Church

I know there have been times when I prayed for God to help me find a church. The times when I prayed the most and really depended on God to direct me are the times I did best. Sometimes I prayed lightly like a prayer over a meal and made my decision. At least twice I really prayed and did not make a decision until I felt I had really heard from God. I did that when I came to Tupelo, I visited and visited and prayed and prayed some more. The longer I attend, the more I feel I really got God's answer. There are a lot of good churches even here in Tupelo, but recently I heard someone talking about the best and they were talking about their denomination. I thought about how I had done when I was in a  denomination, even at times when I preached a sermon or two. I would read denominational stuff to try and prepare myself. I realize now how I could be studying one man's error and promoting it if I was not careful. I find that even today, I want to find scripture to back up what I already believe, instead of studying and letting God speak through his word.  Old habits are hard to break. We can beat people up with the word if we are not careful. And ofttimes when we study by finding scripture to back up our position, that is what we end up doing. I know, that is what I heard and learned growing up. I want to be an encourager and lift people up, not beat them up with the word. Sometimes I still want to find scripture to support what I already think. Think Jim Jones, and that is not what I want to be. This is one of those blogs when I am just thinking on paper. I recently visited a church along the road while I was driving. It was 10:00 Sunday so I stopped and went to church. It was really OK, but I sure miss my church when I am not there. Even a statement made to any newcomers, if you have any feed back that you can give us please do. We are not perfect but we are willing to learn. If there is something we can do better let us know. I have a pastor that is trying to teach me, not to add to his church, but that I might be the best that I can be. Sometimes I think it is the difference between building a church and building people into what God wants them to be. As time goes on, I just know God answered my prayer. I really was thinking I am not going to find a Church equal to what I had in Tacoma but in reality, I think I found better. Perhaps that is loyalty thinking because I am here now.  It really was a good church I attended in Tacoma. I think they were trying to build people to be the best that they can be. I wonder how did I get so stuck on my denomination? And why are so many others stuck on theirs and they really have no idea what is out there. Just like me if they move, they go from church in that denomination to church in that denomination. They don't have to pray about it, they already know in their heads what is best. Or do they? I'll never forget Sisco Heights Community Church and how they helped me to get free from this denominational thinking. I almost have to laugh as I would think, I am probably here to teach them about the true church. Hind sight, I believe God led me there to help me. I was so stuck on denominational thinking. They taught me a lot. We, all who have accepted Jesus as Savour and Lord,  are going to be in Heaven some day. It reminds me of the joke I heard: ST Peter was walking a newcomer around heaven. As he came to this one place where a certain denomination was (Insert you own denominational name), he said: Be really quiet here, they think no one else is up here. :) At one time I had a Pastor ask me what I thought my knowledge of the scripture was on a scale of one to ten, one being low and ten being high. I said a five. He said just being a member of said denomination, your probably an 8. I know he meant to encourage me, but I still think about how denominational that thinking is. I find even to day, compared to some of the teachers / Elders in my church, I know so little. I have been on this way a long time. Just last night as I was listening to CFAN on the web, one of my favorite passages of scripture that I use a lot to guide me, I saw something new, "as unto the Lord" in Ephesians 5. Surely we can trust God, he has our best interest at heart. I would do better if I prayed more and actually waited for God to answer instead of going ahead with what I think. God bless, LVZ.