The church I am currently attending has this atmosphere, that I love. This makes me a little upset at myself but in strange ways. God is God. Not an idea or some experience that makes me feel good. I don't like saying I like one church over another for that matter. People will be able to meet God wherever they are, a certain church will not save you, nor any denomination. We only have one savior, Jesus Christ, so do not be confused when I say that I love the church's atmosphere.
This atmosphere of my current church reminds me greatly of the first church that I came to know God more intimately and first learn for myself about Jesus, when I was first a faith baby(haha). Everyone knew my name, and I knew a great deal of theirs(a feat since I am bad with names), and it wasn't just like brownie points for knowing their name. I might of not been praying so well for my church family, but I know that I was definitely in lots of prayers in that church, and I am thankful for that. Worship was WORSHIP! You could feel it something amazing around it, and here I go again thinking, I am just explaining an experience. Everyone was an integral part of the church and it felt good to be concluded, safe, and loved. It meant something to call them a church family. The family there reminded me oof the functioning body of the church.
1 Corinthians 12:14-18 "Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God has arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose."
What happened to that Zach? That Zach was eager to be a part of anything, youth group, and even learn to play bass for worship, I even played live worship. I even gave up driving my car for two weeks so I could save up the money to buy my first bass guitar. I still have my dedication prayer written down for it. That was so wonderful, I still think there is nothing better way to love God than those heartfelt prayer worship songs, playing my out of tune notes or offbeat, just knowing I was giving what I could to God. That Zach knew a little bit about God, definitely not so much as he does now but what is stopping me from going towards these thing in my current church?
To find easy blame I could say I fell into a comfort zone because I am too scared because of the experience I had leaving my first church when it came under new leadership. Now I know that is no excuse, I am responsible for my faith in action. It took a little push maybe, and I just thought it was in the most amazing way. I always sit in the same spot, talk to the same people(superficial stuff "Hello, My Name is Zach." "Oh, I'm doing fine"). Worship based on my feelings(bad idea far from what I use to do during musical worship) louder if I feel good, mouthing the words if I feel horrible that day. Take notes on the Sermon, maybe a few of my own, get sidetracked maybe reading something else.
Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."
Something happened last Sunday that I found myself laughing at myself for and I am glad it happened. The children stayed in the sanctuary this week. This mother that usually sits in the row in front of me sat in the same row. Her kids always sit to the right of her, but this week they were in the same row as me. Guess what happens? One of her children steal my seat while we are standing for worship. Since this happened, I found myself smiling all week. It was grand, I sat next to this lady, and I feel bad that I don't remember her name, she was so awesome and motherly to me. It felt awesome, God's love should shine through us and I felt it right there.
These children did not steal my seat out of spite, and I am not mad at them for taking "my spot." I found it kind of awesome that my perspective changed so much from a simple action. Moving 1 row back and throwing myself into "unknown" territory gave me a chance to be a better part of the functioning church, rather than some tumor sitting inside it.
Matthew 18:2-6 "And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
