Before

Before I got to where I am, I grew up in a couple of different churches. I started at a church just down the road from my childhood home and while I loved what I learned there I now know I was faced with many false follwers. This ultimately led to my first fall away from Christ. Fast forward a few years of sinning and bad decisions later, I ended up at an amazing church that welcomed me with open arms. Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Longview, Texas.

Woodland Hills became my home church for the few years I attended. I worked in the daycare center during the week and attended the college and careers group on Sunday as well as regular Sunday service. During the week we would have small groups lead at the small group leaders house and I eventually expressed a want to do worship/choir and I got my chance. I loved this church and I think a lot of my adult life since I left Longview has been spent waiting for a church to feel like this again. Waiting for a church that felt like home. Maybe this church felt like that for me as this was after my parents divorce and a terrible relationship and I clung to the relationships I had and the easy feeling of family. Or maybe it's the feeling of the Holy Spirit actually invading the space and working through each and everyone there. I've tried a handful of churches since and nothing compares to the feeling of being there. Since moving to Lubbock and then to the Dallas area, I haven't found a home church yet. While researching churches and what the bible states about Home Churches, I came across a blog that was based on the personal home being their church and their church being their home. It provided insite on having an individual church but Matthew 18:20 states, "For where two or more are gathered in my name I am there." If I am alone is God not also with me? Psalm 16:8 states, "For I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken for He is right beside me." I've been searching so hard and long for a church like my home church that I think I forgot that it doesn't matter where I worship, learn or serve my God. It just matters that I do. It matters that I walk in Him every day and that people see Him through me. God meets us where we are no matter the distance or circumstance. Mark 7:33-35 is referencing the deaf and mute man that Jesus could not communicate with and to heal him Jesus stuck a wet finger in the man's ear to provide him with hearing and then after spitting touched his tongue. He sighed an anchient word, "Ephphatha" meaning "be open" and the man's ears were opened and his tongue released. This story is a perfect example of Jesus meeting us where we are in life and healing us. I can remember being young and wanting to desperately to be loved that I ran into every relationship with full force, except for with God. Now, my relationship is more on fire than ever. I think I have prayed more in the last month than I have my whole life. Which is sad because I don't even pray every day (working on that though!) I know God has been patiently waiting for me to realize that my home here doesn't matter. My home church, my personal home, home office - none of it matters as much as having myself ready for my eternal home with Him.