A little background information about my position 13 months ago when I lived out on Oak Island:
Mid-March 2013, I was ultimately discouraged. I was in my third month of seeking out the church that God was calling me to attend. I knew He had the one for me, the one that would grow me, the one that I could impact as well, the ONE. I just knew it, because God gives us promises in our prayers. However, after quite a bit of searching, without a car, I was discouraged. I took a taxi one day (very scary in America, I much prefer the South Korean ones as long as the drivers haven’t been drinking).
I walked back from church one day as well, which was only about 3.5 miles, but it caused quite a stir at my work place. Then one day, I walked through the doors of Ocean View United Methodist Church and knew I was home. First day there, God confirmed it in my heart. My brain couldn’t figure out why I was called there, but you can’t argue with the heart. I am so grateful for my church family there! They are marked with joy and have taught me so much about relationships and about the Lord.
Fast Forward to April 2014:
I haven’t put much effort into a church search. I figured that I was only here for five months before I leave for the mission field. I am being spiritual fed through my podcasts from my Korean church, so the only thing I needed a local church for was fellowship and a place to tithe here at home. (A very baby Christian move, huh? Hey, we are all growing and sometimes we get into silly mindsets!)
I picked the closest church to my house and started to go to Wednesday Night Bible study since I seem to work most Sunday mornings. I also found a place in town that had the only Sunday Night services in the area. I decided that I would split between the two so that I could attend church twice a week. (When we start deciding things without prayer is when we start walking in foolishness.)
I just so happened to have a Sunday off! I went to the nearest church in the morning, and though I have been loving the Wednesday night bible studies, something felt wrong. It was nothing that the church or people did. They were perfectly hospitable. It wasn’t about the message or worship, it was lovely. But, something didn’t sit well in my heart. I felt the spirit lead me to go to the other church for their evening service. “But Lord, they are having a revival service really far away and I didn’t budget that into my gas money!”
However, I submitted knowing that if it was His will, He would make a way. I called the Pastor’s wife and asked if I could carpool with them to the revival. “Of Course!”
I had wonderful conversations with the Pastor and his family on the way there, also I conversed with church members at the revival, and the message was POWERFUL! I found that in both my conversations and the message itself, God was confirming things in my heart that I had been receiving both in my bible reading and in my Korean Church’s sermons. On the ride home, God made it very obvious that I was supposed to invest in one church. No more going to the nearest church for convenience. I needed to commit to one Church and He would bless that. “BUT Lord! It’s only 5 months, it’s so short…what does it matter?”
WRONG QUESTION: God’s response, “What does this next five months matter? Then what does the next 11 months matter on mission? Then what does the time after that matter? It’s all so short. You will focus on where I put you when you are there and you will focus on eternity. You will not put your own priorities on your focus.”
Wow… I just got mini-rebuked and I needed it. I have been acting like a child. I acted as though I had control over my now and with that control I belittled the now. BUT, God has shown me that the now is just as important as the future. And if I can grow up and sacrifice my control, He will bless it.
I don’t understand many things. But God is good. He made this obvious, and instead of fighting for the appearance of a little control, I should be grateful that He paired me so quickly with the church that He wants me to attend for now. AMEN!
