Churches

     Over the last few months I've been doing something a little different.  Well at least it's different for me.  I guess you could say, while I consider my faith the center of my life, unfortunately there was an almost legalistic side to it.  And that's something that, when it finally hit me right between the eyes, I knew needed to change.  So, with much prayer and consideration, I chose to leave the church I had attended for over 15 years and start visiting other churches.
     Beginning on Easter Sunday, my journey began.  Some weeks I new several days in advance just were I would be worshiping that Sunday morning.  Some weeks I didn't know until shortly before time to leave home.  I must say that I have been surprised some days at the destinations God has chosen for my worship time.  And, I also admit to staying home a few times when I was exhausted.  Another surprise was that I didn't really feel guilty on those Sundays I rested....overcoming the legalistic part of my faith just a little I guess.
     Growing up in a small community church where practically everyone was related had it's advantages I suppose.  And attending a very large church that even broadcasts services on TV can also have it's advantages.   I tend to prefer getting lost in the crowd when attending a new church and that's something you can usually do in a larger congregation.   But these smaller churches.  Oh my.  Everyone knows if you're a visitor.  And I've found myself in smaller churches most Sundays lately.
     I've had the privilege these last few months of listening to some amazing music more on the contemporary side and got to enjoy worshiping with old hymns like I grew up with.  Funny thing.....one little church even had the same old hymnals we had at Mt Moriah Community Church way back in the 1970s! 
     Men with theological doctorates.  Men who didn't graduate high school.  Those who are career ministers.  And those who work other jobs and just preach because they love the Lord.  I've heard the Word presented from them all.  But I guess the one that stands out the most lately is the one who, if I understood correctly, didn't graduate High School. 
     The tiny church was one I had passed by several thousand times over the year.  I had wondered about the congregation and noticed that there seldom seemed to be many cars there on Sunday mornings.  The first time I attended this little church it was absolutely pouring down rain and we even had flood warnings.  The faithful few would have maybe filled two pews had they all sat together.  Actually, maybe one pew would be a better estimate. 
     The following is part of what I gleaned from that sermon.
     Childlike faith.  Believing God just like we believed and trusted our parents when we were little kids.  Planting faith and allowing it to grow instead of placing it on a shelf and only using it occasionally.  Being thankful you have 3 tires with air in them when you have a flat and only one spare.  James 1:2-3 "My brothers and sisters, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure." Count it all joy. 
     James 1:4 "Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."  Trust God, don't argue with Him.  You'll lose every time.  V5 "But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all."  Seek His face.
     First know Him as Savior.  Then know that the ones who are used the most are the ones bruised the most.  Wow.  What an amazing thought!  His Word gives us all we need to know to live and be used by Him, which should be our desire.
     2 Peter 1:3-9 "God's divine power has given us everything we need to live a truly religious life through our knowledge of the one who called us to share in His own glory and goodness.  In this way He has given us the very great and precious gifts He promised, so that by means of these gifts you may escape from the destructive lust that is in the world, and may come to share the divine nature.  For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add endurance; to your endurance add godliness; to your godliness add Christian affection; and to your Christian affection add love.  These are the qualities you need, and if you have them in abundance, they will make you active and effective in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But those who do not have them are so short-sighted that they cannot see and have forgotten that they have been purified from their past sins."
     Today I am so thankful for the freedom to worship the One True God.  And I'm thankful to have the opportunity to get to know brothers and sisters in Christ who love and worship Him.  I think, just maybe, we are more alike than we ever realized.  Do you know Him?  Would you like to?