Confession time! I love going to the grocery store. When it's the right one that is. It brings me joy. Weird. I know. I'm just not a grocery store hopper. I don't go from store to store looking for the best deals of the week. It's not about my mood or convenience. I have my ONE store that I am loyal to, and that's where I shop.
Moving to the country, I had lost my love for grocery shopping until this past Saturday. I found myself excited to drive to town early on my Saturday morning. Again, this morning, I couldn't wait to drop the boys off at school and head to the grocery store. More confession! I have been to the store THREE times this week. Just because I enjoy it. Don't judge! It took me FOUR months, but I have finally found the one store that brought the joy right back into grocery shopping!
In the beginning, I had tried shopping at Lowes Grocery in our small country town. Just down the road from the boys' school made it very convenient. Which I loved. I prefer smaller grocery stores and small it was; but being small, it just didn't have everything I needed on my grocery list or it was way over priced. I only shopped there for a few weeks or so.
Frustrated, I decided I would just have to drive a little further to the next town where there is a Walmart Supercenter. Which we all know Walmart is huge and has a lot to offer the shopper. After all it is a SUPER-center. Unfortunately, it's just too big for this girl! And way too crowded and busy. I struggled getting my buggy down the aisles with my rowdy bunch, my basket always had extra items not on my list, and I really missed the small talk and friendliness that I had received from the girls at Aldi. Yet, I kept going back week after week. For months! Had to have food. Right?
Unhappy, I finally decided to check out HEB in the same town as Walmart. Several people had told me that is where they prefer to shop and that they love it. I only had to go one time to know it was the store for me. Who doesn't love a grocery store that has coupons hanging in the aisles and hands out buddy bucks? It's small, but not too small. Has a variety of foods to choose from and over all good prices. The parking lot is a little insane, but every store is going to have its flaws. And, this morning I enjoyed my small talk with the ladies at the register.
This whole grocery store hunt got me to thinking. Finding a grocery store is so much like finding a church home. Just like we need physical food, we need spiritual food as well. The spirit needs to be fed. I know this. During the church hunt, I dreaded getting up and going to church. It felt like such a chore. Have you been there? Where going to church felt more like a burden. The joy sucked right out of it.
I believe it would have been easier for me to find a grocery store if I hadn't missed the one I had loved so much. I was missing Aldi. It had everything I needed and desired in a store. I compared it to every store I shopped at. So when it came to searching for a church I'm pretty sure I did the same. There were times I just wanted to say forget it! And just give up and just starve. But, I know my family needs to be spiritually fed, so we just kept on searching week after week.
From big churches with lots to offer to small ones that had very little to offer, we attended them all! Each having their pros and cons. It was very overwhelming to say the least. Especially when you are comparing each church to a church that you had been faithful to for so many years. It made me question if I could ever completely feel at home again. We just continued to go and pray for God to send us to the church He had for us to be at in this new season. That's exactly what He did.
Have you lost your JOY? That's what the Devil wants. He's going to tell you that church isn't important. Just focus on those few verses a day you read here and there. Go when you can. No big deal. Your children will be fine. They know who Jesus is. They heard you talk about Him. Blah, blah, blah! DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES! God has a perfect church for you and your family. Where He desires you to be a part of the body of Christ.
Well here's where FUN LIST FRIDAY comes in. I'm going to share with you the Top 5 things we needed in a church. It wasn't easy, but God led us to it. 100 miles later. We are full of JOY. I challenge you to find that church that unravels the joy of your salvation. Make a list. Don't be a starving Christian. Come on now. You wouldn't stop grocery shopping and starve because you couldn't find that store for you. Just keep searching. He will lead you to it!
I believe it would have been easier for me to find a grocery store if I hadn't missed the one I had loved so much. I was missing Aldi. It had everything I needed and desired in a store. I compared it to every store I shopped at. So when it came to searching for a church I'm pretty sure I did the same. There were times I just wanted to say forget it! And just give up and just starve. But, I know my family needs to be spiritually fed, so we just kept on searching week after week.
From big churches with lots to offer to small ones that had very little to offer, we attended them all! Each having their pros and cons. It was very overwhelming to say the least. Especially when you are comparing each church to a church that you had been faithful to for so many years. It made me question if I could ever completely feel at home again. We just continued to go and pray for God to send us to the church He had for us to be at in this new season. That's exactly what He did.
Have you lost your JOY? That's what the Devil wants. He's going to tell you that church isn't important. Just focus on those few verses a day you read here and there. Go when you can. No big deal. Your children will be fine. They know who Jesus is. They heard you talk about Him. Blah, blah, blah! DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES! God has a perfect church for you and your family. Where He desires you to be a part of the body of Christ.
Well here's where FUN LIST FRIDAY comes in. I'm going to share with you the Top 5 things we needed in a church. It wasn't easy, but God led us to it. 100 miles later. We are full of JOY. I challenge you to find that church that unravels the joy of your salvation. Make a list. Don't be a starving Christian. Come on now. You wouldn't stop grocery shopping and starve because you couldn't find that store for you. Just keep searching. He will lead you to it!
2.) Three Services. We want a church that can feed us more than just once a week. I'm a firm believer in Three to Thrive. Can you really get too much Bible in the world we live in today? Absolutely not! I need the encouragement we receive from other believers.
3.) Sunday School. We want to grow in the knowledge of God's Word. We want our children to be equipped to stand strong in a world that so easily believes the lies the Devil feeds us. Again, you just can't get enough of God's Word!
4.) Kid and Youth Ministry. We want a church that gives a solid foundation in their kid and youth programs. We don't bring our kids to church to play, but to obtain and then grow in their relationship through the teaching of God's Word and worship. We don't want our kids entertained, but discipled.
5.) Mission Minded. We want a church that has a burden for the lost, hurting, and needy. Amen!
3.) Sunday School. We want to grow in the knowledge of God's Word. We want our children to be equipped to stand strong in a world that so easily believes the lies the Devil feeds us. Again, you just can't get enough of God's Word!
4.) Kid and Youth Ministry. We want a church that gives a solid foundation in their kid and youth programs. We don't bring our kids to church to play, but to obtain and then grow in their relationship through the teaching of God's Word and worship. We don't want our kids entertained, but discipled.
5.) Mission Minded. We want a church that has a burden for the lost, hurting, and needy. Amen!
Find and share the Joy!
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