Let Me Tell You About My Church
When I'm asked if I have a Church, I say YES. Although I don't always have a church I’m attending, I have a Church. It is made up of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, deacons, elders, teachers, small group leaders, and praying friends that all feel like family. It consists of individuals that I made connections and bonds with at every single church I have ever attended dating back to 1980 and all the schools, jobs and classes I have done throughout my life.
My Church is a collection of believers who pray for me a lot, for days and weeks and months and years. Who never stops praying for me even when my life is wonderful.
They are there for me when life is bad, like really bad where no one can fix it and it is messy and gets on people, that kind of bad. They stick by me when I want them to move on because I feel awful that my bad life is getting them messy. They don't do anything other than let me know they are there which is the most important thing they could do. Because when I'm in a bad place in life, I sometimes can't find my way and need those guideposts and lighthouses to help me through the fog of deception, of hurt, of despair.
And they are faithful. There is nothing I can do or anything someone can say about me that would ever change how they think or feel about me. They are the ones who love me when I'm wrong and love me when I've been wronged. Their love isn't conditional. I don't earn it. And I can't lose it.
My Church isn't one denomination. It is built on love, trust and grace, not doctrines or practices. Everyone in my Church loves God, trusts God and extends grace freely. They all pray and believe that prayer changes things because God is the one who heals, reveals and restores.
My Church doesn't believe in second chances. They believe in unlimited chances where no one keeps score or count. They believe we don't have to be right or good enough or perfect, but we only have to be willing to be healed, renewed and transformed. That life is a journey, that God works with us throughout the journey and as long as we are on this side of glory, that God isn't finished with us yet.
My Church believes in miracles. Big miracles. Long shots. They all believe no matter how bleak a situation, that God can turn it around. That kind of faith helps me get through the tough times when all hope seems to be lost.
My Church celebrates life with me. I may not see everyone in my church, but we know we love each other. When good things happen, they celebrate it. No one gets jealous. They are genuinely happy for me and I am genuinely happy for them. I have celebrated marriages, births, birthdays, anniversaries, new careers, new homes, new cities and new situations with my Church. I may have never met the people in their lives in person, but I know all of them by heart and love them like they are my own and that's how my Church is with my family. They may not have ever met my husband or sons, but they love them whole-heartedly.
And my Church mourns with me. They aren't afraid to feel the difficult feelings of loss, of despair, of unsettled, of heartbreak. They are there reaching out, constantly checking in, letting me know I'm not forgotten in the dark place. That they are still praying for me, pulling for me, believing for me and thinking about me.
I wouldn't trade my Church for anything. God put them into my life, over the course of my life, and they are there through good and bad. I love my body of believer's real Church...just like the one described in the Bible.
Thank you to everyone who is part of my Church. Thank you for your support, prayers, friendships, family ties and fun times. Thank you for really doing life with me and sticking by me when times get tough and celebrating when times are great! I love you all and appreciate our relationships and bonds.
This is a church in Marion, Arkansas that I would pass on my drive from Memphis, Tennessee to Searcy, Arkansas when visiting family. I’ve never attended this church, but I love its beautiful architecture and how stately it stands in the rural landscape.
