Dec. 13th

Today, being Sunday, I am grateful for my church.  My husband and I searched for many years for a church that fit us.  We found a through the Bible church that we learned a lot from, but it was big.  2000 people big.  You could go to the same service every sunday for years (as we did) and see different people every sunday.  Plus it was a 30 minute drive which made it hard to get involved.  I know that sounds like an excuse but with 3 young kids, it was impossible for us to really connect.  So when we heard that a pastor of a church we went to long ago was back in the area to start a church we were so excited.  Husband went to the first service by himself.  It was at 5 pm on a sunday and kids under 5 were to stay in the service with the adults.  Kind of intimidating when you have three kids 4 and under.  I mean seriously, could we control our children through an evening service every Sunday and get something out of it. 
Now, almost 2 years later.  I can count on my hands the number of times we have missed church.  That has not been the same in our previous 12 years of marriage.  We used to miss all the time.  But now I feel accountable.  I have people ask me if we were okay when we missed.  We have a church body who cares about us.  A pastor who is apparently oblivious to noisy children (my daughter once screamed as I was carrying her out of the service "I don't want a spanking").  The service is now at 10 am and our 6 year old goes to sunday school (and in 6 months or so our daughter will as well) and we love it.  I feel it as changed me, finding my place in a church.  It has made me yearn to seek God more, to be more Christlike, to help my children grow in the knowledge of Him.
It is still a struggle to go to church sometimes.  I mean, satan really doesn't want us to go.  My husband and I fight more on sundays before church than probably any other time of the week.  But we get there, and I feel peace.  And I know that we beat satan that day.  He tried to keep us from learning and we beat him.  And we will again next week.  And our children are learning and loving God and I pray that never ends.