| | I really didn't feel like going to church yesterday. I'm in Monrovia, enjoying the weekend away from Greenville, and my friend Annette had invited me to her church - or rather, she had informed me I was coming. I didn't have any good reason not to go, but just had a hard time getting my mind in the right gear. I want my attitude to always be, "I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord;" however, Annette's church was having their 12th anniversary program yesterday and I was dreading having to go to a program, knowing that it would be long and would involve fundraising. Actually, the thing I was really dreading was the chance that I would be seated up in the front, on the platform, as has usually happened when I go to Annette's church.
But I went - and was humbled by how God worked on my attitude. The first thing was that the usher let me sit with Annette, rather than marching me up to the front to be a spectacle. Then during the time between Sunday School and church, all the ladies I had ever met from this church came to me with big hugs and welcomed me wholeheartedly. These are ladies that sell in the market, or have very small businesses - but are so generous with their time and the little that they have. I was happy that the church clothes I happened to bring to Monrovia with me were sewn from the cloth they had given me as a gift when I was living at ELWA - a few of them recognized it and remembered, and thought I had planned it so that they would be able to see that I liked the cloth they had given me!
Anyway - there were a lot of little things that I sensed God was using to change my attitude. But there was one big thing - a very old man (I'm sure he doesn't really know how old he is) had been invited to attend this special program and to pray during the service. When he stood to pray, leaning heavily on his cane, he said very simply, "I am not well. But my Lord allowed me to be here today to pray for you, and that gives me joy." With as slow as he moved, I can only imagine the ordeal it was for him to come to the church that morning - yet he was filled with joy!
It was a great service, with a sermon given by a guest preacher who boldly spoke the truth - not just what people wanted to hear. As I left from there, I kept thinking, "Wow, Naomi, you're really selfish - and your attitude almost made you miss out on something that was good for your heart!" This morning while I was reading it came back to me again, that I have to continue to remind myself that it's not all about me! 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 stood out to me: "For the love of Christ controls us... that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." I want this to be my attitude every day!
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| | Posted 10/27/2008 5:28 AM - 31 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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