Changes: Does Life Go On As Usual?

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this:’ You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30,31 ESV)                                                                   

Changes

I loved the emphasis placed on Sunday School attendance during childhood to young adult. It taught me to value church attendance. Life does not go on as usual. How often we misuse this statement. Changes in family structure to individual ideologies, while churches adapt to meet society’s flow are constantly changing. Interesting…Jesus never changes. His Word, The Holy Bible is the same yesterday, today, and forever more.

Experiences

We’ve watched and many have experienced reasons the church is hurting. Sunday schools are no longer in- cell groups are a go. Many attempts to fit-in leaves individuals struggling and in the end stopping. Food is an incentive, no longer a means to fellowship. The excitement we would have for church dinners. To have Mary Lou’s spaghetti, Pat’s chicken and dumplings, and all the fresh vegetables. Once a year, my dad would bring bar-b-que goat, a tradition set long ago.

Seeds

Sunday School and fellowships were second to God’s Word being preached. I wish I could sit down with my childhood pastor. He and his wife both planted seeds I never realized till a few years ago. They loved and served people, teaching us to love senior adults. We baked and delivered birthday cakes for Seniors, making sure we sang Happy Birthday. My heart overflows with these wonderful memories. Sad, my own children are not having similar experiences. Yet, the world is changing. I trust seeds within them will bloom for the generation ahead.

Engaged

Attendance was not all about earning a yearly Sunday School pin- as what might have been thought when younger. It was about being there- engaged- learning to love God, His Word, and value people. I trust God’s direction and know we are where we’re meant to be. Thankful they want to see spiritual babies mature. One of the greatest ways to start is understanding the value in all people.

Motviated

Thanks for going down memory lane with me today. I would love to hear your stories- how seeds were planted in you long ago- blooming for such a time as this. It’s Motivating Monday! Let’s be motivated to open our eyes and hearts to see people and say a kind word. Start here and God will move our hearts to more.

Be encouraged!