Doorkeeper

 

Doorkeeper

 

I love greeting people as they come to church

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Psalms 84:10

It is not my job, it is my JOY

Don’t minimize the power of a little smile

Your smile is important to others and believe it or not, it is just as important to you

Give and it shall be given to you

So, if I get to heaven before you, look for me at the gate

I can’t wait to greet you and welcome you into the presences of the Lord

Until than I will stand at the church door

To welcome people into the presences of the Lord

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Psalms 84:10

It is not my job, it is my JOY

 

 

 

 

 

Doorkeeper

 

One of my most favorite things

to do in a week…

 

 Is greet people as they come into the church.

 

I am not an official greeter.

 

Somehow that title would dampen

my joy in greeting.

 

I have always been funny about titles

as I want to be who I am…

 

Not because of a title,

 but because it is me.

 

I know labels and title are necessary

and very good.

 

 But for me…

 

 I am not looking for a job title

 I am looking for a life style.

 

For me the title is second place.

 

I am not there because of a title.

 

I am there because that is what I am

and if you need to call it something…

 

 Then put a label on it.

 

So, at church I found a spot right

before you go into the sanctuary.

 

As people come down the hallway…

 

 I absolutely love to put a smile on their face

and speak a quick word of encouragement

or blessing to them.

 

I have seen the instance changes in people

as they respond to a smile with a smile.

 

I have also seen over time people

who used to come in with their face

looking like it had not woke up…

 

 To lighting up when they see me from a distance.

 

This past Sunday after the worship had started,

 I had a thought…

 

 I thought of the best job in Heaven.

 

I want to be a doorkeeper in my Father’s house.

 

I want to greet people at the gate

as they come to heaven.

 

I want to smile

and speak a word of encouragement

to those who just passed through

the Valley of the Shadow of Death…

 

Those who battled with a health issue

and just took their final breath.

 

Those who were in a terrible accident

and without warning left their loved ones

and everything they owned and dreamed.

 

Those who were murdered and

just saw the evil eyes of their killer.

 

I want to greet those babies

who were just sucked out

of their mother’s womb.

 

I want to greet those who’s hurt and pain

was so great they could not hold on to life any longer.

 

I want to be the first face they see.

 

I want to be the one to put a smile on their face.

 

I want to be the one who lets them

know their pain is not the end.

 

I want to point them to the eternal hope…

 

The glory and beauty of Jesus and the Father

 and the fresh breeze of the Holy Spirit.

 

I want to see the change of despair, pain,

grief, worry, loss, all change in a moment.

 

I want to be a doorkeeper in my Father’s house.

 

I get a glimpse of what it would be like

to be a doorkeeper in the Father’s house every Sunday.

 

I get to see people come to church in hope

God will touch their pain, grief, and loss.

 

I get to express who God is.

 

The smile I give each person

is a small glimpse of God’s love.

 

Jesus said…

 

 “If you have seen Me,

you have seen the Father.”

 

I want that to be true of me.

 

I want people to see my smile

as an extension of God’s love.

 

I love greeting at church so much

I try to do it where ever I go.

 

The same joy that comes on the face

of the people coming to church…

 

 Is the same joy I want to see on the street,

in the store, with my family and friends.

 

I have found that when I do not feel like smiling…

 

 Smiling at others makes me feel better.

 

I am so glad there are a lot of greeters at my church.

 

None of us feel threated our job

will be taken away by someone else.

 

The more greeters expressing a smile

and word of encouragement or blessing…

 

 The better.

 

A billion smiles from you and I

is just a small glimmer of…

 

 How great God’s smile of love and acceptance is for us.

 

Don’t minimize the power of a little smile.

 

Your smile is import to others.

 

 And believe it or not…

 

 It is just as important to you.

 

Give and it shall be given to you.

 

So, if I get to heaven before you…

 

 Look for me at the gate.

 

I can’t wait to greet you and welcome

you into the presences of the Lord.

 

Until than…

 

 I will stand at the church door to welcome people

into the presences of the Lord.

 

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God.

 Psalms 84:10

 

It is not my job…

 

 It is my JOY.

 

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

Psalms 84:10 NIV

 

10 Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.