9/24/2006

Church Woes

I have been in Oklahoma for close to two months now and I haven't found a church...it is so frustrating because there is one on every corner lol I really tried to love the first one I went to visit because it was right down the street. I want that sense of community and I want my kids to meet other kids in the neighborhood. I tried to ignore that I hated the music portion and kept going until they started a series on the family...oh my word that was HARD to listen to:**( The second week into the series I literally got up and left crying. I just left the man I love with all my heart so the last thing I want to hear about it is the "perfect" family. I don't want to hear about how the man should lead the family in prayer and all the other things I never had. It was too painful. I started looking for something closer to what I went to in Florida. I don't have a particular denomination that I just cling to. I was raised..well, not exactly "raised" but I rode a bus to a Baptist church growing up lol As a young child I became very active in a Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Church with the whole list of rules that went with it...I am not knocking them because they kept me in line as a youngster when I could have been rebellious:-) Actually I did become a little rebellious at 19 and ended up marrying my dh lol But that is whole nother story lol Ok back to this story I quit going to church completely and jumped into married life and working and trying to have babies. Somewhere in there I became broken and needed God..I think it was in between our losses of pregnancies and my marriage falling apart...this was 10yrs ago so it wasn't the "end" of my marriage but the beginning of major problems. I started going with my SIL to a non-denominational church and I LOVED it. I realized for the first time it wasn't about a religion or a set of rules it was about a relationship with Jesus Christ...that changed my life and my way of thinking. Once again I stopped going to church...at this point my only excuse was I was tired of getting the kids ready to go to church and taking them alone...I nursed mine so I often had to leave the service to feed them and my oldest hated being away from me...it wasn't a pleasant experience. Then several years ago I realized I need God and I had to quit choosing my dh over Him. There were people God had placed in my life (you know who you are) that had something I wanted...Jesus would just shine SOOOO brightly from them and I missed that..I knew I had it once and I longed to have that again. So I started going again. This time I started attending an Assembly of God...I won't say I agree with everything they believe but I know it was where God wanted me...The church was huge and played a large role in our community and I loved it. I want something like that again.... I called my old church and they found an AOG around the corner from me and I went to visit. The music..oh how do I explain the music...I LOVED the music and part of my worship is through music. I have always always listened to Christian music and even through my "rebellious" stage I couldn't listen to stuff that wasn't uplifting...music just effects me. I may not be able to sing but I still love it lol I enjoyed the music and the preaching part BUT I can't seem to find a SS class that I fit in. The church is big and I know from experience you need to be in a small group somewhere to really get to know people. I need to be a part of a church and a part of the body...I need to be able to do for others. Still where do I fit in? I can't attend a couples class because I am not a couple...I can't attend the one without a name sopeoplelikemecanfeelcomfortable because 90% of them are way older than me and I didn't like the singles class because it was only 2 women and more like a social hour. I want teaching. I NEED teaching. So I am going back but only to the main service until I can find something. The kids LOVE it but is that because they are just playing? I hate looking for a church and I know that God wanted me in Oklahoma.... I know He has a church picked out for me but how do I find it with churches EVERYWHERE? How can I attend a single class when I have no desire to hook up with other single men and they seem more like a dating service IME. Yes, I am a single Mom but I am a Mom that just wants to take care of her children and I am NOT looking for a replacement for the man I love. So please join me in prayer that I can find the perfect church for my family I would appreciate it:-)

3 comments:

Sarah said...

I understand, my heart aches to know that you are where I am, especially the last little bit.
I am lifting you to the Lord, that He comfort, and guide you on His path.

Sarah said...

I understand, my heart aches to know that you are where I am, especially the last little bit.
I am lifting you to the Lord, that He comfort, and guide you on His path.

Lynn said...

I do hope you find a place to "fit" you. But remember that maybe you need to settle in somewhere first and then wait for the fit. If you really like this place, the main service, the music, and your kids love it, maybe once you feel more like a part of the "family" it will all fall in place. Right now, I imagine you are feeling like a visitor since you are so far from everything that seemed to be a perfect fit. I was raised Church of Christ and basically born in the pew! I know how important having a church family is. Don't dare give up! You'll feel at home in no time. I'll pray for you.