Today was a very nice Saturday. I led our churches ladies Bible study. Our church has been going for almost two years now and Josh and I have been there from the start. It has been a very difficult period of growth for us but for me especially. I'm so thankful now though because I am finally starting to feel at home in our church. It was hard for me because the church we came from was really like a family to me. I lived with the pastor's family for several months, they ministered to me when I came home from Haiti and they saw Josh and I get married. Also I had some friends my age there and in the same situation. Our new church is quite different. The biggest difficulty for me was feeling misunderstood because I was the youngest woman and I was the only one with a baby, and then two babies when Josiah was born. One of the biggest things I've learned is that I need to look at the church and think about what I can offer and not what I can recieve. The Lord showed me that I had a selfish view of church and I needed to learn how to serve others as well as be served. The Bible study is the thing that has helped me the most. I wonder if most people who are unhappy in their churches are people who don't participate and build relationships outside of their Sunday service? I was going to church on Sunday (and spending most of it distracted by my kids) and not going to cell group (because of kids) or anything else. Finally we began this study and Josh said he would watch the kids for me. It is twice a month. This is the second month and I already feel more connected and a part of our church body. I am starting to have relationships with the other ladies and it has completely changed my outlook on the church. I'm so thankful because the point of church is not just worship and a sermon, but to be connected with our brothers and sisters. I'm also thankful because I'm learning so much from these older ladies who have much more experience than I do. Last Sunday I walked into church and I thought, I love these people. What a relief! Thank you Lord for turniing my heart around.
....On a less serious note... I have come to a very surprising conclusion that Mr. Darcy isn't my ideal Jane Austin man, I like Mr. Knightly better. We all know that deep down Mr. Darcy was a good guy, and there was something so alluring in his reservedness, but I love Mr. Knightly's kindness to others and his rational thoughts and actions.
3 Comments:
- fixed up your links. You won't be able to comment on Jill or Lori's sites unless you ahve a xanga account. we can talk about that later if you are unsure of it.
- glad that you liked my little post about you. it was fun to write!
- I really need to finish Emma. I started it a long time ago and haven't made much headway yet. And now to hear that you like Knightly better than Darcy, I really want to finish!
Thanks for giving a lot of food for thought concerning what Christian fellowship should look like. I'm at a church right now where I feel like I'm not gaining anything from it, but I need to realize that I could be trying to initiate more interaction as well. It was certainly encouraging to read this :)
Sarah Jean
p.s. I'm glad you have a blog now! Come join http://peniel.invisionplus.net where some old Penielers are trying to get back in touch if that's something that would interest you :) Talk to you later.
Thanks for the comments. :) I am in a morning Bible study for women at my church, but sometimes I do not make it...something I am working on with myself.
As for Tammy, she does not have a computer at home, so it is not likely that we will see her in the blogging world. :(
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