Today a young man sang a song in church that moved me to tears...it wasn't the words although they were beautiful...it was the way he sang the song. He put everything he had into it, using his gift from God to his fullest potential. I wish I could sing like that...I so... can not! It's not my gift and certainly it wouldn't be from God if I did break out in song.
A yet, a new song is in my heart.
His song did remind me that for awhile, I haven't been using my gifts from God, to my full potential. I haven't any good excuses but rather instead deluded myself in thinking...that either my gifts weren't needed or worse maybe I never really had them to begin with. The trouble with this line of thinking is that while you may not use your gifts...God will make your passion bigger and bigger until you have to use them!
My husband and I have made some changes, for some time now we haven't worshiped at the same church as our children. They have each married wisely and they have each picked churches that were right for their families. While my head has understood all of this...my heart has missed them at every turn. I refer to this as "the ghost of children past". I have spent about 5 years missing my children in the halls of our church! I love our church and consider the people there our family but for the last two years, both my husband and myself quietly thought of leaving. Neither one of us wanted to hurt the other by bringing it up but this heaviness in our hearts persisted.
Our passion for serving the homeless led us to a new church where 200 are fed every Sunday morning, even Easter...or should I say, especially Easter! Their mission statement is simple and easy to remember... Making God's love real. It was our passion that led us to this church and our passion will lead us to serve there.
I will miss our old church family, as I miss worshiping with my children but I do know that we, together will always be a part of God's family!
I welcome new beginnings....Happy Easter!
5 comments:
Glad you're at peace. We will miss you - and so will our homeless...
Beautifully written, Ronda. Using my talents as the Lord sees fit is something I've been struggling with, as well. I hide them under a bushel so I won't be asked to do hard things and then I do service at my convenience. You gave me a lot to think about, although I'm not changing churches.
By the way, the scripture from Joshua you have on your banner is a particularly sweet one. It is the theme scripture for the young women (ages 12-18) in my church worldwide (Latter Day Saint). I'm finding more meaning in it as I grow.
Thank you.
I am tempted tonight to blog about my own church experience today, but I can't bring myself to do it. Not because I think blogging about church/religion is wrong, but because I'm ashamed of how I feel. Many times I felt that the sermon was directed right at me, as I'm sure many people did, but I sat there with my arms crossed over my chest, closed to it all. I did not utter a single note of song, nor did I laugh at our crazy pastor who sounds like Shrek. I didn't visit with any old faces afterward, I just wandered around like I was looking for Olivia, or following her around.
I felt this morning like I would gift my family with my presence at church, since it has been so long, and it is Easter after all. However, I was more of a stubborn child whose pride is so huge it should never have even fit through the door. I really didn't belong there.
I'm very happy to hear that you have found somewhere you belong though. It is a very hard thing to do!! I wish you all the best with your new church.
PS. I'm sorry I made this a counseling session. But since I'm not blogging it..... lol
Thank you Betty. I think we have found a church home where we can use our gifts to it's fullest potential and it feels great to serve!
Derek, thanks and we still miss you all very much!
Hello, A Musing Mom...for a while I felt like I was hiding my talents and I acted like maybe I was wrong about what God wanted me to do...and then I read "my" Joshua scripture!
Rhonda, my love...if ever there was someone who had amazing God-given talents it would be you! Your church is losing a vital part of the body of Christ without your passionate presence and you are missing that awesome feeling of doing God's will. I know because I haven't been fulling participating until now.
Thanks everyone...I am off to work!
Thanks for dropping by! Why did you thank me for mentioning Lazy Days?
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