(There are many positive church inspirations at the end of this inspiration.)
God Bless the Church!
For most of my life, I fit in just about anywhere I went, and with any type of group of people. I was liked by the ‘preps’, ‘hoods’, ‘geek’s, ‘jocks’… I was kind to anyone and 'fit in' anywhere I went: school, football-games, parties, bars, swimming-pools, neighborhoods, churches, youth groups…
I was a follower, so no matter where I happened to be, I tried hard to 'fit in', and it didn’t matter what I had to 'do' to fit in.
Reflecting back over my life, the happiest times in my life were the events that took place at church. I was most accepted by those at church, and I was a 'natural' with imitating those at church, because I grew up in a Christian home. The sweetest times in my life are the one’s that have God in them, because I felt safe.
At church, we prayed before and after class, jumped on stage and performed skits and songs of praise. We went Christmas Caroling, bowling, skating, Church camp, concerts, toilet-papering…and the food was amazing, because Christian mothers and grandmothers can COOK!
Looking back, I guess these times were so memorable, because God seemed to follow us everywhere we went, and the fun was clean, and I felt
I remeber In 5th grade, at my Christian school, walking into the classroom and seeing my brand-new, white and red, better-than-ever, high-top basketball shoes sitting on my seat. I remember how joyfully excited I was to receive those shoes, and I never forgot Mr. & Mrs. Gary and Linda Glenn, who gave them to me.
The kindness of their hearts reached farther than they will ever know. Today, I am happy to give such gifts, and I know gifts such as these don't just last a lifetime, they can change eternity for generations!
In my recent writings, I have pointed out some of the church's weaknesses, and I know it’s good to always start with weaknesses, but I have to tell you the many positive benefits of a church. The eternal family 'gifts' and support out-weigh the negative bickering and gossip, by far!!! Christ Himself compared the church to His Bride. Ephesians 5:22-33
Jesus believed so much in the church, that His request for us, was for us to bring our tithes (10% of our first fruits) into the store house (our local church), so the church could then distribute the money to the physically and spiritially poor. God points out many times in the Bible that by not tithing, we are ROBBING Him, because He considers 10% of our first-fruits to be HOLY.
I had the privilidge of witnessing this year the generosity of the church. When I was without work, I called the church to place my family onto the prayer list, because the following day, our water was to be disconnected. Within 30 minutes, the church called back and told my wife to come and pick up the $200+ check that the church wanted to give us, in order for us to pay the water bill. Yes, my pride was hurt, but I was so thankful to God and the church! And I bawled like a baby as I hugged the church secretary when I picked up this check.
I found out, first hand, that the church does care and does help the needy! There were no questions asked. The church could have refused to help us, but they didn’t. They didn’t know how important my flowers and plants were to me (that would have died without water on the hot summer days ahead). They could have also recommended we visit friends and family for bathing, but they didn’t.
Folks, the church gives money to local and foreign missionary families, they help the widows keep their lights on and heat in their homes...
What we see on Sundays is a quick sermon along with praise music. During the week, the Pastors are visiting the sick in the hospitals, helping couples save their marriages, comforting the hurting at funerals, marrying newly weds on the most important day of their lives...
It’s not easy being a Pastor! They hear some members bicker and complain about the stupidest things, like what color the wallpaper or tiles should be in the bathrooms. Their sermons, inspired by God, are criticized as being too short, too long, not effective enough, stepping on toes, teaching the wrong message, to the wrong audience...
The church was set up by God Almighty, so that we can get together and support each other, and encourage one another. We are to help the needy, and comfort the hurting, and lead the drug and alcohol addicted to a road of recovery in Jesus Name, but most of all - lead God's children to Christ. The church is the only family us Christians have!
Yes, we are human and we make mistakes, but we forgive and love 'often times the unlovable'. We know we don't deserve God's forgiveness, but we follow Jesus’ example and love each other anyway, and extend God's Grace to each and every soul that walks through the door.
Today was Thanksgiving, 2008, and I spent another
I am truly THANKFUL to GOD for giving me a Christian family to grow up in! I do have one regret though – I just wish we could have stayed at church all day, every day. I don’t think I would have been abused as a kid if I could have stayed at church. I would have also followed more Christian friends, and in return, my life would have been so different. I wouldn't have followed secular friends into trying drugs, that turned into 17 years of drugs addiction and depression.
Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if I would have followed Jesus everyday - all day.
THANK YOU GOD FOR MY CHURCH!!!
Please listen to the song!
In His Hands,
Love, Glen