Are you looking for love in all the right places?

There's been an ongoing discussion started by a dear sister in Christ about how hung up the church is on rituals but (my words) how much it needs a love transfusion. Yes, there needs to be ceremony, structure and order, but this needs to be in place along with the real reason most seek a church home: to find a reason to stay because they feel valued, welcomed and loved.
Many, including George and me, were sent on a search for a new church home. There are many reasons why people do this from having relocated to a new area to having been offended or even spiritually abused. Most experiences have mirrored ours: for the first few weeks or perhaps a little longer, we were welcomed heartily and greeted and involved in conversations. This literally dwindled to nothingness, and George and I realized that, while we truly could worship God anywhere, we could not find Him and His love too readily. We felt like these congregations were looking for bodies and not relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ. Hospitality was close to nonexistent, and we tried extending invitations to others in our new area only to be informed on a regular basis that they were too busy with family and friends to accept.

Friends, our God is a social God who knows first hand what it feels like to be lonely and rejected. People, for the most part, either did not appreciate what Jesus had to give or only appreciated Him for what He had to give and nothing more. Can we honor Him during this season (and always) by living His law of love and being Him to all He sends across our path?

Rituals can be meaningful and uplifting, but only for the moment. Relationships can be meaningful, and love, comfort and encouragement can last a lifetime!

May you be encouraged and may you be His instrument of encouragement ot all He sends across your path

Pastors George and Sharon Billington

Encouraging Words for Life's Tough Times, An Emotional Recovery Workbook for Christians http://www.encouragingwordsministries.com
Transforming lives through developing balanced, emotionally healthy relationships with God, others and self