TESTIMONIALS

Maybe until we figure out some things, we don’t know to realize how much we need a church family.

 

I always say if I ever give my testimony, I will introduce myself by saying, “Hello, my name is Cindy, and I’m a recovering Christian.

 

I say that because as a Christian, we learn to take one day at a time, we learn we have seasons in our life. We think some of them are going to kill us with heartbreak and sorrow; but we are comforted to know He made us a promise; he truly will turn our mourning into dancing.

 

Maybe Until you have passed through some of the seasons of your life, you can’t appreciate the season to dance and laugh, and you can’t help anyone else walk through the fire if you haven’t swept up the ashes of your own.

 

Maybe Until you have been told you are “marked” and going to hell because you divorced and remarried, you can’t appreciate the depth and weight of the guilt removed from your heart when you hear “there is nothing God won’t forgive”

 

Maybe Until you join a house group and get to know 15-20 people on a more personal level, you can’t appreciate the fact that we are all humans, all sinners, and we all need each other.

 

Maybe Until you join a house group you think you are the only one with a dysfunctional family filled to the brim with problems and embarrassing situations; it’s such a relief to know, it’s not just your family!

 

Maybe Until you get to know those people as someone other than someone you just see at a Sunday morning service, you could easily consider them rude for not talking; if you didn’t know they’d stayed at the hospital all night with a loved one, lost their job, buried a friend, or had to fire employees they loved.

 

Maybe Until you walk with them through the joyful expectancy of a new child or grandchild, from ultrasound pictures to the proud parents holding them at the hospital; you don’t know how exciting it is to see that baby being carried into the church.

 

Maybe Until you join a homegroup, you don’t meet a friend that loves animals as much as you and share the joy of comparing treat and trick stories or know why the e-mail of the dog looking guilty makes you laugh so hard.

 

Maybe Until you have seen a grown man cry and ask for prayer for something he wishes he had said or not said, you don’t understand that far away look you saw instead of a handshake.

 

Maybe Until you have had someone pray so hard for the circle of friends that not a dry eye is left in the room, you have not experienced true love or the power of prayer.

 

Maybe Until you have been told you can’t eat in a church, that it is disrespectful to God; you haven’t shared a meal with God’s children and felt the presence of Jesus at your table and known without a doubt he was pleased to be there.

 

Maybe Until you have seen a mother tell her children to be still when they are singing praises; you don’t understand the smile on my face when I see our children sing, dance, and even “Whoop” for the Lord.

 

Maybe Until you have walked into a church feeling like you will never “make the mark”, you can’t grasp how refreshing it is to walk into a church and be greeted with a hug, a handshake, or fresh baked bread.

 

Maybe Until you make the choice to become a better member, to become a more active part of a clean fun loving, and sharing group, maybe until you decide to get involved and become an active servant to others, you just can’t grasp the emotional fulfillment and acceptance all humans crave.

 

Maybe Until you change your attitude from “what do I have to do?” to “what can I do?”, you won’t know the joy of serving someone else; and in doing so, forget your own concerns.

 

Maybe Until you hold your hand up in praise (even if you are a little embarrassed at first), you won’t experience how humbling it is to honor and worship God with your heartfelt songs.

 

Maybe Until you open your heart to allow someone else to honor God in a way that is personal and heartfelt to them; you can’t understand your own controlling nature.

 

I’ve lived a long hard life. I’ve done stupid things. I had bad ideas and followed them through. I was hardheaded and hardhearted. I thought I had answers. I made things harder for myself by thinking I didn’t need anyone else. I told a friend to put on my tombstone “Here lays Cindy, working it out”. Maybe until you come to a point in your life when you realize you can’t do it alone and you finally pour your heart out and ask God to take over and lead you; when you finally pray for a revelation and open your heart, Maybe Until then, you won’t find a church you are happy with, because maybe it’s not the church. that’s the problem.