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Tessa said:
Hi Luminous_Rose
I've been looking out for you . Miss your postings. Have you got your bible group off the ground? Hope you and your family are all well :hug
Click to expand...

Thanks! I have been doing well! I hope you have been doing well, too!

For a little while, I was having issues logging in and resetting my password =/ as far as group goes, I had one planned and no one showed. It's okay, though. I was still able to make good use of the time! We rescheduled for next week! So, if it be the Lord's will we will all be together in study in a week. I am going to get my notes together about the Samaritan woman at the well <---This is one favorite topics!

Plenty of answered prayers as well! Things are going great and a little difficult at times. God wants me out of my comfort zone. Easier said than done, and I am doing my best.

I remember a while back I posted a topic asking if I should go back to my old church. Well, I typed a letter as an update, but haven't had the guts to hand it to my parents. It did not seem like the right situation to hand them a letter. We did what many here told us not to do - go back.

The other church we had found has some issues and please keep them on prayer. There are some wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ there. They need a revival so please pray.

But today, my husband and I made a split minute decision to go to my parents church. It felt uncomfortable and I said, "What are we doing? I don't know what I am doing." When we got there during the first worship song, there was no one from church seeing us approach the closed doors. I stood out front, took a breath, and wanted to run away. Instead, I ignored it. I opened the door and my family followed.

It was so awkward people were not staring at us lol. However, they were shocked. Apologies and forgiveness were given. They got to see and had a blast with our kids as if we hadn't been gone for 8 years. They welcomed us.

We know the founders of the church have passed away, but one of their deacons moved, and another was traveling. The teens and young people have gotten their own group going. I am impressed that it is working out. They have more small groups going on. There was less male dominant presence and more of the women speaking out. It has changed A LOT! It is amazing. It was so nice to see new and familiar faces! I am glad to forgive my brothers and sisters in Christ and for them to forgive us.
 
Luminous_Rose said:
Thanks! I have been doing well! I hope you have been doing well, too!

For a little while, I was having issues logging in and resetting my password =/ as far as group goes, I had one planned and no one showed. It's okay, though. I was still able to make good use of the time! We rescheduled for next week! So, if it be the Lord's will we will all be together in study in a week. I am going to get my notes together about the Samaritan woman at the well <---This is one favorite topics!

Plenty of answered prayers as well! Things are going great and a little difficult at times. God wants me out of my comfort zone. Easier said than done, and I am doing my best.

I remember a while back I posted a topic asking if I should go back to my old church. Well, I typed a letter as an update, but haven't had the guts to hand it to my parents. It did not seem like the right situation to hand them a letter. We did what many here told us not to do - go back.

The other church we had found has some issues and please keep them on prayer. There are some wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ there. They need a revival so please pray.

But today, my husband and I made a split minute decision to go to my parents church. It felt uncomfortable and I said, "What are we doing? I don't know what I am doing." When we got there during the first worship song, there was no one from church seeing us approach the closed doors. I stood out front, took a breath, and wanted to run away. Instead, I ignored it. I opened the door and my family followed.

It was so awkward people were not staring at us lol. However, they were shocked. Apologies and forgiveness were given. They got to see and had a blast with our kids as if we hadn't been gone for 8 years. They welcomed us.

We know the founders of the church have passed away, but one of their deacons moved, and another was traveling. The teens and young people have gotten their own group going. I am impressed that it is working out. They have more small groups going on. There was less male dominant presence and more of the women speaking out. It has changed A LOT! It is amazing. It was so nice to see new and familiar faces! I am glad to forgive my brothers and sisters in Christ and for them to forgive us.
Click to expand...
I think it is wonderful news that so many good changes have occurred since you have been gone. They must have realized that if they dont change, they will continue to loose parents your age with children which are the future of the church. So many congregations are dwindling and are filled with old fogies who refuse to allow change to occur. Perhaps God brought you back to make a difference, and I'm happy for you!
 
Glad to hear everything went well with your old church. Praying it is a good change and that your family will be an important part of that change.

Hubby and I had a great weekend with family and friends at another camp. Did some trails with the ATV's. Probably not to many more weekends since it is getting colder. The heater we have in our camper doesn't heat the whole camper and the furnace is broken. If I plug in two of them it pops the breaker.
 
StoveBolts said:
I think it is wonderful news that so many good changes have occurred since you have been gone. They must have realized that if they dont change, they will continue to loose parents your age with children which are the future of the church. So many congregations are dwindling and are filled with old fogies who refuse to allow change to occur. Perhaps God brought you back to make a difference, and I'm happy for you!
Click to expand...

It was so strange to me, but I see an amazing transformation is taking place and a lot of the younger people are stepping up and following up with people, being hospitable...I mean...it went from the young voices being silenced to them taking this role in the body of Christ. It is so great to see.
Then again, they lost one of the elders that had his fair share of issues, but wasn't always nice to others and was all about appearing holy and sticking to tradition. The founder that had passed away was a nice man, and I know that tradition was something strong to him, and he would abide by it. One of the other elders that is more tradition that still attends was traveling. It seems they lost a lot of their "tradition" people. I don't know if this is why things are changing, but it seems like a lot more is in the works, too.
It feels like I walked into a different church than I had left 8 years ago. It's been something I've been struggling with for a year or so is if I should go back, but I would always dismiss it in my mind, but I am glad I pushed past my hesitation and saw what was going on.
I knew that church was not about the building itself, the amount of people in them, or how big or small the building was, but I am seeing that meaning deeper and deeper. If you have your brothers and sisters and God is the center of it all, you are golden! I'm seeing something I knew was true, but in a deeper perspective. I am glad =)
 
for_his_glory said:
Glad to hear everything went well with your old church. Praying it is a good change and that your family will be an important part of that change.

