I don't. I don't know about what you do on Sunday mornings or how things go around your home, but in mine they can get a bit harried. It's been that way for a long time- not just since my kids were born- but that has definitely added a new dimension to it.
It goes without saying that it's no easy task to get myself ready, in addition to 4 kids fed and dressed. Some Sundays are much more smooth than others, but still, they seem a little more chaotic than the other mornings of my week.
This morning was about a 3 on a scale of 1 to 10. Ten being the most crazy/stressful it can be. There's often a nag in the back of my mind about 'will it be worth my time and effort' to get everybody ready and off to church. With a couple of coughs to influence my decision, I started playing out the excuses and options in my head. It would definitely be easier to stay home. It would be much calmer to just have a leisure breakfast and flip through the pages of the Sunday paper.
I even have 'good excuses' pop into my head on Sunday mornings, how I could get things done around the house, or it would help the nursery workers out to have less kids to watch during the service if I kept mine home. Sometimes I debate if the music will be the worship team I want to lead our group, or if the sermon topic is really that applicable to my life this week.
It's true. Sometimes this is what's going through my mind as I ready everyone for 'worship'. Today the actual process of getting ready went relatively smoothly, and my hair turned out alright on my first style attempt. As we pulled into the church parking lot I felt guilty for being there. I knew that God deserved better than I was giving Him of myself, and it just sort of hit me head on.
I don't know how it happens, and I am almost ashamed to admit it, but God did it again in me today. He took what {very} little I had to offer Him and turned my guilt and selfishness into praise and worship to Him. I don't know how or why He does this, but it has happened time and time again. When I fall short and have nothing worthwhile to give, God takes the broken pieces of me and turns them into something that can reflect His glory.
I don't know where you stand on the issue of faith, but I do know that no matter where you are, God is ready and willing to meet you. And rather than feeling unworthy and ashamed, He will fill you with His mercy and grace. I guess that's why it's called 'amazing grace'. I'll never understand it fully, yet I continually embrace it in my life, and it proves to be more than I deserve, more than enough to meet my needs, more than words can ever express, and more humbling to accept, day after day. I am living proof that God is all anyone ever truly needs.
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11 comments:
I'm sitting here crying right now, with tears just running down my face about what you said about going to church. It seems so hard to just get there but once you do, what a blessing. What a peace comes over my soul, when you know God is in control. I went to church today, as I do every Sunday, but it has a new meaning now. Does God love you less for not going? No, but to worship in the fellowship of other Christians helps so much! Just being in the sanctuary brings me so much closer to the dad I lost just recently and just knowing he went to Heaven gives me so much peace, but on the other hand, it makes me sad cause I miss him so, but going to church makes me feel that he's right there beside me. You just keep going girl, you are SO on the right track. I go there and leave all my problems at the foot of the "Old Rugged Cross". God Bless you Jody.
I know exactly what you mean. He always seems to give us so much more than we give in return. As my sunday school class met one evening for a dinner social we were discussing worship and one couple said they would not be a church the next morning as they were going on a hike through the mountains (we live in northern Atlanta) and I thought to myself what a wonderful way to worship God. Walking threw and enjoying the beautiful scenery as the leaves change color and you can smell the crisp clean air. All of this is part of God's glory that he has put there for us to enjoy. No matter how or where you choose to worship God always seems to give us so much more.
Amen to that!!
Jody--my heart sings with joy as you share this truth with others.
Often, as I ready my 6 kids for our Sunday meetings, I wonder what, if anything I will glean from our time worshipping that day.
Sometimes, in the midst of the trials, we lose sight of He who loves us unconditionally.
It is amazing that He loves us and strengthens us in spite of our weaknesses...and never turns away from us. All we have to do is make a few efforts to acknowledge Him, and it is easy to see His hand in our lives and how He chooses to bless us.
Thank you for sharing.
As usual, you touched my heart.
There is a battle going on, it's not just you. Satan would love to see us come up with excuses. He knows that is the place where God is glorified. I think he works overtime on Sunday mornings to see how many people he can keep out of church. He won't be able to influence our worship once we're in Heaven, but while we're still earthlings, he knows he can do some damage and that his chain is getting shorter.
I so agree with you. Sometimes I have a lot of chest and back pain due to my asthma. I think, " I really don't feel like going today." Then I think about when I am standing before Him and He telling me, "Well, Mary I don't feel like letting you in today." That makes me jump out of the bed and run to the shower. My girls were His gift to me. I have the responsiblity to show them the gifts that He has given to us. So those two things alone push me on.
mary h.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this posts
Great post. God is alway willing to meet us even when we dont deserve it, thanks for reminding me. Just thought I would add a little amen to that post.
Jody, your posts make me weep with gratitude. I too have sundays like that, and this just totally nailed it home for me. I love your graceful, gentle way of sharing, you really have a way for showing us the Way. =) You always seem to zap me back onto the right path when I feel I start to veer. Thank you! Thank you for taking the time to share these messages, these feelings, you truly are an angel from God Himself.
Hugs!
I love what you have to say about this. I agree with another person on this thread who posted. It would be Satan who would "whisper" excuses into your ear..or cause confusion so-as to way-lay someone from going (ie. causing dissension, lateness etc.). He knows that God would be glorified by your attendance and that you would be hearing scripture etc. and he definately doesn't want you to "grow" or to find 'strength', encouragement and so forth. I know of people who will proclaim they're angry with God therefore they won't attend church...this is very dangerous territory. I know that anger is o.k.~~God can take it but to use "that" as an excuse really is something from "the pit". Jody, you encourage me and thank you for posting this!!
It was good to see you and Chip in second service. No doubt about it some of the most miraculous "conversions" [in appearances] occur between the slammed car door and the greeter at the church door. The cool thing is when "being there" brings a true change of heart like you said. As I said in response to your comment on my Saturday post, the last thing you need at this stage in life is a free pupppy. :)
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