Dinner with "The Family"

I really love my church. I really love the people in it..... they're my Family, how couldn't I love them?

I heard a really amazing way to describe church a week or two ago that explained why it's so important:


Families like to sit down for dinner. All of them together at the table...talking, laughing, discussing.

(even if you don't have a family who does this....keep reading. Having a church family will mean all that more to you)

Now...you have that picture in your mind, right? Of the family sitting at the table? Okay...well, imagine one of the kids, one of the younger kids, is missing. They just decided to not eat dinner with their family and hid themselves in their room with the door shut, refusing to come down and fellowship with everyone. The parents, I'm positive, won't like it and will be concerned, correct? Everyone will say, "Where is Jimmy? Why isn't he here with us?", or, "Where is Suzy? Is she okay?".
Being a whole family at dinner time is so important. Because after having busy days, after work, after school, after not being together all day....it's crucial for them to have this time with each other and to love each other.... especially the young people.

Alright....now just picture the dinner table as your church. And switch out the immediate family members for your church family members. As a christian, and especially as a young christian...church is key for thriving in your walk with Christ. After a long week of hard work, or college, and crazy life...it's important to gather with your Family in Christ. It's so crucial. When people skip or miss church... sometimes they wonder, "why is it such a big deal, anyways? I can afford to skip once in a while.... no one has the right to tell me otherwise". I understand where you're coming from.... you have freedom to choose what you do with your life. BUT. If you don't show up.... you Family in Christ is going to wonder where you are, they will be concerned, they will miss you. It is a big deal to us. Dinner is not the same without every sibling there, or without one of the parents. Dinner is meant to gather everyone and to give thanks to God and spend quality time together. As christians.... we need to emphasize on this. We need to make it a big deal.

Church is where I unravel myself and really connect with God. Yes, I try to do it everyday. Yes, God wants that every single minute of my life. But sometimes with all the craziness and packed schedules... it's really hard. That's why I love Sunday mornings.
It's a time set aside always, every week, for spending time with Jesus.
For giving thanks for everything and everyone He has given us.
For singing and worshiping the God who made us and loves us no matter what.
For letting ourselves breath and sit for just a few hours and listen to someone explain the bible and encourage us in incredible ways.
For spending quality time with other Christians... and feeling loved and accepted.

That's what church is. That's why I feel empty and weak when I have to miss a week because of a road-trip or because I'm sick. That's what I look forward to nearly every minute of my week.

Do you see what I mean? Church is a big deal, no matter what anyone says. It's why I survive every week. It's why I have the energy and joy that I do.


Things I'm Thankful For:



#18. The most wonderful and alive church I could ever be blessed with. My Family is so amazing. And if you're wondering what in the world I'm talking about....you should come check it out one of these Sundays.


http://madrid.cfconline.org/



#19. A home I am never afraid to come home to. That's big. And I am so thankful for it.