For me, Sunday afternoon is best enjoyed with a nap on the couch after a great morning service and a good lunch (preferably with football on the t.v. with sound on low, but I will settle for a baseball game). To be honest, getting motivated to get back up and head back to church again for small group can be hard. When I do get going it seems undone chores and errands that I meant to get done on Saturday start calling to me. Can you relate? So, sometimes it’s just my commitment that I’ve made that gets me to show up. I am always glad when my intention wins out! (Remember Pastor Darrell telling us we have to “fight” for our blessings?)
If I had stayed home, I would have missed the genuine welcome of friends who love and accept me. If I had stayed home, I would have missed being able to encourage my sister when she said she doesn’t know why God keeps her around. If I had stayed home, I would have missed sharing with my friend some upcoming struggles and looking each other in the eye and holding each other’s hand knowing the other hears and cares. If I had stayed home, I would have missed hearing my father-in-law tell me how much this fellowship means to him which warms my heart and makes me so thankful for him.
I sat there in Connections Small Group listening to my friends; my brothers and sisters share their thoughts, their hearts, laugh together and tease one another, pray for one another…and a sweet sense of belonging washed over me. These are my peeps. This is where I belong. This is God’s gift to me. If I had stayed home, I would have missed these God given moments, evidence of God’s love for me. I would have missed the refreshing and refocusing on what is really important in this life, something no amount of napping and check-list completing will ever give me. And I realize, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!
You can also be intentional about making on purpose friends at a Connections Small Group. Sunday nights at The Rock, 6:00 pm. You are welcome here!
www.rockag.org
