Saturday, January 12, 2013

The Sanctuary

The Church at Piddlehinton
When I last visited Kara and Phil in England, they were gracious host and took me many places, Phil was driving while I soaked in every ounce of beauty of this glorious country!  Many of my favorite photographs that I took were of churches in villages and great Cathedrals in the cities. 

Phil's parents are both English "bell ringers" and while I was in England, we went to one of his Dad's bell ringing competitions and we heard the bells ringing.  There were a group of six to eight ringers in each group. They use ropes attached to the bells and the harmony is skillfully learned and the music is glorious!  We stood outside and listened, it was beautiful!  The bells ringing, ringing, ringing!

I learned that the bells are used as a call to worship.....a call to the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings in the villages and other times of worship.  It would be amazing if our country still did this, perhaps more people would be reminded that in order to know God, we must seek Him.  When we seek Him, He will find us.....no matter where we are.  Tomorrow is Sunday.  I hope you will be reminded through these lovely photos of His blessings in your life and that He is calling you to know Him and to worship Him in the sanctuary of your soul.  He is offering to fill your heart with His love, His goodness, and His glory!

Psalm 63:1~3

O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.  Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.  So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name!

This beautiful Abbey is in Somerset County, England, within walking distance of Phil's grandparents home.