thirteen blessings of the church search

We moved here last summer. We had high hopes of finding our new church before we actually moved, but that didn't happen. So, we hoped it would happen by end of summer ('06). Turns out that wasn't God's timing, either.

At the advice of some very trusted friends and former pastors, we persisted in regularly attending one particular church through Christmas. We even took their "what we're about" class. The whole time, we weren't sure it was God's place for us, but the newness of not having a church home was something we hadn't experienced or planned for, so we pressed on.

During December, Superman & I spent one day a week fasting and praying and reading through the book of Acts. (At some point, I'd like to write more about that experience, as it was phenomenal.) Nonetheless, by start of 2007, we were no closer to knowing where we belonged locally than when we moved. So, over the past few weeks, we've gone back to a church we liked last summer. We're taking their "so ya' maybe wanna be a member" class each week, and this time things look more promising.

It is hard for us not to be members of a church. It's hard to trek our little boys to different places, trying to figure out the layout of the building, or the neighborhood, or trying to meet people and connect. It can be a challenge to go each week, not sure how long service might last, or if the worship might be organized very differently than we're used to. Needless to say, I could probably write many lists of why it's hard to be us.

However, that's not really true. We have one God, and He is faithful. We are part of a holy kingdom, a royal family, and a worldwide community of believers. We are not the only ones who struggle to figure out how to get ourselves out the door and into a church each week.

I was asked to write a "Thursday Thirteen" list. A number of topics came to mind, but this seemed to be easiest for a newbie at this whole blog thing. So, here are 13 Blessings of the Church Search.

1. My children get to see that God is always the same, even when the music or the people or building change.
2. We see first-hand that other Christians struggle, no matter their church affiliation. We also see first-hand that they have hope, no matter their struggle.
3. We have learned some great new songs.
4. We have learned to notice when the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5) is prospering, and we're putting more importance on that than our own desires for programs or appearances.
5. We've seen that God is loving the lost, feeding the hungry, and binding the brokenhearted, through many people and in miraculous ways in this city.
6. We have learned that worship can look very different, and sermons can be very different, and even the initials after the church name can be very different, but worship is always good if it's of one true God.
7. We've been linked into several different churches, and been included in ministries and outreaches we might not have known otherwise.
8. Lots of different people sing "How Great Thou Art," and mean it.
9. We no longer pray, "Please give us a local church, God." but rather, "Please use us, and care for us, as You want." (Ahhhh... the sweet feeling of surrender.)
10. Wise people are everywhere, as are highly insensitive people. Usually, the wise outnumber the insensitive, even if they don't aren't always louder.
11. We've learned that finding a church quickly isn't a success vs. failure operation.
12. We've learned that community is made up of three parts: 1) what was, 2) what is, and 3) what's hoped for. A church can't rest on any portion - it's a balance that requires work.
13. God will provide everything in perfect timing. He's been faithful all the days of our lives.