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| What Being a Family is All About |
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One of the reasons I feel fortunate enough to belong to a wonderful church, is the people that I have come to know. They are my church family, and I love some of them as if they were my own flesh and blood.
I have watched several of them suffer through their children being seriously ill, and prayed fervently for them…I have watched some with serious illnesses themselves, and prayed…I have shared their joy when a new life comes into being, and cried with them when they suffered miscarriages or the death of a loved one. I have tried to be supportive of them when they go through a rough time, and above all, I pray for them every day, that no matter what they may have the peace of Christ.
I have worked along side of them when something needed done at church, for a special event, or just singing on the praise team. I have sat with them in small groups and listened to experiences that they have had, sorrows, joys, mistakes made…I have learned through them how to worship my Lord, what being a Christian is all about, what loving others is all about. I have seen unselfishness in many people at my church, giving up their time to helping others. I have witnessed many of them coming to the rescue when another church family needs help, or even when someone in the community needs help…either through monetary funds, or physical labor when needed, and they don’t discriminate against people who don’t belong to our church. I am overwhelmed with their unselfishness and devotion to God and to each other.
Sure, we may not always like the same music, or worship God in the same ways, some may not be as devoted as others, and some may not be as involved in church activities as others, and there are disagreements. But we are a family. Our differences are our strengths; where one is weak, another takes up the slack. When one is down, another lifts up. When one cries, we cry with them, and we celebrate with each other when there is joy. And I know, if I needed help, all I would have to do is let someone know, and there would be a group here in no time, to provide whatever help was needed. I have never had that before…never experienced a church so devoted to helping each other and supporting each other, as the one I belong to now. And that is how it should be. And I thank God every single day for guiding me to this church, this family, this home. I AM SO BLESSED!!!!
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Deb |
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November 29, 2007 at 10:43am |
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| Alissa, thank you for your comments! I am truly enjoying your writings on Bringing Back Christmas...for those of you who haven't read them, go have a look :) |
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| Are you sure you don't attend Kinchafoonee Baptist? Your description sounded just like my church. Praise the Lord. I know exactly how you feel... Isn't it wonderful. |
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Deb,
It is truly a blessing when you can have a church home and a sense of family. This I believe is what God wants us to do. To become a family. Unfortunately, there are so many people who don't have this. There is such a disconnect in many of our churches today. I like you have a church family. It's a wonderful thing to have, and at times can be closer than your own blood family. I pray that others will find their own church family and experience the many blessings of Christ through them.
Pastor Aminata |
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DeboraJ |
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November 29, 2007 at 12:41pm |
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| Deb, That is so exciting to hear. It blesses my heart to hear of churches that live the High Calling of Christ. |
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Gene |
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November 29, 2007 at 4:39pm |
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| And, Deb. YOU are a blessing to many. |
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Bless your heart Deb!
Let me ask you something. How many members do you have at your church? The reason I ask is that my church is growing pretty big, Now please don't get me wrong. It's a great church and I have met some really caring people. But I am just not feeling the connectivity that you apparently have. We do have small groups, and that is a good thing. But can I say that they are like family? Honestly, not yet.
Of course, and I do not deny, that opportunities are available for be to be more involved, and it is me that chooses not to participate. But Atlanta is huge and the feeling of community just isn't happening for me. I would say that the closest member that I have met lives at least a 30 minute drive away, just because of traffic.
Just curious. I keep hearing in my spirit that I need to move to a smaller town and get involved with a community church. Guess I am just seeking confirmation!
Love you in Christ,
Michael
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Came back to give you a Star and to make sure I get follow-ups!
See ya! |
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| It's great to be blessed to have a good Church Family,but also they are blessed to have you. Doyle |
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Deb |
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November 30, 2007 at 5:51am |
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Cheryl, yes it is wonderful to belong to a church like this. I wish that for everyone, but I know it is not so. I am thankful that you have been blessed as I have.
Pastor Aminata, My prayer is the same as yours...that all could experience what I have. I know from my own experience, and from listening to others, that more often than not, a church does not offer this feeling of family.
DeboraJ, Bless you...I hope you are fortunate enough to belong to a church like this.
Ah Gene, thanks. You are such a faithful reader :) I appreciate all your comments.
