Nov.07.00: Light For The Day - "Behind The Sunday Smile" -- John 4:23 (RSV) "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. ---------------------- "Behind The Sunday Smile" Sitting in the Church Pew, Sunday after Sunday, Looking for the answer to your pain, Sitting all alone, looking at the people, Smiling and laughing once again. Loneliness and rejection creep in, Lodging deep within your heart, Then someone says to you, How are you today ? And the heartache and the pain, And the longing to belong, Rise up deep within your heart. I’m fine today, You say and smile, Shaking the outstretched hand, Then sit back down and gaze At the happy people all around. But really they’re hiding Their own heartache inside. The man up the front talks About the love of God, But you don’t fully understand, You’ve never felt the love of God From a smile or outstretched hand, And the heartache and the pain Hides deeper down inside. The answer to your pain, my friend, Is not found in the Sunday Smile, Nor from the preacher preaching out the front, It’s not found in the bricks And mortar of a building, Or the stained glass windows, Or the pews, or plastic seats, Or from the candles dripping wax Until they’ve all melted into nothing. It’s not found in the cold heart of religion. It is found in the Arms of our Saviour, our Lord, Seated High in the Heavens above, Jesus, risen Lord, Exalted King of Kings, The Lamb who gladly shed His blood, To take away your broken heart and pain, And dreadful sin, The Lamb of Eternal Life who gives you the choice To begin again. Look to Jesus, our Lord Our Saviour for your comfort, He will be your Comforter and your strength, He will restore you, and mould you, and shape you, And mend your broken heart, heal your rejection, and hurt. He is the God of Love who knows all things, and IS all things. He will wipe away every tear from your eye, And NEVER AGAIN will you hide your Brokenness Behind your 'Sunday Smile'. -- Linda Brown. ------------------------------ -- John 4:24 (RSV) "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."