Where should I be?

I visited a church call Joy & Praise Fellowship a few weeks ago and found that this is the place I need to be.  I have visited other churches since I've been in FL but never felt at home at any of them.

My brother wanted me to come to his church and visit, which I did.  He picked me up and off we went to his church.  I wasn't moved or felt love the of God or anyone else there, they really didn't seem to care.  I visited my sisters church and almost fell asleep, also didn't feel the love of God or the love of others.

My thought on that is that I'm not to be at either of these fellowships.  It's not that they don't love and that God is not present in these churches, it's the fact that I'm not to be there.  I've also visited a couple other churches and the same thing: didn't feel at home or any thing else.  Like I said, it's not that God isn't there and accepting their praise and worship, it's I just don't belong there.

Joy and Praise Fellowship is where I belong.  I knew that from the first day I visited them.  I just love it there and am always looking forward to the next meeting.  I am so at home there, I cannot describe.  However I must admit I was a bit confused on the prayer meeting, it was like none I've ever attended before.

The only other church that I am familiar with as far as prayer meetings are concerned is Wards Creek in St. Augustine, FL.  That is very much over 20 yrs. ago.  When we went to prayer meeting and Bible study it was organized per sey.  The preacher would ask someone to begin and after that person was done then someone else would pray out-loud, etc.  After that we would have a Bible study.

The church I'm now attending we all pray on our own and then we all hold hands and pray together.  This is a totally new concept to me.  At first I was confused about the whole thing because this was not something I was used to.  The first time I went to prayer meeting, this was something I did not expect.  Doesn't matter now though for I have learned that this is something that's needed, for the simple reason most people don't like to pray out loud.  

I thank God that he has shown me this.  We can mumble under our breath and not worry that we are saying the right words for others to hear.  Oh and how we do this.  I remember many times I wanted to pray out loud when I lived in St. Augustine but didn't because I felt or thought that I couldn't pray as eloquent as the other who did.  It was such a struggle for me.

I am so happy, xtatic to know now that it doesn't matter.  God is good and God is gracious and oh so forgiving.  I love Him and thank Him daily for all the wonderful works that He has done, not only in my life, also in the lives of my family and friends.

I am so grateful that God brought me to Joy & Praise Fellowship, words cannot explain.   All I have to say right now is Thank you Lord for your blessings on me!

My favorite Christian artist.

He's alive.

The Steeple song.

Holiness

I could never promise you.

Gotta tell somebody.

God, in your life or on a shelf.

You made us in your image Lord, formed out of the clay of the earth you created for us.  You breathed in us the breath of life, you gave us your breath.  You made us your children and companions and you saw that it was good and you love us.


You love us so that you gave us free will.  The only thing you said not to do our parents of long ago did.  Since then we have rebelled against you.


You gave us ten commandments to live by, to follow and obey, not because you are mean, you gave them for our protection.  When reading your commandments they do not seem that hard to follow, however we make it so.


You looked on us and had pity for we are a lost people and decided it was time to send your Son to come and show us the way and redeem us and save us from our sin.   He walked this earth in perfect truth, righteousness and love and taught us your ways.  He brought us hope and life when we thought all was gone.  He gave us his all including his life and held back nothing.   The only thing that was asked of us for this precious gift of life and hope was that we truly repent of our sins accept Christ as our Savior, be baptized and follow Him. 


Not such a difficult task these four things, however, we make it so.  We put you, God, on the side line or forget about you altogether.  We may occasionally go to a church service on Sunday or at least on Easter or Christmas and feel that we've done our weekly or yearly "duty".  What a shame!  I've actually heard people say that they've got their God fix for the week, (my, my what is that suppose to mean), and then go on their merry way, continue to do what they've always done and put God back on the shelf.


Well, folks, like it or not this is not true repentance, this is not following Jesus, this is not getting to know God.  The only way to know God on a personal and deep knowledge and build a relationship with him is to pray, honor, worship God, read his word and meditate on it daily.  Not once a week or once or twice a year, it must be done daily.  Three little thinks, not that difficult, yet we make it so.


Jesus gave us a guide for praying, he gave us the Lord's prayer as an example on how to pray, he read the word daily, and he would go off by himself to meditate on these things.  The only things God asks of us is once we repent and accept Christ as our savior is to follow His example.  He will lead the way and we will be more joyful because of it.


Praise the Lord.

The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?   Ps. 27:1