I was this person that thought I didn’t have to be in a church to worship God. I know we can and should worship God all the time. I could worship Him anywhere. Right? There is no church that would accept me in all my sin.
Wrong!
We gather together because we know God asks us to. It makes us stronger. Like a lone wolf that strays from the pack. It’s better to remain with the pack. We weren’t meant to walk through this life of following Jesus alone. I have never felt more welcome in a church until I walked into Grace. I have so many wonderful leaders and Sisters and Brothers now. My family.I had such a yearning for this. I really believe God sent me here.
God’s plan was to make me new from the inside out. I could become the person God created me to be. This was a slow day-by-day change. When I look back first it came after I had a hip replacement. I thought I was on top of the world. Feeling good, thinking I got this. I was released from the doctor then 2 days later on a Friday night at 8:30 I stood up and stepped on a dog bone. Not my plan. Down I went and broke my leg right below the rod. Never plan tomorrow. Happened in two seconds. After arriving at the hospital with no pain killer, couldn’t find a vein, they wanted to x-ray me on my back. They ended up putting me to sleep to do that. Then I waited three days for them to get the plate, screws and wires in. When the doctor came in before I was put to sleep again, I was so scared. i knew he was a man of faith, so I ask him to pray for me. I had been put to sleep 3 times in a short period, plus all the painkillers they had given me. I thought I could die on that operating table. Pain can be a valuable tool. It can be a message to pay attention.
You are not hidden
There’s never been a moment
You were forgotten
You are not hopeless
Though you should have been broken
Your innocence stolen
I hear you whisper underneath
your breath. I hear your SOS
He heard my SOS. Then I had an old running buddy (we ran marathons together) who happened to work at the hospital stop in. She saw my name and came to visit every day and prayed with me. We used to pray before our races together. It was a long road of recovery this time around. I am still healing inside and out. At the time I didn’t know if God would heal me. Oh Ye of little faith, at this moment in time my faith had been tested and I came up short. Boy was I a stubborn one. Then in July 2023 we were in Michigan visiting our children and grandchildren when our son-in-law asked us to go to church with them. We had a whole row of family. God spoke to my heart in that sermon. He said you need to find a church.
Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Jesus doesn’t just come to all who are perfect or to those who never make mistakes. He comes for all. Wow. Me too.
I ask for forgiveness. He was knocking at my door, and I finally heard Him. I hurt Him badly in my sin. Jesus is Lord and I believe in my heart God raised Him from the dead so I (yes me) could be saved. I turned from my sin. I wanted Him in my heart, to take control. We get to drop our baggage and Jesus gives us rest.
Thank you, God, for taking all my baggage I’ve been carrying around.
I choose now by faith, to lay it down. They had Holy Communion at this service. It had been a long time since I took communion, but I did and thanked Jesus for dying on that cross for my sins. I wanted, needed, that union with Him again.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.” Romans 3:23
In October we went to Florida and my old boss from Michigan lives there and came to visit us. We went out to eat and she said something that stuck with me. She said, “I know where I am going”. It really got me thinking “Do I?”, “Where do I want to go?”
I knew I needed to find a church when I got back from vacation in July. I drove by Grace and thought I’m going to see what this church is like. God must have pointed me here. It was a big step for me because I have been in just about every denomination there is and seen a lot of stuff. Churches that believed they were the only church you could attend, to make it to heaven. At the age of 10 I attended my cousin’s church and was asked to stand and give a testimony. First time there. It scared be to death. Yelling Fire and Brimstones churches my own relatives preaching. I was going to Hell.
Day 1 at Grace I felt welcomed. I felt God’s presence in the house. I feel close to Him. I finally had some place to belong. I felt everyone was so real not pretending they were something they weren’t. Most importantly I feel God’s presence here strongly every time. No matter if I’m on the mountain or in the valley.
I searched the world, but it couldn’t fill me-Then you came along and put me back together and every desire is satisfied here in Your love, Cause the God of the mountains is the God of the valley – There’s not a place your mercy and grace won’t find me again. Oh, there’s nothing better than You- Jesus You are the only One.
When I was your foe, still Your love fought for me
When I felt no worth, you paid it all for me. I can’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, but you still came after me.
To Be Continued….
- Wobbly Road Part 6 - August 20, 2024
- Wobbly Road: Part 5 - July 16, 2024
- Wobbly Road: Part 4 - June 12, 2024