Greetings My Friend,
Sunday mornings has always been set aside for church in my life. When I was a young bride my ex did not feel like going to church, I felt like something was missing if I did not go. Eventually I started going when my children were young, I felt it was important to raise them in the church. I admit I left too much to the church and did not do my part of sharing my faith with them, I felt church was better than life without church. It was easier to justify things I would not do if I were in church. It was a habit for me until I got divorced. The church then became a life line in my life. Getting involved in my community out here in Virginia meant finding a church family to belong to and then becoming part of the family of God. This past Sunday, I felt that spiritual connection of being in the family of God in a deeper way. We attend Sunday school before services, as we were studying our lesson we were applying the lesson to living in today's world. Apparently I have been caught up in comparing the men of this generation to the men of past generations quite a bit. I was fussing about how young men dress today and I referred to "skinny jeans" more than once. I was teased in a loving way, I had the class going off track from the lesson, underneath it all was the family of God teaching and learning alongside of me. In church I pondered about Pastor Joe's sermon, how the church today is not treated with respect, a generation of children are coming up that have not been given the opportunity to be a part of the church life and family. Later after evening Bible study we headed over to McDonald's with a group from the Bible study. Pastor Joe and Jenny joined us and we visited sharing stories and Junior offering his take on things, because he thinks outside the box a whole lot he has a way of connecting his faith in the family of God that is unique. I could see people giggle at his antics then begin to absorb what Junior had said. They had a respect for Junior. Pastor Joe relates to Junior, both were raised in a home with an alcoholic father. They get each other because they were raised in much the same environment. On the way home that night I marveled how the family of God spurns us on. I can see how we learn the Word more in depth alongside of other believers, which opens our eyes to the thought that a church is a hospital for sinners. We share our struggle, encourage each other then we leave church, enter into the week with a renewed strength to live out our faith, reaching out to a hurting world in desperate need of as Savor. Junior and I questioned ourselves if we were doing enough, how were we effective in the community, then reflected that we are a happy couple sharing our love with our silliness, we show concern for others, sometimes stopping what we are doing so we can help them. We also understand more fully that God is not calling us to be so busy that we can't take time to be alone with Him, getting closer to Him. Jesus is the way, the truth and the light which to me means we need to take time to be alone with Him, to seek God's will and direction in our life. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
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