to make it to church by 10:00. We’ll plan weeks in advance for a good shot at a deer, but we walk into worship without a single thought given to meeting with the living God.
Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” That verse isn’t just about showing up; it’s about coming ready. Ready to give thanks. Ready to praise. Ready to meet with the One who gave us life, breath, and yes — even the deer in the woods.
It’s not wrong to love the outdoors or to look forward to hunting season. But maybe this year, before we check our rifles or load the truck, we could take a moment to prepare our hearts for worship too. The harvest in God’s presence lasts a whole lot longer than any buck on the wall.
Seeking Him,
Bentley Hill
