Thankful today for the church family who poured into me from childhood to now.
If I could gather every person who has poured into my life around one long church fellowship table, we would need several rooms, a few folding walls removed, and at least four Crock-Pots of queso to feed them all. Today, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for one of the greatest gifts God has given me: the church family who helped raise, shape, encourage, and love me well.
From the time I was a little girl in Sunday School — singing “This Little Light of Mine” with motions big enough to knock over a neighbor — to the seasons of adulthood where ministry, calling, and community ran deep, church people have been God’s hands in my life.
- Pastors and their wives who prayed over me.
- Youth leaders who saw potential blooming.
- Worship leaders, who taught me freedom of worship.
- Missions and outreach folks who reminded me faith is meant to be given away.
- Friends in the pews who became family in the heart.
These dear saints taught me scripture, worship, service, and grace — not only through Sunday messages but through the everyday rhythm of loving well. Their voices ring in my memory like a familiar hymn:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” — Colossians 3:16
Isn’t that the beauty of the church? Not the building — the people. Those who sing beside us, pray for us, teach us, and lovingly nudge us toward Jesus.
This theme reminds me of a story dear to my heart — Sweet Charity, a Texas tale centered around a pastor and his daughter. There’s something tender and relatable about a behind-the-scenes look at ministry life, faith, community, and the beauty (and sometimes hilarity) that comes with being part of a church family.
If you haven’t visited Charity’s world yet, here’s where you can step inside: Sweet Charity
And speaking of church family — what brings believers together faster than a covered-dish dinner in the fellowship hall? Whether it’s labeled “potluck,” “dinner on the grounds,” or “bring a dish to share,” there’s nothing quite like the spread of casseroles, cobblers, and “the dish Sister So-and-So is famous for.”
So today, I’m sharing a few “church potluck classics” from across my family’s recipe sites. Each one feels like something you’d spot on a long table with folding chairs and sweet tea nearby:
- Southern Hummingbird Cake (from my baking blog, Out of the Box Baking)
- Bessie Mae’s Dewberry Cobbler (from Storybook Kitchen)
- Smoked Mac & Cheese with Panko (from our friends at Backyard Texas Grill)
Before I close, here’s a little something to reflect on this week:
Gratitude to Stir Up This Week:
Thank God for the church family — past or present — who helped shape your walk with Him. Whether it was a pastor, teacher, prayer partner, worship leader, or friend in the pew, whisper a prayer of thanks.
