Last month we started attending church again after a 2-year hiatus.
About 3-4 years ago the church we belonged to, a plant church, dissolved due to financial reasons. We mourned the loss of that church family, but we eventually forged on and started looking for a new church home. We visited a variety of churches, both traditional and contemporary. When you look in the phone book and see all the churches available you would think it would be easy to find a church, but it isn't. Finding a church that fits you is a very personal thing.
After several months of visiting different churches we found one we liked and attended off and on. It was a large church so it was easy to go and take part in worship and be anonymous. But the trouble with staying anonymous is that you don't have the encouragement and spiritual support from your fellow churchgoers.
And soon we were busy... or tired... or _________ (fill in the blank) and then we just weren't going at all.
During this 2-year period of time I did two online Bible studies, was part of two Bible study groups, listened to Life 96.1 eight hours a day while at work, prayed, and we started putting a Bible verse up on our chalkboard every week.
So I felt I was doing what I needed to keep my faith strong.
My faith was unchanged in this time. And that was something I was proud to share. "I may not be going to church, but my faith is the same."
That sounds good, but our faith should be growing constantly not remaining stagnant. Status quo is better than having no faith at all, but it certainly wasn't what God would want for me or us.
My faith was unchanged in this time. And that was something I was proud to share. "I may not be going to church, but my faith is the same."
That sounds good, but our faith should be growing constantly not remaining stagnant. Status quo is better than having no faith at all, but it certainly wasn't what God would want for me or us.
On our trip to Duluth in October we were listening to some of our favorite CDs while traveling: Chris Tomlin, Mark Schultz, Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, etc. One of my favorite songs is "Who Am I?" by Casting Crowns. Here are the lyrics:
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling.
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling.
And You've told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours.
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling.
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling.
And You've told me who I am.
I am Yours.
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling.
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling.
And You've told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours, I am Yours.
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am Yours, I am Yours.
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling.
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling.
And You've told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours.
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling.
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling.
And You've told me who I am.
I am Yours.
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling.
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling.
And You've told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours, I am Yours.
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am Yours, I am Yours.
Don't ask me why, but I always choose road trips to discuss serious topics. Maybe it is because I have a captive audience, or maybe it is because there just isn't much else to do when in the car for 6-7 hours other than talk?
Michael knows how much I love the above song. After it played I told him it just overwhelms me to think of how much God loves us. To know how much we love our kids...and to know God's love for us is greater than that is just hard to comprehend. No matter where we are, what we have done, or how far we have fallen...He still loves us. Let's be honest, a lot of times we do things that make it hard to make us lovable, but not to God. His love never changes.
Michael knows how much I love the above song. After it played I told him it just overwhelms me to think of how much God loves us. To know how much we love our kids...and to know God's love for us is greater than that is just hard to comprehend. No matter where we are, what we have done, or how far we have fallen...He still loves us. Let's be honest, a lot of times we do things that make it hard to make us lovable, but not to God. His love never changes.
Michael and I talked about our faith, what made it stronger, and what we each needed to keep us spiritually growing. Michael said he missed going to church.
It hurt to hear that. I didn't realize his spiritual needs weren't being met. That made me realize I needed to put effort into getting back to church. I want to support Michael as much as possible, but in all honesty I also needed to get back to church for me.
So when we returned from vacation we started attending church faithfully - the same church where we were remaining anonymous before. There is no perfect church - churches are made up of imperfect people, but we feel we have found a church that is a good fit for us. And in timing that only God could have been responsible for, our second Sunday back we saw there were going to be classes available in order to become members of the church.
Don't you just love when God gives you a good nudge or two?
This time we are going to do it right by becoming members and getting involved. No more anonymity. That "at home" feeling we had at our old church didn't come about overnight - it came about through time and effort, and the same will be true for this church. Only by making ourselves vulnerable and getting involved will we get that feeling back.
It hurt to hear that. I didn't realize his spiritual needs weren't being met. That made me realize I needed to put effort into getting back to church. I want to support Michael as much as possible, but in all honesty I also needed to get back to church for me.
So when we returned from vacation we started attending church faithfully - the same church where we were remaining anonymous before. There is no perfect church - churches are made up of imperfect people, but we feel we have found a church that is a good fit for us. And in timing that only God could have been responsible for, our second Sunday back we saw there were going to be classes available in order to become members of the church.
Don't you just love when God gives you a good nudge or two?
This time we are going to do it right by becoming members and getting involved. No more anonymity. That "at home" feeling we had at our old church didn't come about overnight - it came about through time and effort, and the same will be true for this church. Only by making ourselves vulnerable and getting involved will we get that feeling back.
I thought I was content sitting at home Sunday mornings, but once back in church I realized how much I had missed it too. Our church has every age imaginable: young families, college students, people our age, and older. I especially love seeing college kids worshiping God. I'm humbled by their faith and enthusiasm. Worshiping together, all ages, just makes for an amazing experience and we truly leave worship revitalized and ready for the week ahead. Church is once more a joy, not a chore.
I've never believed that attending church makes one a Christian. There is much more to being a Christian than showing up once a week and filling a spot in a sanctuary. The hard part is showing up on a daily basis to live a life that is pleasing to God:
...loving others when they are being really hard to love
....forgiving people who have hurt us
....and accepting and not judging others.
If we all had those things down perfect, wouldn't it be an awesome world?
...loving others when they are being really hard to love
....forgiving people who have hurt us
....and accepting and not judging others.
If we all had those things down perfect, wouldn't it be an awesome world?
I'm guessing it would look like Heaven.
So wherever you are in your faith I hope you too are spending time with others worshiping. God put us here to walk through life together, pray for each other, help each other, encourage each other, and learn from each other. So if you find yourself sitting at home on Sunday thinking it is enough, like we did, go out and find your happy place. It is worth the time and effort it requires.
I never want my blog to make you feel like you are being preached at.
Encouraged, yes.
Preached at, no.
But if I didn't use my blog once in a while to remind you of how much you are loved, how wonderfully you were made, and that God loves you right where you are even with your imperfections and sins, I would be missing out on a great opportunity.
Blessings.
I never want my blog to make you feel like you are being preached at.
Encouraged, yes.
Preached at, no.
But if I didn't use my blog once in a while to remind you of how much you are loved, how wonderfully you were made, and that God loves you right where you are even with your imperfections and sins, I would be missing out on a great opportunity.
Blessings.
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