As I was suffering today getting through my Yoga exercise
video, looking like a complete moron, I focused on the crosses on my wall. To take my mind
off of my exercise, I started pondering the cross, church and it’s importance
in my life. Pretty deep thoughts
while balancing awkwardly in the warrior pose.
I was overwhelmed with thankfulness that somehow in a
miraculous way my family has weathered all the storms that have happened
in my church experience over the last 40 something years. They call it the Church Family for a
reason. It’s because the church
has just as many problems as families do.
They disagree, they hurt, they gossip, they betray. On the flip side, they love, they give,
they pray, they serve, they forgive just like families do. It’s a true
journey to join and stay a part of a church family for any length of time. It comes down to a choice. A choice to forgive and to stay
planted.
This morning I spend time wondering how my parents managed
to stay in a church for my entire life and what fruit it has brought in my
family as a result. See…good
things do come from yoga lol. I am not writing this to guilt anyone for not
going to church because there are plenty of hard things I have had to overcome
in my church experience but the good outweighs the bad. It may be the one thing
I end up doing right in my parenting experience, being faithful to raise my kids in
the house of God.
Today on Good Friday, I am first grateful that I have a
Savior. I am grateful that He
willingly laid His life down for my sins.
He daily helps me choose His ways, which have made me a much better
person than my selfish heart, wants to be. I sense His presence when I am afraid. I feel His comfort when I am hurt. I
sense His peace when I am overwhelmed. I don’t serve a judgmental God who just wants to restrict me and control
my life. He doesn’t desire to take away my fun. My God has brought me freedom and joy. He is my daily help in times of
trouble. He is my strength when I
don’t think I can go on. He is my
hope when I see none. He is the secret to my survival. This
is the God that I wish the entire world could know.
How did I come to know my God in this intimate way? It started by asking Jesus to forgive my
sins and to come into my life. I spend time with Him daily. I have grown spiritually through my Church Family through
regularly going to church, raising my family in church and not pulling our roots
out when I was offended, bored, unchallenged, irritated, frustrated or discouraged. If you have given up
on your church, go back this Easter and commit and replant yourself again despite
the ups and downs. It won't be easy. All hell breaks loose at the Wogs house before church.
Thank you Yoga for helping me focus on what is important
today. Thank you Jesus for loving
me despite my crazy ginger self.
Thank you to my parents who never left the church family that God
planted them in. Great is your
godly heritage because of your faithfulness…31 God serving family members to
date. And that is why I go to
church every week.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
