Why We Love the Church

We welcome Dr. Roger Freeman to the pulpit today. Dr. Freeman was an active Southern Baptist Pastor from

1969-2019 and now serves as an interim pastor. He served as Senior Pastor at FBC, Clarksville, for 20 years and as TBC President from 2004 - 2005. He also served as IMB trustee and is now NAMB Ambassador to Pastor for Tennessee.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,

    Lord Almighty!

2 

My soul yearns, even faints,

    for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out

    for the living God.

3 

Even the sparrow has found a home,

    and the swallow a nest for herself,

    where she may have her young—

a place near your altar,

    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

4 

Blessed are those who dwell in your house;

    they are ever praising you.[c]

5 

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

6 

As they pass through the Valley of Baka,

    they make it a place of springs;

    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.[d]

7 

They go from strength to strength,

    till each appears before God in Zion.

8 

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;

    listen to me, God of Jacob.

9 

Look on our shield,[e] O God;

    look with favor on your anointed one.

10 

Better is one day in your courts

    than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

11 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

    the Lord bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold

    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 

Lord Almighty,

    blessed is the one who trusts in you.