Are you there God? It's me....

The one that didn't go to church yesterday. I alway's say in the beginning of the week, with enthusiasm, I might add "I'm gonna go to church on Sunday!" And as the S-day comes near. I hear myself saying "I'll go next Sunday." I take you for granted. I know all I have to do is take one step towards you. And you will take two steps toward me. So, why do I stand in the same place? Why have I began to retreat? You know me better than I know myself. Please, just keep reading my heart.

Are you there God? It's me......


Hey yall,

I'm not perfect. And I don't kid myself into thinking that I will achieve that status. Let's share and sing "CoomBaYaa" together and hold hands. LOL. Seriously. I would like to hear what goes on in your mind. And if this is not a conversation you would like to join in on in an open bar...move on to the next....

If there is a God, I don't think he gives two tits if you go or not.
It is more important what you do in your everyday life, not just for a few hours on one day.
This is why I hate the church and what it stands for.
You are more concerned about attending service than what you can actually do to help your-self or anyone else who might need assistance. I guess because some dude in a coat told you that if you go, then you consider yourself to be a good person.
It sounds like you are following the word of man.

Princess,

Going to church is a time for fellowship. It helps to strengthen your faith because you are around other followers and believers. You have people all around you that will talk to you about their faith. It is difficult to find others to talk to about faith because too many people think it's about religion, and many are skeptical on the topic of religion. I am of the belief that it's not about which religion you choose to be, but your connection with God, the Father. I build my relationship with Him by sharing my testimony, by being the best I can be (even if and when I fail), and by sharing my love with others. I know that wherever I am, whatever I am doing....I am NEVER alone. God is always with me---even if I turn my back on Him. He never goes anywhere, and is always standing by with arms wide open to welcome me back whenever I chose to return to Him (think of the parable of the Prodigal Son or even the parable of Jesus and the 100 sheep and the one that slipped away).

I grew up going to church every Sunday. I hated it! We went to a Greek church where the liturgy was read in Greek. I didn't understand very much of what was being said and never got the message. They even sent me to Sunday school, and I could care less about what was being said. My brother and I used to skip Sunday school, go to 7-11, get ourselves some Big Gulps and smoke cigarettes outside of the church until the services were over. At the age of 23, I was very sick with fevers over 102. My family put me in the hospital to figure out why I was having such fevers for as long as I was having them. The new priest to my church came in to visit me as I wrote that I was Greek Orthodox on the admit. papers. He asked me why he hadn't seen me in church, and I told him that I was working nights, and slept during the day. He began to berate me for being a bad Christian---even though I went on to tell him that I read my Bible every night, I was still a bad Christian. When I needed comfort and guidance, this man of the clothe did nothing but made me cry. I decided I would never go back to that church again. What I did was look for a church and a religion that fit my beliefs. I researched all different religions, talked to priests and pastors, visited a few churches and spoke to countless people. I converted to Lutheran as I loved the foundation the religion was built upon---Grace through Faith. I am forgiven and loved because I believe. No guilt. I did a retreat weekend called Tres Dias and my faith just took off!

I have had many battles with God. I yell at Him, I curse at Him, I turn my back to Him and I doubt Him. How can so many bad things happen to such good people if there is a God? Why would all the bad things that happened to me be if there was a God? Then I look at myself and at the people around me. I have people that look up to me for all that I have been through and survived. I don't understand it--I have done what others in my position would have done...survived. But I smile and laugh and life goes on---and that's my testimony to God. That I can smile and enjoy life even through all of that. My students tell me all the time that they love sitting through my Religion classes (difficult to teach the Catholic religion when I'm not Catholic...but I teach faith with the Catholic ideals in there)--they say I should be a priest (lol) and that I almost bring them to tears. I show them my love for God and Jesus. I show them my faith. My actions may not always add up to the good Christian lifestyle....but I try....but I love....but I believe.

So...thank you for starting this post. Religion and faith are difficult topics in this corner of the world. Go down south, and everyone is full of faith and have no problem in telling you all about how they are blessed. I miss that. If you ever want to talk about faith further, please feel free to message me. I can rattle on and on about it, because it is something that I believe in deeply.

Much love my sister

I think church has more to going on than just worshipping the Lord. Obviously, thats important, but its also important just to re-charge your batteries. I need it because after being beaten down by life all week, after spending the week trying to be Ms. Corporate America, and SuperMom, I need that time. Church is what I do to take care of me, and to remind myself that the Creator of the Universe loves me, and has a plan for my life. To some, that probably sounds pretty naive, but it something I need.

I think they key is to find a church that re-charges you. I had to search a long time and look in a lot of different places to find a church that does that for me. And truthfully, there's two that I go to, sort of alternating, because I love them both.

Church should be something that feeds you spiritually. Yes, its most important to love and honor God, but part of the reason He wants us in church is so that we can feel His love around us too.