Ring it From the Top of the Bell Tower

There is Power in the Blood

February 11, 2025

Chaplain LaVina “Viny” Burns

Have you ever had one of those days when you think, “This is going to be a great day to be in the House of the Lord!”? Before marrying Jim, I had a co-worker comment to me. She said, “Do you know the difference between you and other church goers?” “What” I asked. She responded, “Every time you talk about going to church, you say, ‘I get to go to church’ not ‘I have to go to church’”. That struck me interesting because I love going to church. Always have!

I remember at age 6, sitting in the pew of a small country church in Seeley Lake, MT, turning around looking at people’s noses. LOL To this day that strikes me funny. I remember thinking, “What would people look like without noses?” Then the singing would begin, and the small group of 50 people would lift their voices as my little mind wandered on in thought. My favorite song was, Power in the Blood! The music leader would add several Powers in the chorus, ‘There is power, power, power, power, wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb…’.

And that is when I began to learn the POWER of the Blood we sang about. As I grew older, I was able to understand the Power and was taught, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the POWER of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Romans 1:16

Believing in God’s Power is shown in many forms in the church today. But I want to share one close to home and in our family church we attend in Center Star. (First Baptist Church Center Star) Jim went to church alone as our granddaughter woke up at 5am very ill. I knew I could not leave her home alone because of her illness and would need to take her to Emergency Care. Jim entered the church and met up with Pastor Kip. Upon learning about our granddaughter’s sickness, Pastor Kip said, “Let’s pray” and right there they went to the Throne of Grace. Jim continued walking and ran into a couple of the leadership. Upon learning the same thing, Tim Robinson said, “We will pray.” Jim waited and Tim told hold him to get home to pick up Raegan and get her to the doctors. Then the men then prayed.

That my friend is not only friendship but men believing in the Power of Prayer! A praying church is a church that stands solid on the Rock of Christ with assurance that going in Prayer to our Heavenly Father will get the job done! God wants to answer our prayers. The Word says, “We have not because we ask not.” James 1:2 In the day of James, the people were asking for selfish gain and pleasure. It was causing arguments in the church. The church was told to not ask amiss or they would receive nothing.

At First Baptist Center Star, our men in leadership were not asking amiss, but asking for the good of another. Their eyes were on the Savior for the healing of a young girl. How exciting was and is that? I for one love the concept of Praying Diligently one for another. And to not put off a member of the body of Christ but take to the Throne of Grace immediately shows they believe in the Power of God! Sometimes we just need to know our church is in good hands and the example shown last Sunday says we can worship without being ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is the POWER we all can utilize in our walk with Christ, even in the halls of our local church.

I pray our churches ring from the top of the bell tower, “There is Power, Power, Power, Power, wonder working Power in the Blood of the Lamb!” Pray believing church!