If I were Catholic, I suppose this post might be considering a kind of confession. Then again, if I were Catholic, it probably wouldn't count anyway, so I'd be right back where I started. Have I confused you yet?
Let's back up. I miss church. I miss everything about church. The sermon, the praise & worship, the teaching, and the wonderful people I have met. God has not forgotten me (he's good like that) and knows the yearning in my heart and has introduced me to some new friends who are refreshing my memory of what "church" means.
See, a church isn't necessarily the physical building where you go once a week to learn, pray, and praise. In addition to that definition, the church of Christ also refers to his people when they come together as a community of believers. God never intended for us to make a go of this life on our own (remember that Eve gal?) and he understands that we need to surround ourselves with a community of support to lead successful lives. That's where church comes in.
Let me back up for a moment and share our story and why I'm suddenly waxing poetic on this topic. I was raised Lutheran and never really connected with my faith on a deep level. It was just something I did. I can tell you with 100% certainty that God brought Evan in my life to bring me closer to Him. Through my relationship with my husband, I was re-introduced to Jesus and my faith was jump-started through the Evangelical Free church in our hometown. We were married at Edgewood Community Church and then found a church home at Blackhawk Church when we moved to Madison as a married couple. After we moved out of the city and into our small town, attending Blackhawk became more difficult. The 45 minute drive to church wasn't really convenient anymore and my work schedule really eliminates a lot of options (I work every Sunday morning). We lost our church. We got lazy and quit going. We stopped participating in life groups and Bible studies. I'm not proud of it and I'd be lying if I said I didn't care. I do care. I want to change it. My kids deserve better than that. My heart aches to have a church again.
Remember when I wrote about a neighbor who discovered my blog out of clear blue sky only to realize she lived 4 houses down from me? That was a God thing. Julie and her family know Jesus and in her I have found the Christ-loving friend I have been praying for. She's also introduced me to her network of friends, other mothers in our area who are funny, strong, gorgeous women who are also Christ followers. They've welcomed me into their homes, invited me to their church, introduced me to their children, comforted my crying baby, and sung Happy Birthday to my son......all without knowing much more than my name.
Since we haven't been going to church, God brought one to me. He's amazing that way.
(And we will be getting our butts to church very soon!)
