4th Church Hop

Last week I didn't attend church because I was at the lake with family for the holiday.  I've been nothing but honest in these blogs so I won't stop now.  It's so darn easy to find an excuse to skip church sometimes. Many churches have an early service so I could have gone to that and still had plenty of time at the lake. I also used the excuse that since it was a holiday I knew there would be many people that regularly attend absent. I also thought the message from the Pastor would be geared towards Memorial Day.  There is nothing wrong with that, but when I visit a new church I want to experience it for it's usual service.  Excuses, excuses, yeah I got 'em.  I'll also admit that as I was headed to the lake that morning I was regretting not going.  I love the feeling I get from going to church.  I love the high! Since I've started this new journey in my life I'm experiencing those feelings more and more.  It's not something I can really explain, especially to someone that hasn't felt it before, but if I had to try I would say, it's a crazy, peaceful, positive, happy, I can conquer anything, kind of feeling.  :)  I mentioned in the last blog that I hadn't had a good week and that I was forgetting to share my worries with God and trying to solve them all on my own.  Well folks, this past week was worse then the week before, quite a bit actually, but I remembered and focused more on praying and handing all of it over to God. Man oh man, what a difference in how it made me feel.  I'll admit I still had moments of wanting to curl up and cry my eyes out, as my usual self, I chose to close myself off from talking about it with friends or family.  I even irritate myself sometimes by being so private, lol.  One more thing I want to mention and then I'll get on with the church that I attended today. The power of prayer can sometimes be so simple that we miss it.  This past Tuesday marked the one year anniversary that I lost one of my best friends to cancer. I still miss her like crazy!!  My week was the pits with Thursday being the worst.  That morning I received a very lengthy text message from the husband of the friend that I lost a year ago. He was thinking of me, thanking me, telling me how much I meant to her and to him and so on.  His timing was PERFECT!!  Later that same day I received another text from a friend that I haven't spoke to in awhile just saying, "Hi" and letting me know she was thinking of me. Again...PERFECT timing. Within about 15 minutes of getting that text I had another friend call me and leave me a message telling me that she was calling just to chat because we haven't spoke in awhile. Really??  Again...PERFECT timing.  I'll admit though, the 2 friends that contacted me with 15 minutes, I didn't reply or call back. That was the day I wanted to curl up in a ball and just cry.  I did contact them both the next day though.  My point is, God knew what I was going through and led all 3 of those friends to reach out to me that day of all days.

Time for my church hop news, if you're still following along that is. Today I went to Level 13, a hop, skip and a jump from my house.  As most of the others they offer 2 morning services, 9:30 and 11:15am.  Surprise, surprise, I went to the early one, but I goofed.  I looked on their website just yesterday to be sure of the times and I could have sworn the first one started at 9:45, so I get there about 9:35 and of course it had already started.  It's a pretty small church so there was no guessing on where to go for service.  I can hear the band as soon as I walk in, I walk into the sanctuary and I literally can NOT see a thing.  My eyes haven't adjusted from being outside yet and the only lights on in the church were very dim lights up front on the praise band.  I just stood there for a moment trying to see, trying to see an open seat near the back, but I couldn't even tell where the back was. I didn't want to stand there but I didn't want to sit on someones lap either. Ahhh, my eyesight is starting to come back. Hey, there's a nice seat towards the back and the exit door...plop.  I am so loving the praise bands in all these churches I've been to. It's so easy to sing and follow along, whether you know the song or not and rarely do I know the songs. They do the usual announcements, then I hear, "while we pass the offering plates, take 5 minutes to talk to each other and get some coffee if you like."  WHAT??  FIVE minutes??  What in the world am I going to do for 5 minutes?  Crud!! The lights are all on now so I can see, so I look through the bulletin.  That took about 5 seconds. I look around..."hey...I know that couple."  It was the son and daughter in law of a friend of mine.  I got out of my seat, walked over and was able to spend at least 4 of the remaining 4 minutes and 55 seconds talking with them. Then I go back to my seat and guess what I see up front??  Communion!! You may be thinking, "yeah, big deal."  Have you not learned anything about me yet??  If I choose to do communion, which I will, I will have to walk up front to get it.  UGH!!  This congregation is quite a bit smaller then the other 3 I have already been to, which almost makes it worse for me to walk up front in front of everyone.  I realize no one will be paying attention to me, but in my head they are ALL watching me, which makes me want to pass out!! I'll get back to the rest of that story in a minute.  Before communion Pastor Rob gets his time to deliver his message (hmmm...should that be His message?).  He spoke about, "turning me into we." I enjoyed this message and wrote down a few of his points that I wanted to remember.  I took several but here's just 3.
*Your gift is for everyone, not just you!  I agree, but what if you don't have an obvious gift? Or not one that I've figured out yet anyway.
*Accept people without passing judgement!  I really hate being judged, so I try my best to practice this everyday.
*My burden is your burden !  Now this one got me.  I've already wrote a book here so I won't go into this one anymore, but if you've read the first 3 blogs you will understand how I would have a hard time with this one. I'm not saying I don't agree with it, I just have no idea how I can learn to do this or if it's even something I want to do. Huh, this one really has me thinking right now.
Message is over. Time for communion. Not every church does communion the same but I believe every one that I have been to we always have to walk up front.  Yep, same routine here.  Those that want to join in communion begin going up front to get their bread and wine, I mean cracker and grape juice.  At one point the line was very short so I stand up to go and then several people beat me in line, so I sit back down.  The less time I am in line and in front of everyone the better. It's getting shorter, getting shorter, hurry...go!  It went fine.  I didn't pass out.  I don't why I worry about these things.  I am getting better though.  Goodness, a year ago or even 4 months ago, I wouldn't have been able to do any of this like I have been now. I'm not ashamed to say, I'm proud of myself.

I escaped pretty quick when church was over. As I walked outside and down the steps I looked around and thought to myself, "I would love to get a hold of the landscaping here."  It sure could use some TLC and curb appeal.  This was the 4th church that I have visited so far and I have to tell you this is not going to be an easy decision.  I may have to visit a few of them a 2nd time.

Not sure where I will end up next Sunday, but till then...Have a fantastic week and thank you  for taking the time to read about my experiences.
  2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!