Home

Last week I wrote about my ER job/home. This got me thinking about my other home......my church. My pastor and his wife call our family at church a "faith family". I am still getting used to this term as "church family" is what I've come to know in the last 17 years of attending my church. Either term, it's still the same name for the bond we all have as Christians in the same faith and body of believers.

17 years ago, my former Pastor, Ben, came to visit us ( my husband and I ) at our home. Our youngest son was only 2 months old when they came to visit us. Ben could tell I was confused as to who Jesus was and what He did for me.....so he suggested I meet with his wife, Esther.  I wasn't interested in church back then much less a one on one study time with his wife......but I agreed to the meeting with her anyway. I didn't want to seem rude or anything so I agreed to her coming over. Well, as we sat in my kitchen she told me things about God that I never knew. She explained things about him in a way that was exciting and I knew after that first meeting with her, something was missing in my life. She shared the gospel, or "good news" of Jesus with me. Up to this point, I struggled with anxiety and all kinds of fears.....especially death. I just knew I was lacking something. I met with her weekly for 2 years.  I accepted Jesus as my Savior a few weeks after we started meeting together. She was such a blessing to me and my life. I will always be grateful for her sacrifice of time with me to help me learn and grow in those early years of my faith. Those days I treasure in my heart. That time with her is one of the most precious gifts anyone ever gave me.

As a result of her coming to study with me, my husband and our little family started attending church. Our daughter Ashley was 5, our son Zachary was 3, and Nicholas was only 2 months. My husband had gone to that church since he was born, so he knew everyone there very well. I on the other hand.....did not. Back then, I was shy and didn't talk much. Actually, I didn't have to talk much as my husband is an extrovert and can talk to anyone....anytime. (I think about this now.....and things sure have changed. Now I talk more than he does.....haha.) The people at my church quickly welcomed me to the family. I felt a love and acceptance there that I didn't ever know existed outside of my own family unit.

I must say over the years some people have come and gone.....and come back again. Some have passed away....or moved away. But, the reality is, we are all still part of the family of believers at my church. Whether they are here or there.....attending a different church in their new town, or in heaven now, we all have the same bond. JESUS. All of us love Jesus. All of us love to gather together and fellowship together. We laugh together.....we cry together.  All of us are there for each other and recognize we need each other. All of us are called to make disciples and invite new people to join us. I think back to this.....if I hadn't met my husband I wouldn't know Jesus today. I was a new person in my church all those years ago and was loved even though no one there knew of my horrid past or cared about what I had done. All they did was love me and teach me to love Jesus. By doing this I was able to repent and believe in a God who loves us unconditionally. My church family helps hold me accountable too. Over the years....sometimes my actions or words aren't what the Bible calls us to do or say. My church family helps to call me out on things that I need to fix or work on to be a better witness for Christ.


Moving forward, my desire is to help women grow in Jesus like Esther did for me. My desire is to keep building the unity we have with one another at church. My desire is to love Jesus with all my being everyday. My desire is to share the gospel with others and have them join our church if they don't have a regular church they attend. My desire is to become more like Jesus and show His love and acceptance to those I meet.

I am still learning and continue to grow in the knowledge of the Word. I still ask a ton of questions and am thankful for those God has placed in my life to help me. We have great teachers and my pastor is very knowledgeable in the Bible. I am thankful he shares what he has learned with us. I am thankful for those who still hold me accountable for my actions. I am honored to be a part of a family I can call my own in a place I can call my home.