Checking In and Sharing a Concern

It's me again! You might remember that last week I shared with you the goals I've set for myself for 2015:

1. Write in my journal every day. Try to focus on something God is teaching me

or a way I saw Him at work during the day.

2. Blog every Thursday.

3. Finish reading "A Woman After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George.

4. Read through the Bible...again.

5. Find a classroom of my own.

6. Be the wife my husband deserves.

I'm happy to report that I've kept up with #1 every day. I'm here for week two of #2. I'm still working my way through #3 and I'm keeping up with #4. The last two are a little tricky. #5 isn't completely dependent on me. #6 may not ever be fully possible no matter how hard I try. My husband is a rock. He deserves the greatest woman on earth. Yet he settled for me. So, I'll strive to be the best God made me to be and hope that's enough.

Now, on to a concern that God laid on my heart last week. On Friday, school was closed due to bitter cold and bad road conditions. So here I was enjoying a snow day at home. I was cleaning the house so I didn't have to cram it in on Saturday before my grandson came for the day. As I was vacuuming, I heard a voice say, "Why do some churches make new families feel so welcome but then start ignoring them if they can't give enough?" It was so audible I almost thought someone was in my house. But it got me to thinking.

First, let me say that I'm not including every single church in this. I'm not saying it's your church or my church. God didn't make specific to me what churches He's concerned about. He simply asked me why. He asked me to delve into this question and find some answers. Of course, I certainly realize He already knows the answer to this question. Why He wants me to discover it is beyond me. But far be it to argue with Him! I've done that before. It landed me in college at the age of 35!

Here are the facts I have so far (I'm not done searching for this answer. God has been telling me to write a blog about it since Friday and I decided to wait until my regular weekly blog. After all, I'm probably the only one who reads this anyway. So, why rush?)
1. I have heard from people who have had to stop attending church due to health reasons. The concern in this - no one from the church seems to think about contacting them to see if they're ok or if there's anything the church can do. No calls, no cards, no visits. Why?? These are people who have attended their respective churches for decades. There's no reason for people to be forgotten.
2. I know there are people who felt like they were joining in a family reunion when they walked into a new church for the first time. However, when they weren't able to give much financially to the church, weren't able or interested in helping with children's ministries or had no desire or ability to help with cleaning or repairs around the church, they became almost invisible to anyone in the church.
3. Jesus was good at welcoming people who came to Him for the first time. But He also never ignored those closest to Him.
4. I struggle with anxiety and panic disorders and also an inferiority complex. I have a problem reaching out to people. I know I need to work on that. While I can't change the anxiety and panic disorders, I can work on feeling less inferior. I can learn to believe that what I have to say is worthwhile.

So, these are some things I'll be chewing on for awhile. I'm waiting for God to tell me why He wants me to find the answer to this question. However, I'll simply search for the answer even if I never know why. Be patient with me.

Blessings,
Brenda