Even before we went into the ministry, Sunday morning church was never something we missed. It's not that we were being legalistic, but rather acknowledging that it is important to maintaining our spiritual health. And since we enjoyed gathering each week with our church family, it is what we wanted to do with our Sunday morning.
Since Christmas we have only gone to our church 2 times (and my parent's once). We've either been sick or out of town. Needless to say, I miss being there.
I'm trying really hard to look at it all through the eyes of grace. Being a Pastor's wife means that all sick care falls on me since Anthony cannot stay home. There have been plenty of mornings where I've had a bad attitude towards it. I've been trying really hard not so that it will not make his job of leading worship more difficult. I certainly don't want to hinder his ministry.
I also know that I tend to worry about what others think. I figure that "they" think I'm being lazy and using every excuse to get out of going. This certainly isn't my motivation and besides, who are "they" anyway? (If anyone knows, please let me know because "they" have caused me much frustration in life!)
I just need to do what needs to be done for the family God has given me to care for and learn to praise God for it. Whether it is tending to my sick children or worshiping with my brothers and sisters in Christ, I know I am right where God wants me.
I'm really starting to see what Ann writes about in One Thousand Gifts. If I look at everything as being a gift given to me by God and am thankful for it then I experience His joy. I guess I would have thought that by missing this much church that I might feel distance in my relationship with God, but in actuality the Lord has been faithful to teach me. Hopefully I'll remember these lessons and apply them to future circumstances. Living in joy is so much better than living in frustration and concern over what "they" think!
Now my hope is to actually be able to attend church next week. We'll see what God has in mind!
Since Christmas we have only gone to our church 2 times (and my parent's once). We've either been sick or out of town. Needless to say, I miss being there.
I'm trying really hard to look at it all through the eyes of grace. Being a Pastor's wife means that all sick care falls on me since Anthony cannot stay home. There have been plenty of mornings where I've had a bad attitude towards it. I've been trying really hard not so that it will not make his job of leading worship more difficult. I certainly don't want to hinder his ministry.
I also know that I tend to worry about what others think. I figure that "they" think I'm being lazy and using every excuse to get out of going. This certainly isn't my motivation and besides, who are "they" anyway? (If anyone knows, please let me know because "they" have caused me much frustration in life!)
I just need to do what needs to be done for the family God has given me to care for and learn to praise God for it. Whether it is tending to my sick children or worshiping with my brothers and sisters in Christ, I know I am right where God wants me.
I'm really starting to see what Ann writes about in One Thousand Gifts. If I look at everything as being a gift given to me by God and am thankful for it then I experience His joy. I guess I would have thought that by missing this much church that I might feel distance in my relationship with God, but in actuality the Lord has been faithful to teach me. Hopefully I'll remember these lessons and apply them to future circumstances. Living in joy is so much better than living in frustration and concern over what "they" think!
Now my hope is to actually be able to attend church next week. We'll see what God has in mind!
1 comment:
Thank you for posting this. Since Christmas, we have only been to church 3 times, and it bothers me that the only thing that bothers me about it is wondering what "they" will think. I'm ok with it spiritually. I understand that God is sovereign and that He does not measure my relationship with Him by my church attendence. But it bothers me that I always wonder if "they" are thinking that I am just a lukewarm, backsliding Christian. Apparently, I'm a people pleaser. That needs to change.
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