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Since I first came to His Present Glory about a year ago (2005), I have thoroughly appreciated the freedom of worship, and the welcoming "come-as-you-are" attitude that is so visibly present. The first time I came it was a midweek service; I was enraptured, and I couldn't wait to come back.
But when I started to come regularly, it was only on Sundays. Even though I loved the midweek service, I had every excuse for not continuing to go: "I have two jobs; I've been up since 5:00 in the morning; I have yard work to do; I am so tired I'll be glued to the bed this evening", etc.
Soon, I started to brave more and more Wednesday services, initially at my son James' wanting. And then I started doing what I told myself I couldn't: staying to congregate after meeting's end.
A Wednesday evening service is like being on a dinner date with God-- the worship is an appetizer, the message is the main course, after-service prayer and conversation make dessert, and remaining until the end is like a nightcap. I would receive profound blessings that I know God had intended for me after the meeting. It is in these late night hours that many of us receive prayer, prophecy, and direction that is so crucial in allowing God to begin to use us in the lives of others.
I also have begun to appreciate how we are free to speak what the Lord has put on our hearts. Acts 13:15  says: "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation or consolation or encouragement for the people, say it!" Of course, if God puts it on someone's heart to speak, we should listen! So I decided to listen to and act upon what people were saying in the church. Kathy mentioned something about obeying authority and obeying her husband, and I thought, "well, that sounds nice… but my manager at the hospital doesn't really tell me what to do, and neither does my husband." So, when work was getting busy with an upcoming JCAHO survey and four new nurses to orient, and I was beside myself with fear, I asked her what I should focus on. She gave me three things to prioritize, which was a lot less than the twenty-five things I was trying to accomplish, and said "don't worry, we'll be okay!" And you know what? Those simple words helped so much. Later, my husband (who never tells me what to do) told me something not to do. He told me not to take the kids to the State Fair like I had planned. It was all planned, and we were all ready (even had tickets to the Midway), but I knew he was right; we just couldn't afford it. So, I gave the tickets away and we stayed home on Labor Day with no plans. Sitting around with nothing much to do, I remembered Tom Marxen's suggestion: Look at the church web site. He had asked us to consider writing our testimonies for it. Of course, when I heard that, I thought, "sounds like a great idea- someday." Maybe when I finally got my life in order and had something to write about. But then, what would I say? That I became a Christian when I was 16, grew as one until 19, then ran around in circles for the next 30 years? Anyways, I looked at the website and was in awe. I read the mountain teaching that Tom had made, and found it incredible. Then I began to read the stories of the leaders in the church who I have come to admire so much, and I found out that many of them are or were just like me! There were stories that made me cry, and testimonies that I could identify with. There are so many of you who I can now relate to! I know the web site is designed to be an outreach to the world, but even if the members of our own little fellowship could just access it, it would still be worth it!
What I have learned lately is this: The church is not a building; it is a body of people. Attending a church may help us grow a little, but becoming part of the whole body is what can really transform us. I Corinthians 12:27 sums it up: "Now you (collectively) are Christ's body and ( individually) you are members of it, each part [with his own place and function]."
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