New Life

So last weekend, my hubby wanted to stay home from church. Well, since he was staying home, I decided to go to my friend Richelle's Church. She and I have been talking about me going there for months now. And, well, I finally did it. Woo Hoo!! Let me tell you, I am overwhelmed. I am awestruck. Between my friend Jenn and I, we used up a whole box of kleenex.

But, I progress. Let me start again.

I went to Genesis church on Sunday with the kids. I asked them ahead of time if it would be ok if we went to another "Sunday Bible School" than the one they're used to. They said "OK!!" So off we went, to my friend's church. The name was Genesis Fellowship Church, but has JUST been changed to New Life Family Church. They changed it I believe to be more "Non-Christian" Friendly. People that are Christian know that Genesis means beginning, new life, Starting anew. Well, those that aren't just think that it's a cult, because it doesn't have a traditional name. So NEW LIFE it is. Because that's what the church is all about, New Life, Starting over, Fresh, in an "All things are New in Christ" kind of way.

So I go to this New Life Church. Jenn sees me in the parking lot and helps me with the kids. Turns out, that for the first time in about 6 months, Richelle is in the nursery with my kids.

I walk in a few minutes late to the service, with my other best friend Jenn, and I sit with her. Well, this chick sits in the front row!

I was like JENNNNN!! My first time here, and you plop me in the front row! : )

Well, that's where she always sits. She's a youth leader, and always sits with her kids, since her hubby is the piano player in the worship team, and then he is in the sound booth during the service.

So anyway, here I am in the front row, next to Jenn, with nothing between me and the pulpit but 12 feet of air. I started singing with the song currently on the projector thing. I didn't know the words, but hey, that's why they have the projector thing in the first place, right?

So I don't know the second song either, but am feeling the 'groove'. Well, the third song I DID know. And without even thinking about it, I closed my eyes. Better to sing and not pay attention to anyone but the ONE you're singing too. So, during that song, I felt my hands raise, as if on their own, like they do when I'm praising. Well, the difference is, I didn't even stop to see if this was an "ok" thing to do in this church. I just did it. That was it. I began praying, but that was really it for me. I was a goner. I was praying "Lord, what do I need to hear? What do you have to teach me today?" And you know what, the first thing I heard Him say was, "It's about time honey. It's about time. I've been trying to get you here for a LONG time now, and it's about time you showed up. Thanks for that." (You'd have to know that I use that phrase A LOT ((thanks for that)) :) ) I just KNEW this was where I was supposed to be. We tried Genesis/New Life Church about a year ago, and for some reason we decided that it wasn't the right one for us. So we moved on, eventually settling at First Assembly of God. Well, at the time I just knew FAOG was for us. Well, I know now, I was just plumb tired!! I was worn out. I tried out 10 churches in 11 months searching for the "right one" to satisfy my husband's search for a church. Well, after all of that, I had found one I loved, and the kids loved, and I just told James, "tough. I like it. We're staying." Well, every single Sunday since then, it's like pulling teeth to get him to go. He does not like it at all. If it's not the pastor, it's the music. If it's not the music, it's the sound. and on an on and on. I get tired of hearing him argue about it. So what does that lead me to do? I tend to want to stay home. And, on those Sundays I suggest it, instead of knowing we'll be missed, and instead of being drawn to church, my husband goes, (since he doesn't want to be there in the first place) "ALRIGHT. I'll warm up the PS2. I've got another level on XX game I want to finish."

Ok... so back to the service. Lord says to me "Thanks for showing up." And I am still praying. I am asking if it's Him or me, or what the deal is. You know how you do when you think you've heard the Lord speak to you. You question it. You want to make sure you're not making things up to satisfy your own selfish needs. Welll, all of that was in my praying. I wanted to make sure it was the Lord's will and not my own just yelling out in my head. My prayer also included my concerns about my husband. What about him? I've fussed and cajoled and whined him into going to First Assembly. How will I tell him I want to switch now? And the Lord's answer? "You let me worry about James. You do what you know you are being asked to do by ME, and the rest will work out fine." Ok. So now. It's the 4th or 5th song, I've been weeping through the last 2 songs or so, and now it's meet n' greet time. "Well, Hi, I'm Trisha. I'm not a loony toon I promise. My eyes aren't always swelled and red. I was just overcome by prayer."

Did I really say that? YES. LOL!!!

My friend Jenn just laughed and hugged me and introduced me to her "girls".

Ok. So, after all of that, we sit down for the teaching part. The first words out of the Pastor's mouth? As if to solidify what I'd been feeling the Lord speak to me for 45 minutes already-- his first words were, "If you are doing what you know the Lord is asking of you, if you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, the Lord will take care of the Rest."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!??!!

I about fell on the floor. Argh.

Ok. So the teaching happened to be on the New Life name change, why they did that, all the verse references to "New Life" in the Bible, and what their church is all about. Which happened to be perfect timing for a 'first timer' such as myself.

When the service was over, I was so overcome, I just didn't want to wait to tell Richelle and Jenn what I'd been told, but the time and place didn't really seem right for an in depth-new-revelation type of discussion.

So when I get home, and tell James all about the whole experience, everything I've just told you, and what does he say? "Ok. I'll go next week. Try it out." (THANKS GOD!!)

And now, here I sit, having been told by the Lord my decision. I still want to go to the Bible study that the Pastor's wife at FA is starting in February, I just feel like we are being led to attend a different church. How do I explain that? I leave it up to the Holy Spirit, that's how.

Ok, now that THAT's all out there. What else is going on? BYB is stalled. I have NO parties scheduled for the future. NOT ONE. URGH.

The kids are great. H was sent home with a sheet of paper today telling us that it's already time to sign up for next year's preschool class, and that I should be thinking about signing L up for Kindergarten already. KINDERGARTEN!! No WAY!! Not possible. That goes back to the whole "not my baby. not already" thing.

J will be 2 in 3 weeks!! I just don't know if I can handle that. Now is when I am starting to think, "AWWW. Maybe I want another one. Maybe I want another baby. My baby is not tiny anymore." And then my brain kicks my ovaries out and says, "NO. Are you NUTS? You DO NOT want a 4th child. Not now. Not ever. If you want a tiny baby to hold, go hold Tyler."

My hubby is fine. He's working his tushie off. (Literally. He's lost a pants size.) He has been working about 20 miles away in another town on this one job for over a month now. The job was supposed to be done in December. Nope. Still there. But, he thinks he's about done.

Ok... I'm off to veg for awhile. Richelle just left. She helped me fold laundry for an hour and a half, and then had to jet. Now, my laundry upstairs is all folded, I just have to get up there tonight to get it put away. Laundry is my dirty little secret. It's my secret place in my home that NO ONE is allowed to see. It's horrible. There has got to be a pile about 5 foot long by 2 foot wide by 4 feet deep when it's all up there. I just can't make myself fold it. So Richelle came to help out. ZAP! In an hour and a half, we had it knocked out. Well, folded at least. Now it's the put away time. ARGH!

Shaking off 2005, Welcoming in 2006 with New Life!