I haven't posted here much lately. I don't want anyone to think I've lost my desire to participate here, but life has a way of bogging you down. As some of you may remember, back in the summer I was having problems with the leadership at my home congregation. I became disillusioned about the direction the congregation was headed and decided to leave and find another place to worship. At the time, I thought I was dealing with the problems as I should and really felt even though I was discouraged, that my spiritual health was fine. For various reasons, I woke up one day and realized I hadn't uttered a single prayer in about a month. Without realizing it, I had even sloughed off the meal time prayers to my daughter.I told myself,I was allowing her to gain confidence by offering the prayer, but truthfully, I was sick inside. I noticed that even though I liked the new congregation, where we currently worship, I hadn't cracked my bible outside of the service in some time. In fact, somewhere along the line I had misplaced my worn out study bible, and to this day, I still can't find it. I rummaged around in the closet and picked up an old bible that was a gift to me in 1985. Written in the front of it were the words my mother penned when she gave it to me.
"I love you, but more importantly, Jesus loves you."
I sat very still for awhile and thought about my life. The bible was given to me when I was 10. My mother and father were divorced and my mom was very adamant that I go to church. That bible was a small way of her encouraging me to become a christian. Asalot ofyoung men do, I grew up to become a good person, but I wasn't a christian. God blessed me with a christian wife, who saw "potential" in me that others didn't. Through her quiet example, and the added wieght of the responsibilities I now had as a new father, I began to turn my thoughts to God and His plan for my life. With the help of some very good men, who took the time to study with me, I obeyed the gospel November 16th, 2000. As I look back on my life between the time my mother gifted me with the bible and 11-16-00, I realize just how longsuffering God is. As I look at my life starting back thispastsummer and now, I realize it even more.
We have yet to place membership at the new congegation, but we have discussed it and have decided this is where we want to work and worship and raise our children. I've been blessed to meet many new brethren and to find two men who currently serve as elders that are very humble, loving men. I'm thankful to have found that old bible. I'm thankful for the great mother I have. I hope you will keep my family and I in your prayers as we begin again at this new congregation. I may still come and go, but I'll be back. I'm thankful for this resource as an encouragement. I truly enjoy the encouragement, debate and spirit that fuels it.
GH
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I love animals.......they' re delicious!
Grasshopper,
I've alredy got one Church of Christ family I pray for daily .I wear astrand of Powerproaround my right wrist to remind me. It is for Strut and his wife. I am presently putting a band on my left wrist for you and your family to commit prayer for you daily through 2007. It will be easy. You are both from Missouri and both Church of Christ. I am expecting a wonderful year for you Jeremy.
Hey buddy, I'll keep you in my prayers. You are growing and sometimes we expirence "growing pains" we have to return to the giver of truth so that we can grow closer to Him and further from ourselves. God bless you as you grow, as we all grow! Keep that little girl in church and sunday school, it is a huge influnce in all of your lives!I will remember you in prayer.
Catching up...
