Don't make me go...I wanna stay home!!!!

Remember last Monday I talked a little about how Sunday is actually the first day of the week...and what better way to start off your week than in church?

Most all of you who read my blog attend church...

But.....

all of us know people who say,

"I can worship God just as well at home".

"I can worship God in nature."

"I can just stay home and watch a preacher on TV".

I want to share some scripture with you that maybe you can use to help others understand why church attendance is so important.

Exodus 20:8 (NLT)

“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."

This is the 4th of the Ten Commandments

Would God have seen fit to have made it a commandment to "observe the Sabbath" if it hadn't been important? Is it keeping the Sabbath holy when we stay out of church because we would rather go to the lake...movies...sleep? How is God being glorified and honored if we selfishly put our wants and desires above Him? Have you ever noticed how so many concerts, or other "social" activities are planned for Sunday nights...or Wednesday nights? Don't you know that Satan just loves that because it keeps so many of God's people from attending church.

Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

I really like this verse of scripture. It tells us that we need to meet together with fellow believers. Notice the part that says "encourage one another".

Doesn't it just do your heart good to be with other Christians? I love to hear others give their testimony of what God is doing in their lives. If somebody voices a need or a concern, we are already assembled together and can pray for one another right then and there. And, the singing...how many times have I talked about the music...I can get filled up with the Holy Spirit just listening to the songs being sung. And, my Sunday School teacher....sometimes she gets so excited about the lesson she's teaching that her excitement spills over on the rest of the ladies in our class. And, the preaching....how many of us listen to the message and think "I sure hope so and so is listening to this because I just know this message is for them"? Okay, maybe none of you do that....but.....here I go showing my faults....I used to do that!!! Okay, I've confessed it!!! I used to think, "Boy, I hope Pap is listening because he really needs to hear this...it's all about him....God sent this lesson just for him". Come on, 'fess up...have any of you ever thought that? Maybe not about Pap....ha! ha!...but I bet you've thought the same thing about your spouse/daughter/son/Mom/Dad/friend!!!! Sometimes, we do know of somebody else in the congregation who might be going thru something that is exactly along the lines of what the message is about, and we pray that God speaks to their heart. But....if we listen closely....every message can be applied to our own hearts and lives!!!

This next verse goes along with what I've just been talking about....honoring the leaders in our church....the Pastor, the Sunday School teachers, choir directors, those who play the musical instruments, singers, our deacons, directors of various ministries in the church...the church secretary....all those who play a part in keeping the church "running".

1 Thessalonians 5:12 (NLT)

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.

If you don't do this already....encourage those who are in leadership in your church. Send a card...make a phone call...send an e-mail....let them know what a wonderful job they're doing. Let them know how much you enjoy their preaching, teaching, singing....whatever their "job" is!!! Let them know that you notice them...that you realize how much time and energy they've put into their position in the church and what a blessing their effort is to you.

Psalm 122:1 (NLT)
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Can we honestly say that? Can each of us search our hearts and say that we are truly glad that it is time to go to the house of the Lord? I've heard people say that they "have" to go to church because what will people think if they don't....or, they didn't go last week, so they better attend this week. Is that the right attitude to have about going to worship our Lord? How is He getting any honor if that is our way of thinking? What if He thought "Well, I answered a prayer for you yesterday, so I'm taking the day off and won't be listening to you today?" He's ALWAYS there for us....are we always there for Him?

Psalm 22:22 (NLT)
I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.

Don't ever hesitate to share with others how God has blessed you, or answered a prayer. I received a call from a very special lady just this past week and she shared with me how God, even thru some very difficult times that her family has faced this year, she's been able to look back over the past few months and see God working. She gave God all the credit. It was a blessing to me to hear her praise God because she has been in my prayers and I was able to see answered prayers, too!!!

And, finally (bet you thought I would never get here).....

Matthew 18:20 (NLT)
For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

I've said before that I just find it amazing that of all the churches in our community....state....country....world....that God shows up in all of them...of course, each of us think that our church is the best...and we should be proud of our own church...and that pride we have should lead us to want to attend...not to please man...but to honor and glorify our precious Lord and Savior!!!

In His Love...and with mine!!!