A few weeks ago I was watching the news and a Church went to Walmart and paid off random peoples layaway balances. Why you might ask? They left a note saying just like we have paid your debts Jesus paid for yours and now you are FREE... Merry Christmas. Wow really people out there still do these kind of things.
Then while attending the YMCA swim and gym weekly this little boy kept inviting his friend to church. The conversation went something like this: " hey Mrs .... Can your son come to church with me tonight (thursday)... She answers no I can't tonight we are busy. The boy asks what about tomorrow.... No we can't we already have plans... okay what about saturday... Geez what do you go to church everyday???? Yes the boy smiles. Then the mom comes to explain that at her church they have activities everyday of the week for all different ages. They have morning devotionals, senior walk devotionals, game night, family night, homework help etc.... So the lady says to the boy I promise we will go to church on Christmas day I mean who doesn't go to church service on Christmas... (thinking in my head... I don't unless it falls on a sabbath i don't think we have a worship service on Christmas... hmm) So the next week comes and the boy reminds the lady hey Mrs.... Remember you promised you would go to church on Christmas.... She says yes we will be there. Then he says I wanted to also invite you to a special program on Christmas Eve but you need to bring a present. For what she asks... well we are bringing presents to the kids in the hospital in South Bend and singing to them so they know Jesus loves them. I heard what the man (assuming the preacher) said and so since we dont' have too much money i had ask my mom for a >>>> but i then decided to tell my mom to buy the present but not for me to give to the sick kid. I have plenty of toys in my house and these sick kids should get something nice... that's the best present I could give Jesus this year. The lady with tears in her eyes says I'll be there on Christmas Eve he quickly jumps in and says and Christmas day you promised she laughs and agrees. The boy runs to his mother with a big smile and says Mom Jesus has answered our prayers not only are they coming for Christmas but they are also coming Christmas Eve. The mother then goes and continues to witness to the Lady. And I think to myself really is this happening in front of me right now.
That same week we got a letter in the mail for Brandon inviting him to a Winter Break VBS. ( we ended up taking him to a different church for vbs this year since our church didn't have one) The theme of VBS is teaching kids how to be missionaries. Really God are you kidding me people are really still doing this kind of stuff...
Then I stop and reflected on my childhood and of my upbringing in the church. Church to me back then was about DOING. It was about telling the everyone Jesus is coming. Going door to door. Spending time with my Church family was the best thing ever. We would be in church from 8am to 10-11pm every Sabbath together. No naps, No meetings, just choir, Missionary work, Bible bowls, bible studies, etc... And Now? It seems like everything changed from doing to planning or meetings, or permission, or studies on what we should do. Why not " JUST DO IT" Nike can how much more can we do with Jesus on our side. I don't remember reading in the Bible that before Jesus went to preach the pharisees had to get together and approve his message? I don't remember that before Jesus healed on the Sabbath He went to check that the church insurance would pay for that. Seriously HE just DID. He answered to only His Father. He did what was needed no matter the consequences. If Jesus was killed and suffered and lived to tell about it... And promises us the same thing yes we will suffer some of us might even be killed or persecuted but at the end our reward will be eternity with him then why aren't we DOING it?
I've been so busy hating on our church on all the "religion" aspect of it, the rules, the meetings, the unfairness, the injustice of it that I forgot why I'm here... I stopped doing... I stopped searching I just Stopped. Jesus wasn't going to ask me Diana what did your church do or didn't do He's going to ask me Diana what did YOU do? So I have decided this new year 2012 that I don't care what anyone around me does... I'm going to DO what Jesus wants me to DO. I'm going to be a Christian and follow Jesus. It's starts with me.... "Be the difference you want to see in the world"... I leave 2011 behind all the hurt, the worries, the ugly really and look forward to a new year, a new page, a new beginning in my quest to DO. I end this blog with a the lyrics of song by Selah "All of Me"
Holy Father, love me still
I have fallen from Your will
I am broken
Hear my humble cry
My cry
Take my life and make it Yours, Lord
Fill me with Your love
You are all I need
I surrender all of me
I have wandered for so long
Tired and weary on my own
In Your arms I know I'm home, O God
My God
Take my life and make it Yours, Lord
Fill me with Your love
You are all I need
I surrender all of me
Take my life and make it Yours, Lord
Fill me with Your love
You are all I need
I surrender
I surrender
I surrender all of me
