75 Old Farm Road, Lexington VA

Church #152 was another online visit, this time to Lexington Baptist Church, and what a joy it was to join from home. I am so grateful for the way God continues to meet us wherever we are. Some days worship happens in a sanctuary, and some days it happens in a quiet living room, but no matter the setting, the goodness of God remains the same. He is good in every season, in the highs and lows, on the mountaintops and in the valleys, and one truth that continues to steady my heart is this: He never leaves us. He never abandons us. He never grows weary of loving us. And I praise Him for that.

From the very beginning of the service, I could sense a sincere love for the Lord. The choir sang beautiful songs, and I really enjoyed seeing how engaged everyone was throughout the service. There is something deeply encouraging about watching a church family worship not out of routine, but out of love and reverence for God. That always ministers to me. You can often tell when a church is simply going through the motions, and you can also tell when a church is rooted in something deeper. Lexington Baptist Church felt rooted, grounded, and focused on the Word of God, and that helped my heart so much.

I also loved seeing people take time to welcome and greet one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. That may seem like a small thing to some, but I do not believe it is small at all. It reflects the heart of Jesus. It reminds us that church is not just about attending a service, but about being part of the body of Christ and loving one another well.

One of the song lyrics spoke straight to my heart today,

“Oh, to see my name written in the wounds, for through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live…”

Today was yet another reminder that I am finally beginning to live after so much loss, so much pain, and so many years of feeling like life had been buried under the weight of what happened to me. And here I am, in my mid-forties, still seeing God breathe life into places that once felt beyond repair. It is never too late for God to restore what looked lost. It is never too late for Him to heal, rebuild, revive, and call something beautiful out of what once felt broken beyond words. I think sometimes we believe restoration has an expiration date, but God does not work on our deadlines. He is faithful in His timing, and I am living proof that He can begin something new even after years of sorrow.

The scripture today came from Hebrews 4:16, and it was one of those verses that feels both comforting and weighty at the same time: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” What a gift that verse is. What a miracle that because of Jesus, we are invited to come near to God, not in terror, not in shame, not trying to earn our way in, but with confidence. That does not mean confidence in ourselves. It means confidence in Christ. Confidence in what He has already done. Confidence in the finished work of the cross.

I know what it is like to carry pain, to carry questions, to carry weariness, and to wonder how you keep going. And yet this verse reminds us that we do not have to stand at a distance from God, hoping He might notice us. We are invited to come close. We are invited to approach the throne of grace. Not the throne of condemnation. Not the throne of rejection. Not the throne of “get yourself together first.” The throne of grace. That means mercy for what we have carried, grace for what we need right now, and help exactly when we need it.

Jesus saves. Jesus alone can save. That matters so much. He grants eternal salvation, yes, but He also gives immediate access to the Father. Salvation is not only about where we will spend eternity, though thank God for that. Salvation also changes how we live right now. Because of Jesus, we are not cut off from God. Because of Jesus, we are not left outside trying to knock on a locked door. Because of Jesus, we have access. Right now. Today. In the middle of struggle. In the middle of joy. In the middle of healing. In the middle of confusion. We can draw near.

That is what moved me so much. Jesus does not only save us someday. He holds us now. He intercedes now. He understands now. And because He understands, we can come to Him honestly. We do not have to hide our wounds.

I believe many people are desperate and have spent their lives thinking they have to clean themselves up before coming to Him, but the gospel says come near because of Jesus. Come wounded. Come tired. Come broken. Come thankful. Come trembling if you have to, but come.

I could tell this church is serious about the Word of God, and that blesses me deeply. The Word still matters. The presence of God still matters. Reverence still matters.

Thank you to Lexington Baptist Church for such a meaningful online visit.

As I continue this journey, I truly cannot wait to see where the Holy Spirit leads me next. Every church visit has carried something different, and each one reminds me again that God is still moving, still speaking, still drawing hearts to Him. That means so much to me.

If you are in a beautiful season, praise Him. If you are in a painful one, praise Him there, too. Hold fast. Draw near. Stay close to Jesus. He is still good in every season, and He is still able to carry you through every one of them.

Do not let go of God just because life has been heavy. Draw near to the throne of grace. There is mercy there. There is help there. There is love there. And there is still more life ahead than you think.

Love you all,

Annie