Michael, I am guessing here, but I would say that our church has between 300 and 350 members. I know I am in the ballpark at least. I will admit that I don't have a close relationship with all of them...But I do with a lot of them purely because of belonging to different groups, and being an active member of the church. The more I get involved the more I interract with people in the church, and therefore get to know them better. We live in a small town...probably close to 2,000 people or thereabouts. A lot smaller than Atlanta, for sure! I used to belong to a church in a larger town, but never felt the closeness there that I do here. The holy spirit led me to make the decision to leave that church and find another one. My husband and I went to a few but knew from the moment we stepped into this church, that it would be home. I think that is the Lord's doing, no doubt in my mind. I would say that if you feel you are being led to move to a smaller town and find a smaller church, that you should seriously think about doing that if you are able to. In my case, I didn't have to move, I actually found a church closer to me. Perhaps you can find something smaller, but you won't have to move. I would look into it more anyway. I do think that the amount you choose to become involved in the activities of your church, the closer you will get to the people. Thanks for your comments.
Doyle Crowe, I am greatly blessed, and I can only hope that I am a blessing to others. Thanks for your comments.
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Thank you Deb!
Great words of advice. I honestly have no idea where the Lord is leading me. What I do know is that I am in a place of what I call, Holy discomfort. This is not a bad thing. I liken it to the pains of pregnancy. As we see in the Word from so many examples, it is often from this state of pain that a new stage of life is birthed.
Thank you! |
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Deb |
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November 30, 2007 at 7:12am |
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restore, thank you!
Michael, I have learned that no growth can happen without pain. So you are in a place of growth, and it appears that you are listening, so I have no fear that you will follow the Holy Spirit's lead and find your way. |
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Steve |
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November 30, 2007 at 9:56am |
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| Amen Deb. That is how I feel. And it is all because the Lord is faithful and the people here are doing their best to love and follow him. |
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| I UNDERSTAND HOW U FEEL. WE FEEL THE SAME. ITS BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ONE BODY. THANKS FOR SHARING! |
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| Deb, interesting way of comparing your spiritual family and human family relations. I especially liked the paragraph, "Sure, we may not always like the same music, or worship God in the same ways, some may not be as devoted as others, and some may not be as involved in church activities as others, and there are disagreements. But we are a family. Our differences are our strengths; where one is weak, another takes up the slack. When one is down, another lifts up. When one cries, we cry with them, and we celebrate with each other when there is joy. And I know, if I needed help, all I would have to do is let someone know, and there would be a group here in no time, to provide whatever help was needed. I have never had that before…never experienced a church so devoted to helping each other and supporting each other, as the one I belong to now. And that is how it should be. And I thank God every single day for guiding me to this church, this family, this home. I AM SO BLESSED!!!!", which can often cause so much division. Very encouraging to read something like this. I think not only are you BLESSED to worship with this congregation but they must be BLESSED to have you as a part of their fellowship! Very good blog! |
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Deb isnt it awesome that so many Brothers and Sisters in Christ feel the same way you do.
You are truly blessed by the MyChurch family.. and so am I... it is so cool like church 24/7
I have to concur with Gene you are such a blessing to many. |
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Deb |
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December 01, 2007 at 11:20am |
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Steve, it helps to have a great preacher, although I know you won't take the credit. Yes, you have a lot of people helping you, but having a good leader is vitally important too.
Shannon_TK, I am glad that you are blessed to have a church like mine too.
Yahschild, thank you for your comments. I am blessed to have a church family like I do.
Becky, thank you! |
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Deb, what a great love letter!! Reminds me of the song "The Anchor Holds". I am not sure if that is the title, but that is the punch linie of the song.
Keep writing, lady. You write wonderfully. |
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Jen |
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December 01, 2007 at 7:16pm |
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| Hey, Deb! That's how I feel about our congregation, too. What a blessing, eh? |
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Deb |
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December 02, 2007 at 11:53am |
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DC, thank you so much for your kind comments. I love to write, so I will probably keep doing it!
Jen, I am so glad that you have a church like that too. It certainly is a blessing, and not everyone has it, so it makes it even more valuable! |
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Cyn |
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December 03, 2007 at 10:36am |
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| Praise the Lord..God is there and it shows he is there for you and your blessings! |
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Deb |
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December 03, 2007 at 11:08am |
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| cyn402002, thank you for your comments, and yes, Praise the Lord! |
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