I'm not one who goes by signs, but I do believe in providential events, and it may be indeed that the Lord was trying to get your attention in His wonderful mercy.
I've prayed for you. Let me encourage you to fulfill your plan to go to the service. Try not to worry about what any one else may be thinking. My suggestion would be to just ask the Lord to give you something to help you to know Him and better your relationship to Him.
Let me know, please, if there is any way that I can be of help.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penhobby
Someone from a church called Harvester Baptist Church delivered a meal to my house a little over a year ago, when my husband was in the hospital. (My mom apparently knew the assistant pastor’s wife’s father…or something like that.) I was so nervous when I found out they wanted to deliver a meal. I thought it was going to be a witnessing session and I wasn’t in the frame of mind at the time to listen. The woman who came to my door was so nice it was unreal. She never asked about salvation or preached at me. Instead she told me that she would pray for my husband and that if I ever needed to speak to anyone that she was always available.
I have said all this because I have decided to visit this church. I already know that it is an IFBC and I would ordinarily run from it as fast as I could, but for whatever reason, I am being led to this church. Just yesterday I was sort of arguing with God about this while sitting at a red-light, waiting to turn left across oncoming traffic. I was not paying attention and when the light turned green for traffic going straight, I started to go as well. I was almost broadsided by this big van. The man in the van hit the horn and I slammed the breaks and mouthed ‘sorry’ He smiled at me and waved, but as he drove on by, I was stunned to see Harvester Baptist Church painted along the side of the van. It was as though God smacked me upside the head! lol
I am very nervous, because the last time I went to church was about 8 months ago for a Cub Scout ceremony. I panicked ten minutes in and had to leave. I missed my son getting his religious emblem, something he worked very hard for. To head off some of my fears, I am going to face them… I went up to the church earlier today and walked around the property and I am going to try and reach the pastor to see if I can visit while the church is empty. When I go, I will sit in the back at the end of the pew closest to the door.
So why post all this? I am committing myself to this decision and by posting it here I am forcing myself to face it. I will also post on the day I go, no matter what happens. So around 6pm on Sunday, if some of you could say a quick prayer for me, I would really...really appreciate it.
__________________
God bless...
Michael D. O'Neal (Prov. 11:30), Pastor
Gospel Light Baptist Church, P.O. Box 3071 (237 Lockett Station Road), Albany, GA 31706
(229) 698-2127
*Scriptures in my notes are from the Authorized Version 1611 -KJV- and are used by permission of the Author - Eph. 6:17*
Maybe the Lord has someone there whom you need to meet?
Maybe not, either way, he knows what is best for each of us. I have been looking for a church home and I have found several IFB churches in our area that are not like the kind you fear. I pray this church is a good one.
__________________ The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, which is why often people look bright until they start talking.
All things presented in the above message are MHO. Thus, even though they probably are right, you have the right to respectfully disagree with me.
Location: I have to trust you before I tell you where I live
Posts: 347
I am starting to wish I had not committed myself to this, because the closer it gets, the more nervous I become. I never sleep but a few hours in any given night, but last night, I tossed and turned all night long and finally got up at 4am. I am so afraid its not funny, in fact its mortifying and irritating to the extreme! How can anyone be this afraid to go to church?!
In the end, I guess that is precisely the reason why I posted this here. I will go, but I cannot promise to stay, but I will go. I pray that God grants his daughter the strength to make it through.
__________________ Me at Hephzibah House in 1992 holding in my hands my most precious possession at the time.
PH, I will pray for you Sunday morning. If you can, try breathing slowly in and out through the nose before you go in the building. If you can calm your body down, it will help your mind. I do this when feeling stressed or nervous. Sort of like Lamaze. Breathing does help a great deal.
Maybe this week you will make it to the parking lot. Then in a week or so, you may make it into the lobby. Do not worry about what people think, put your hand in God's and let him help you through.
__________________ The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, which is why often people look bright until they start talking.
All things presented in the above message are MHO. Thus, even though they probably are right, you have the right to respectfully disagree with me.
Amy, this is very encouraging news to read. I think I drove past that church once (I saw a picture of the building on their website), it looks very familiar, but I have never visited. I live on the other side of the tunnel. I am sure you will be just fine and your past will help expose anything that might not be good. They probably are just your normal IFB Church, and that really isn't a problem at all. I go to one also, and they are wonderful people who love God and each other. Shame you don't live closer to my Church, our doors are wide open. God Bless!
Last edited by Friend for Friend; 11-07-2009 at 06:34 PM.
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The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, which is why often people look bright until they start talking.
Me at Hephzibah House in 1992 holding in my hands my most precious possession at the time.
Breathing does help a great deal.
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