Thursday, March 19, 2015

Church Shopping




I hope this will be the LAST time we ever have to church shop.  For us, moving to a new area isn't just about finding a new home, but also a new home church.  For me, it's a MAJOR decision.  Church, for me, is about forming a new family, lifelong friends, serving, ministry, leadership, covering, life.  It's life.  My heart is to serve and devote my life to being a follower of Jesus Christ.  That means that I will serve along others to grow the church.  That means seeing the good, bad, and ugly side of our human nature.  Can you imagine being able to pick out your own blood family members?  Quite a daunting task.  FOR. EV. ER. Okay, I'm being dramatic, but you get the point.  This is serious business.  We have been here for two months.  We have visited two churches so far and I will visit one by myself this weekend.  This journey, so far, has caused me to really check my motives and my willingness to sacrifice what I want to be where God wants me to be.  Am I willing to drive an extra long time, to jump into a mega church (Which feels like jumping into an ocean by myself.), to commit to a church that no one recommended to us?  It's also caused me to question how I become involved in a church.  Do I commit to something that is easy, familiar, fill in an easy hole or do I commit to anything God will call me too no matter the discomfort?  

This process has caused me to dig deep, to really consider where we get planted, not just to commit to what "feels" good.  We are still on this journey.  Truthfully, I hope it ends soon, because, it's tough to visit churches to see where you could be used and changed and not know if it's going to be "home".  Truth is, as tough as it is, I am fully relying on God to direct our paths, to grant us peace, and to call us to the perfect place in His timing, not mine.