So...imagine our excitement when we started attending Church Central several months ago. We fell in love with it our very first visit. We walked through the door and knew IMMEDIATELY this would soon become our home. We met several people and were reunited with others and knew IMMEDIATELY these people would soon become our family. The desire of Chris' heart, and mine? To love God, and love people. To come to church, and it be simple. Simple for our kids. Simple for us. And...it is! Not only is it simple, it is simply AmAzInG! Is is perfect? Not for a second! Is it perfect for us? You better believe it!
In this day and time I think it is harder to be simple than it is to be fancy and complicated. Chris and I want this for ourselves and for our boys: To worship God through song- be that "worship songs" or hymms, the TRUTHS of the BIBLE to be taught- complete with no opinions, opportunities to love and be loved, and people to "do life" with. Regular, simple people. People who struggle, people who hurt, people who pray, and people who want to serve. People, like us, who are trying to sift through the "stuff" in life that really just does not matter, and also the stuff that does. The stuff that we either have been taught for so long as truth, or just stuff that life throws at us along the way. We want to be surrounded with people are like minded, and you guessed it, simple!
We are grateful for our life group, and for our church home. We have been blessed for many years to be surrounded by people who love and support us. People who have seen us through the good, the bad, and the ugly. People who have prayed blessings at the time of our salvation, blessings over our marriage, a miracle for our big boy, and grace for our little one. I am excited that even when seasons in life bring change, that we know the One who sets those seasons in motion.
If you are reading this, you probably know me, and you also know that when Jeff preached today from Proverbs 3:5 and 6 and quoted the verses "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowlege Him, And He shall direct your paths...I thought...oh boy! Here we go...every control freaks dream message!!! Trust Him with ALL of our heart? Don't lean on OUR understanding? In ALL of my ways acknowledge him? HE directs my path??? Jeff then proceeded to ask me-I mean us-if we are willing to be interrupted. Well, of course. It's not like I think I have the master plan. It's not like I need to constantly be reminded that there is ONE God, and I am NOT Him. Or...do I? According to Jeff...which also translates...according to scripture..."Acknowledgment leads to sharing".
Think about it for a minute. If we allow ourselves to be interrupted, and truly acknowledge who God is, it will lead to sharing. We will not be able to help but to share God's love with people around us. If we acknowledge Him, He will provide opportunities to share who He is. My dad and I were just talking about this very thing last week...and then this sermon today. Hmmmm....I may be a simple minded girl, but I know that when God repeats Himself, He wants me to listen and to obey!
So, what about you? Tomorrow is Monday. A new day. A new work week. Will you acknowledge God? Will you allow yourself to be interrupted so that you can share Him with others around you? Will you let go of that/those area(s) where are you CONTINUALLY trying to lean on your own understanding? I know what those areas are for me, and they make me tired! We were not meant to know. We are not meant to understand. If we were, we would not have to trust or have faith. I am gonna give it another try. tomorrow. and the next day. and the next. I will fail, but I will dust off my boots and try again. I do not want to be so busy directing my own path that I miss the one GOD Himself set out for me, for my husband, and for our boys.
Acknowledgment is sharing...who will you acknowledge and what will you share this week?
Blessed? The Brown's? Oh yes! We are blessed way beyond belief!
