The warmth and comfort we feel when we are 'home' as opposed to anywhere else?
I cannot explain the feeling in a word, other than 'blessed', when you finally find a church 'home' after searching and searching (and sometimes staying home on Sunday whining about it).
There's just a moment when you know you have entered the House of Worship God has planned for you to be a part of. It feels like 'home'.
I attended South Point in high school and for a short time after and have always 'liked' the church, but during that time in my life, I wasn't necessarily attending for the 'right' reasons. I loved worshiping and learning about the Lord and the Word, but I was concerned mostly with how cute I dressed that day and where my friends and I would go for lunch afterward. Nevertheless, after years of falling into a rut, choosing to live in the world and not in the Light, and then 'church dating' for many years, God told me to visit South Point again. By this time, I had fallen, and fallen hard MANY times. Without the Lord, everything was a struggle: my marriage, our finances, parenting...you name it, it was HARD.
When I walked into church my first Sunday back at South Point, I just knew it was where God called me to be.
As most of you *do not* know, Jeff and I have been struggling financially for quite some time (about 2 years). We have made some bad, and by bad I mean DUMB financial descicions in the past and we are paying for them now and learning the hard way, as I usually tend to do.
But one thing I have felt since my walk in the Lord has been 're-charged' this year is a sense of peace and grace. God has provided us with the love a father gives to his child when they make mistakes and has handled our situation with such grace and tenderness. While we are having to 'pay' for these mistakes, (no pun intended) which has been difficult no doubt, we could not be happier in our marriage and our hearts are full.
Today's message at church was all about a new beginning, a fresh start, which is exactly what God has allowed for us: confirmation. South Point is hosting the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University to help with that area of our lives: another confirmation. We studied Isaiah 43:18-19 today: “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness. And rivers in the desert.": confirmation. At the end of service, Pastor Keith got up on the podium and introduced his 'friends'...Pastor Don and Debbie Boles, retired pastors from Exeter who are doing some Pastoral counseling at South Point now...Pastor Don is the one who MARRIED Jeff and I! After service, Nana, Papa, and I went over and began chatting with them and South Point is their new home: another confirmation.
There is just so much more than that, but today just confirmed for me that I am where I am supposed to be. Hudson loves playing in the nursery as well, and I am so excited to teach him about God's word and for him to begin learning about the Lord in Sunday School. I am continuing to pray for the salvation of Jeff and that he begins attending as well. I know it can and WILL happen in the timing of the God and have 100% faith in that. God has been so faithful in restoring my marriage, my hope and peace after losing Hayden, and restoring the relationship I have with Him every day.
If you are struggling in finding a home church, know that I am praying God leads you to it very soon. Be in prayer about this yourself, and ask God to take full control over this area and that your spirit would feel full when you have arrived. I will continue to pray that over you as well.
Hebrews 10:24-25:
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…"
~Blessings~
Kaila
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