What a blessing!
This Sunday morning, Cole, Tim, and I were rested and ready for our first full day of Spring Break in the Panhandle. I’ve always heard about the stunning, sugary, white beaches here, yet…this Florida girl had never been! I bet I know why…God had a blessing in store for me…in His time.
Rain was in the forecast, so we planned on taking a road trip to the legendary Flora-Bama. One of the mottos, of the Flora-Bama, is “the Country’s Best Beach Bar, a place where everyone feels comfortable and leaves smiling.” Let me tell you…this motto stood true for me today, but not for the reason you would expect at a beach bar.
On our way to the Florida/Alabama line, I had made the comment that we should stop by a church and walk in to “get-our-Jesus-on”. We did stop for a scenic moment at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier. There was a tent-church service about to take place on the beach. We ended up walking the pier, watching multiple fishermen cast their rods into the Gulf, beach-walkers dipping their toes in the cool sand, and brave surfers in their wetsuits, before climbing back into the car to continue our adventure.
Navarre Pier
Our travels continued along the Santa Rosa Blvd, meandering through the dunes of Santa Rosa Island. Ahhh…peace! The “beach-snob” in me informed Tim that we must stop for some photos. This was my kinda beach…no one on it!
Me and my man on the Santa Rosa beach.
With each stop, I was “getting-my-Jesus-on” as I soaked up His glory and peace through the various sites.
Then…we reached our destination, The Flora-Bama. We walked in this rustic building, and was greeted with a smile, from a man sitting at a table. He asked us where we were from and had me sing our hometown to a whiteboard. After I signed, he said, the church service will be over in about ten minutes.
Church service??? Sweet!
Have. You. Ever??? A famous beach bar, with a maze of rooms and deck space, having church! We quickly walked out to where the pastor was preaching, and wow…it was a packed house.
They announced that immediately after the service, there was going to be a baptism on the beach for three people. Whew! I didn’t think it could get any better…then, as everyone was being dismissed they were playing an old hymn that I often sing…“I’ll Fly Away”. You should have seen the smile on my face! I told Cole that that is one of the songs I want sang at my celebration of life service.
Let’s do church at a bar!
We became part of the congregation and paraded ourselves out to the beach. The wind was blowing, there was a crisp coolness to the air, and the water…burr…not this FL chick, but I can just imagine that those being in those “baptismal waters” were feeling a warmth from Christ washing over them, as the cool waves literally washed over them. (Please go to the Soaking up The Son Facebook page to view the videos.)
Oh, and this blessed Sunday surprise didn’t end at the beach baptism. I waited around to speak to a local member of the church, to find out more information about this “church at the bar”.
I met the sweetest lady, Susan. She shared the church’s facts, and I got to meet part of her precious family. (And…her and her husband even invest with an Edward Jones financial advisor, like my husband, whom they went to college with. Small world.)
My new beach church friend, Susan. 🙂
This Sunday morning road trip DID take me to church so we could “get-our-Jesus-on”. I LOVE it!
If you are ever in the panhandle, make sure you make a trip, on a Sunday morning, to the Flora-Bama, and get your Jesus on.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” Acts 22:16
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
