Volunteering and service

Since my husband and I got married a year and a half ago we have been trying to find a church home - we agreed that we each felt better going to church on a regular basis - the problem was that I was Catholic and he was Baptist.

Although, he was not opposed to trying on new religions he was opposed to participating in a church that wouldn't allow specific people to participate in all aspects of the worship service {for those who don't know, if you aren't Catholic you can't take Communion at Mass}. My part of the "I don't want" list was that Baptist churches can be such hellfire and brimstone type places - I had experienced enough negative that I was very timid in my approach.

We tried his brother and sister-in-law's church and thoroughly enjoyed going - but the drive was a bit too far for us plus we never felt like we belonged there. My husband had visited some churches with friends before we met and they "weren't right for him then" although there was one that he really liked but he knew it wasn't for him at that time.

So, we went back to that church - low and behold we fell in love. Now we have been several times - we even have been going on Wednesday nights.

This week with the hubby out of town, S and I went last night to a dinner fundraiser - it was an easy way to not have to cook dinner (or clean up for that matter). Tonight we'll go for dinner and worship. And i'm excited! And S's excited and so is the hubby! It's great!

Part of the "focus" of the sermons lately has been service - things we as people can do to help other people - help people to see that there is a good God and that Christians represent a good Christianity. The sermon this weekend informs us that there is a zip code in Memphis that is the 3rd poorest zip code in the country - it's downtown. Seriously, think about that one fact - the 3rd poorest zip code in the country is in our city!

Service - taking what you're good at and offering it up to help others - something as simple as helping clean up a street where the people are elderly and can't get up and do it themselves, or donating clothes you no longer wear to people less fortunate, or tutoring a child, or rocking low birth weight babies... there's a plethora of things any one person could do to touch a life (or lives for that matter)!

I have decided to go and rock babies - I am at a point where the hubby and I are seriously considering trying for our own and I think this would be a great way to get a baby fix... plus, I'll be helping someone else.

I'm excited - and i'm doubly excited because I'm excited that I'm excited - sounds cheesy, I know. But I am thrilled that I have been led to a place where I can do a multitude of things with multiple benefits - I get to worship and learn and commune and serve and teach and praise all at once and all at the same time! How many places can we find that in life? How many people want to find that in life but are searching aimlessly? How many people have convinced themselves there's not enough time?

My husband and I have been having heated discussions lately about scheduling and prioritizing our lives - work is important - yes, it pays the bills, but our family and our relationships with one and other and our relationship with God is more important. And there's something to be said about prioritizing - putting God and ourselves into the #1 spot puts everything else into perspective - it alleviates stress and anxiety. It's like traveling with no map or compass and then stopping and getting one! Totally enlightening!

But I know there are people out there who drudge through the daily grind sure that there isn't enough time for them to do this or that, certain that life is nothing but hardship...
I'm glad that I know differently.