Hubby and I had a great weekend with family and friends at another camp. Did some trails with the ATV's. Probably not to many more weekends since it is getting colder. The heater we have in our camper doesn't heat the whole camper and the furnace is broken. If I plug in two of them it pops the breaker.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am glad that things seem to have gotten a lot better, and I'm pretty excited to go again =) it feels strange after so long, but still good.

Camping is fun! That's true, fall is rolling in as far as the cold. I hope you guys are able to get the heater fixed, that doesn't sound fun to be out of adequate heat for the cold =(
 
Luminous_Rose said:
Thanks! I have been doing well! I hope you have been doing well, too!

For a little while, I was having issues logging in and resetting my password =/ as far as group goes, I had one planned and no one showed. It's okay, though. I was still able to make good use of the time! We rescheduled for next week! So, if it be the Lord's will we will all be together in study in a week. I am going to get my notes together about the Samaritan woman at the well <---This is one favorite topics!

Plenty of answered prayers as well! Things are going great and a little difficult at times. God wants me out of my comfort zone. Easier said than done, and I am doing my best.

I remember a while back I posted a topic asking if I should go back to my old church. Well, I typed a letter as an update, but haven't had the guts to hand it to my parents. It did not seem like the right situation to hand them a letter. We did what many here told us not to do - go back.

The other church we had found has some issues and please keep them on prayer. There are some wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ there. They need a revival so please pray.

But today, my husband and I made a split minute decision to go to my parents church. It felt uncomfortable and I said, "What are we doing? I don't know what I am doing." When we got there during the first worship song, there was no one from church seeing us approach the closed doors. I stood out front, took a breath, and wanted to run away. Instead, I ignored it. I opened the door and my family followed.

It was so awkward people were not staring at us lol. However, they were shocked. Apologies and forgiveness were given. They got to see and had a blast with our kids as if we hadn't been gone for 8 years. They welcomed us.

We know the founders of the church have passed away, but one of their deacons moved, and another was traveling. The teens and young people have gotten their own group going. I am impressed that it is working out. They have more small groups going on. There was less male dominant presence and more of the women speaking out. It has changed A LOT! It is amazing. It was so nice to see new and familiar faces! I am glad to forgive my brothers and sisters in Christ and for them to forgive us.
Click to expand...
Sorry late to answer I had trouble with mobile and had to take it in today.
Fabulous about your old church. You were brave and it turned out good.
Praying all goes well for your bible group this weekend, never give up.
Maybe you can post some of your study on the Samaritan woman at the well?
So pleased for you that things are working out well.
 
Tessa said:
Sorry late to answer I had trouble with mobile and had to take it in today.
Fabulous about your old church. You were brave and it turned out good.
Praying all goes well for your bible group this weekend, never give up.
Maybe you can post some of your study on the Samaritan woman at the well?
So pleased for you that things are working out well.
Click to expand...

No worries!

Thanks =) I appreciate the prayer! I am hoping this second time around everyone is able to make it and if not, I just keep inviting and inviting. God has a plan.

Yes! I already have my Samaritan woman at the well notes and here they are:

*Woman at the Well*

~John 4:1-42

As we read, we can probably relate to a hot day and being thirsty. We're tired, we would love to sit in the shade and have a cool drink. Even in John 4:6, Jesus sat at Jacob's well and was limited by his physical body. Just like you and me, Jesus sat down, and he was tired and thirsty.

When Jesus asks the Samaritan woman for a drink, she mentions in John 4:9, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" This was a large cultural no-no. Not only did Jews not associate with the Samaritans, but here is Jesus asking for a drink. In this time, asking for a drink and giving and receiving water was more of an open invitation to say, "Hey let's talk. Let's chill a bit." Understandably, the Samaritan woman questioned it.
Jesus knew how to talk to the Samaritan woman. He mentioned this amazing gift of living water. No doubt with this woman, she was not a stranger to gifts as she had been married many times. She listened and soon she abandoned her water jar to go back and tell the town. This is symbolic of her abandoning a physical need of thirst to fulfill a spiritual need - the spiritual need to know God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in John 4:23.

In a rather humorous moment between Jesus and his disciples we see a difference noted as well between physical and spiritual food in John 4:31-34. We know that physical and spiritual needs are different from each other.
Because of the woman's testimony - it was only one testimony, many of the Samaritans believed and they went out to see Jesus and asked him to stay. Jesus stayed two days, and many of the Samaritans turned their lives around for Christ and they had seen for themselves that Jesus was the true Savior.

In John 4:31-34 we see a somewhat humorous moment between Jesus and the disciples regarding spiritual food vs. physical food. We have our basic physical needs which include food and water to keep our body alive. On the other hand, we have our spiritual needs which include reading The Holy Bible, praying, worshipping and praising God, witnessing to others, and most of all obeying God's laws and the plan that He has for our lives. This is what keeps our spiritual selves or our soul alive. Without our soul's needs being met we will always be thirsty again and again, but when our spiritual needs are met, we won't feel thirsty and we may even feel like our needs are met plus more!
If we were to sit and stare at water in a glass without drinking it and we continued to do so for many days, we would die of thirst, wouldn't we? We have to pick up the glass and drink the water in order for our physical body to be satisfied and we meet this need over and over again each day to survive.

In a similar way, our spiritual body/soul cannot simply go to church, carry a Bible, and sing songs without feeling or understanding the meaning and be quenched. We cannot sit and stare at the material in front of us without truly digging into the meaning and becoming involved the Body of Christ. We need to be actively seeking Christ and fulfilling our spiritual needs to feel our spiritual needs are taken care of.

No matter how much "good" we have in our lives, none of that will quench our spirit without God (refer to Romans 8:6)
 
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