Monroe Church of God

Side Lines

I've been thinking I would like to go to church, but I don't know anyone. 

I don't know what to do, where to go, what to expect when I get there.  It's hard and it feels awkward to do anything for the first few times. Here are some suggestions:

Have you noticed a church near you or one you drive by often? If not, check the phone book. Call the church office. You should find a friendly voice to talk to. (Some churches don't have a full-time staff. If no ones there leave a message so they can get back to you.)

If you'd like, ask to be matched up with someone in the church, any of us would love to meet you even before you attend. That way, you will know someone before you come!

Also, we could pick you up Sunday morning, meet you for breakfast or coffee before church or at least meet you in the parking lot to show you where to go and what to do.

Stop by a church on a weekday and ask someone to show you around so the place doesn't feel so foreign when you come on Sunday.

Just show up. Check out when the worship service starts. Many churches have greeters to help you as you enter the sanctuary. If you'd like, ask them to introduce you to someone you can sit with.

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Home The News All News In The Middle Of The River
In The Middle Of The River PDF Print E-mail
Written by Mia Grizzle   
Monday, 07 July 2008 07:24

Momma Mia’s Café

…Find a cozy spot, pour yourself a cup of coffee and let’s sit a spell…

Mia Grizzle

One summer afternoon several years ago, I went to a birthday party with my son that was filled with 3-5 year olds. They had a Slip N’ Slide, a trampoline and a “spinner” sprinkler in which the kids could play. It was hot outside and the kids, well, most of them, had an absolute blast!

 

Each child, I noticed, was having fun in his or her own way. One 4 year old boy, who was short on sleep and in desperate need of a nap, didn’t want to get wet; however, he would let one of the teens carry him around and jump forever on theSlip 'N Slide trampoline. There were other kids, one little boy in particular, who desperately wanted to get in the spinning sprinkler, but because it had all these little “spinners” going round and round, he was a little afraid of it; so, he kept going up to it and trying it out. I believe by the end of the party, he finally got close enough to get wet. Then there were the other kids who were totally uninhibited! This one little girl was into it all! She would jump on the trampoline for a while; then, she would run around the spinning sprinklers until she grew bored; then, she would dive down the Slip N’ Slide just to see how fast she could go. After all that, she’d get up and run go do it again! I grew tired just watching her! I happened to be with her mom when they went to change her clothes, and she was covered in grass, dirt and water! She had totally immersed herself in the fun!

 

It occurred to me, we are often a lot like this with God. Some of us are tired, worn out, particular, or just plain moody and can’t get too much of the water, or too much of God. We miss out on the great stuff He has for us because of our own weariness, or because we’re just being temperamental and won’t take part of what God has unless He moves in a particular way, or style, or at a specific time. However, God’s not limited by our stipulations, and He won’t stay in the box we try to put Him in. He will not conform to our wills or moods; He will simply allow us to stay where we are, and He will move on, because HE IS GOD. Some of us are like the second little boy and are a little scared of who God is and what He has planned for us; so, we constantly hesitate to follow His leading. The end result is great, because we finally partake of God’s goodness; however, often times, we might miss out on some wonderful things that God had for us early on. Too often, we will live with guilt or regret over the things we missed out on, when what we need to do in these instances is recognize our mistake, repent and then help someone else not make the same mistake.

 

Then there are those of us, who like the little girl, want all that God has to offer! When we get to this place in life, just a “little dab will not do ya!”God's River We will be so ready for a move of God that we jump in, get soaked, and we may be a mess by the time God’s done with us; but, we will definitely beGod's River having fun with Him along the way! In this place, we are in the middle of God’s River, and He will do great and mighty things through us! This does not mean that “life is a bowl of cherries” and nothing can ever go wrong! OH NO, we may be in the middle of the worst storm of our lives; however, when you are in the middle WITH GOD, there is a calm which cannot be stirred.

 

So, let’s go for it and get all that God has in store for us!! Let’s jump up to meet with Him; drink from His “sprinkler” and dive into His “slip n’ slide” with no hesitations! Let’s see just how much fun we can have with God! I bet He won’t ever leave us disappointed!! …and I bet He sure enjoys watching His little children play in the Son! “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)

 

God Bless You!

Love,

“Momma Mia”

Last Updated ( Monday, 07 July 2008 14:49 )